DAC finalist please help


Hi all,
hope everyone is doing well this holiday season.
I’m back on the DAC hunt and I have narrowed down to these different but compelling DAC’s.
Unlike a lot of you guys on Audiogon I’m not a millionaire : (  My budget is only 1,500 bucks but I think there are some good choices in that range.
If any of you folks have experience with any of these pieces I would greatly appreciate your thoughts.

I’m replacing a McCormack DAC-1 that I have owned since new.
I still listen and continue to buy Redbook CD’s so something that would be kind to those is important.
I’m trying to make the determination on overall what would work and sound the best.
NOS with tubes is intriguing as is R2R as is just a good chip set.
I’m looking at a Aragon D2A used $600 for redbook playback and maybe teaming it up with a Xiangsheng 05B to handle modern formats DSD etc, less than 500 bucks the two together would be just north of a grand.
On the NOS front the Audio Mirror Tubadour III NOS w/tubes, new $1,500.

The Denafrips Ares II R2R used about 800 bucks, or the Musician - Pegasus, new around $1,100.
And then there is the Line Magnetic 502CA tube, used 700-800 dollars.
I love the look of the LM and it's got a great tube stage, I definitely have a bit of a crush on this one.

I realize I’m a little bit all over the Map here, but again if anyone has thoughts or has /had one of these DAC’s I’m all ears...Many thanks and Happy Holidays!HG
grossman616
You could do a whole lot worse than that MHDT Atlantis post on USAudioMart.  
Chord cutest. 1500. Lights out awesome. 
Fpga will never need updating. Such a full, analog sounding dac. Love mine. 
I have a Denafrips Aries II, and surprised by some having a sibilance issue. I had heard rumors of this being a possible issue, but I do not have that problem, and have tested it with many recordings. Perhaps my cables, or something else in the chain.

For the money, I think the Aries is tough to beat. Really improved the music from my digital sources. 

That said, yes, the Pontus, I’m sure, would be even better, but at twice the cost of the Aries. No regrets with the Aries here.

And to the OP, you should be able to get a new Aries for right around $760 US. $800 for used seems a bit high.
Schiit Gungnir multibit. $1299 and you can try it out for 15 days.

You won’t find better for the price and you’ll easily find worse for twice the price.
I have seen that Aragon D2A here on Audiogon for $599, so I think we're on the same page. This ad has been re-run a few times. Unfortunately, it is being offered for twice the Audiogon Bluebook price. That's typical for that seller. Also, that's a pretty dated piece. DACs have evolved quite a bit since then. I think your $1,000 would be better spent on a used Benchmark DAC, but it's your money so you decide. You have a lot of good suggestions from other members already. I just don't think the Aragon is a step up from your McCormack DAC 1.