Options for $1k or less DAC?

all rhetoric aside, if big_greg is trying to lead the op and other readers to believe the schitt bifrost is an equally good sounding or a better sounding dac than a mhdt stockholm 2 or orchid, that belief would be rather incorrect imo

based on my comparisons, the mhdt dacs outperform not just schiit’s bifrost (mb) but also their gumby and yggy for overall musicality, finesse and coherence ... the bifrost has a warm midrange and bloated midbass that obscures, and a sibilance problem in the lower treble -- the yggy solves the sibilance problem but delivers a rather ’hifi’/accentuated treble that is rather disembodied from the rest of the music, something akin to a speaker with a ribbon tweeter poorly integrated with the mid/bass drivers

saying the bifrost ’holds it own’ is a matter of personal taste and how much allowance for poorer sound one allows in their system and with their hearing -- a samsung smartphone ’holds it own’ against a top flight hifi dac in that it also transmits the music... but it sounds much worse

my 2 cents

ymmv, which obviously it did with greg

Today, I am using this DAC with the Benchmark HPA4 preamp.
https://soundnews.net/sources/dacs/matrix-audio-mini-i-pro-3-third-time-s-a-charm/

It sounds great with my headphones, Meze Empy + Topping A90 amp. I am going back and forth whether I like it on my uber revealing 2 channel system. This DAC will eventually go back to headphone duties so it does not matter

It has the following features and very good sound for $899 MSRP (I bought for $749 on Black Friday)

- 7 filters with graphics to show the frequency curves
- Beautiful screen that shows album cover
- MQA
- AirPlay2, Wifi, Ethernet, Android connectivity via Bluetoooth codecs such as AptX-HD and LDAC
- Remote
- Coaxial, Optical, IIS LVDS, USB Audio, Bluetooth and Streaming
- ROON READY (soon)
- Headphone (never tried it)
- Preamp and volume control (I do not use it)

@jjss49 There are things I prefer about the sound of the MHDT Labs Orchid, it is smoother and a little easier to listen to than the Bifrost.  The OP asked about DACs under $1K.  If they can stretch their budget then the Orchid is more than worthy of consideration.  

In terms of the systems I have heard the Bifrost in, the first was in my friend's system which at the time consisted of a Line Magnetic LM-805iA and Harbeth 40.2 speakers.  One of the best sounding systems I've heard.  The system I use mine in is a small near-field system consisting of a Simaudio 600i and Harbeth P3ESRs.  In both cases, the Bifrost is using USB, which it seems to do very well.

Not putting down the OP's system, but at the level it is currently at, the Bifrost would be the best component in their system.

As to my hearing, I'll pretend I didn't hear that comment.

If interested in a DAC with tube output:

MHDT make DACs under $1000.

The Jolida/Black Ice DAC is on sale for $700  by Underwood HIFI.