Need help choosing a new DAC


With so many options for DACs these days, I'm having a hard time deciding on a new DAC.  Currently considering a MHDT Orchid or Pagoda, Denafrips Pontus II, Benchmark DAC3,  Schitt Yggdrasil, or Audio Mirror Tubadour III SE.  I don't need any options such as volume control, BT, or MQA.  I also prefer musicality over measurements.  I'm currently using a SMSL SU-9, which will be moved over to my office system.  I'm tired of moving it back and forth between systems. My bank account prefers the cost of the Orchid since the other options cost up to twice as much, but I can go as high as $2500.  I mostly steam Qobuz thru a Raspberry Pi 4, but also use a Cambridge Audio CXC v2 CD transport on occasion.  My preamp is a Don Sachs DS2 tube preamp going into a D-Sonic m3a-1200s amp feeding "Gunned" MMGs.  I mostly listen to the Grateful Dead, rock, jazz, and acoustic music. Which DAC should I get and are the any others I should look at? 

terrapin77

It doesn’t look like you care about balanced output or native DSD either.  

Or remote selection of inputs. I will not do hifi without any of these.

@fuzztone The Don Sachs preamp has a balance input but the output is RCA.  I don't think I have ever listened to a DSD file so that isn't a concern for me.  

Some have some features but not all pieces under consideration. That makes it unconcerning.

Never experienced a SACD? The originalpocommercialization of DSD.

Better through a good DAC than a Sony BDP.

I'm just making the point that I'm not worthy of assistance.