Suggestions for a replacement dac


I am considering changing dacs. I have a Black Ice Audio DSD dac that like all Chinese made products I have tried has had problems. That being said, Jerred at Black Ice Audio has provided the best customer service I have experienced in my 40 years enjoying this hobby. He is sending me a brand new replacement dac at this point in time. I do like the sound of the BSA dac, finding it better to my taste than solid state delta sigma dacs that I have owned with MSRP's up to $3000. I find solid state delta sigma dacs to be analytical and hard sounding. Again, I am just talking about my personal musical taste, so please do not take offense if you love DS dacs.

My budget is $1,000 for a new or used dac no older than 3 years, from a dealer or someone with a lot of feedback. The characteristics I find most important are:

1 Tone and texture
2 Rhythm and pace
3 Dimension
4  Large sound stage

I am considering R2R dacs and would like to get opinions as to whether they can match the sound characteristics I listed above compared to a tube dac. It would be nice to eliminate a little heat and warm up time.

I have read all the glowing reviews of the Denafrips Ares ll and would also like input on user experiences as to their reliability past the first year of ownership. That of course would be back to Chinese manufacturing.

Please do not make recommendations above my budget. If there is no alternative in my price range I will just keep the new Black Ice Audio DAC. I listen exclusively to streaming audio and I am not using my CD transport.

My system:

Unison Research Triode 25 

Audio Physics Classic 10

Bluesound Node 2i

Cambridge Audio CXC

Thanks in advance for your input.






mtloriginal
Post removed 
"I am considering changing dacs. I have a Black Ice Audio DSD dac that like all Chinese made products I have tried has had problems."

As long as you're still open to try things MIC, Denafrips Ares used 
https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lisaci60-denafrips-ares-ii-da-converters

excellent for an idea of R2R presentation. There are a couple of MIC tube dacs in the price range if you search. 



I appreciate the responses. 

As chackster5 pointed out I listed this thread in the wrong category. Does anyone no a way to move it without starting a new thread?

The used Denafrips is slightly higher than the cost of a new one. Shipping is free on a new dac, though I don't know if there are import fees.

Staying away from Saber chips as they tend to be especially unforgiving of less than perfect recordings. In a Stereophile review of the Ayre Codex dac, the reviewer had to turn down the volume when playing a bright recording. My Unison Research Integrated is both transparent and livable with bad recordings. I want to keep it that way as I like the ability to listen to an almost unlimited variety of music streaming on Tidal. I am also more susceptible to music fatigue than most people.
"The used Denafrips is slightly higher than the cost of a new one. "

mtloriginal- the listing is the current model. You may be referring to V1 that was $750?