Need help choosing a new DAC

My suggestion is to consider the Aqua LaVoce. This is a DAC that is a keeper, long after all the other flavor of the month DAC's have come and gone. It's relaxed, effortless, analog-like, highly resolving and with the right streamer-capable of maximizing the performance of your existing system. Even when you choose to upgrade your speakers, amplification and preamplification, the Aqua will remain. You don't see many of them for sale because their owners stay put. The LaVoce is a Ladder DAC made in Italy, not some Chi-Fi product. It's also upgradeable by Aqua HiFi who has a history of offering excellent upgrade options to their customers.

If I were to choose a chip-based DAC, I'd consider a Teac UD-701. It's Roon ready, supports Qobuz and offers two analog inputs, which means you can connect a turntable to it as long as you have an outboard phono stage. It also has balanced outputs, so if you want to connect directly to a very good power amp via it's own balanced inputs you can. There's nothing that the Teac can't decode natively, and I mean decode well. It's no Aqua LaVoce, but it offers high value and can compete with anything at the $3000 price point, and gives you a very good linestage with input selection and volume control in the analog domain as well. 

But you should get the LaVoce. When you spend vertically, you are less likely to suffer buyers remorse. If this your forever DAC, step up to the plate and get it.

I like the DAC chips Hyperstream makes. Japanese PCM chip. The CEC DA5 is in your price range. It can be used as a preamp eliminating the need for a preamp. I use it in my home system. It is in your price range. I have a demo you can purchase for a little less.

You need to look at the Gustard x26 pro at $1,500. Great filters all adjustable via the remote. All possible connections available. I moved the Denafrips Ares 2 to my secondary system.

Agree with audioman85. .. you can’t beat the Pontus (which also does NOS) and is the best value here. Amazing R2R architecture, high quality parts, and built like a tank. There are some really experienced members here who recently bought it and can’t stop singing its praises. 

But I think OP has his heart set on tube-based dacs, in which case Audio Mirror Tubadour iii se is also a great product and it’s made in USA as well. I had their non-SE version which was a great match with my SS amp. 

A warm low-ish cost DAC is the Gustard X26 Pro. I owned it for a while and loved it.

I also owned the AudioMirror (top model). It was pretty good but I preferred the Gustard for my warm DAC types.

I currently own the Benchmark DAC3B. It just does the job and I like having it around. It is a little hot on top. I was told by someone with some audio experience that the DAC3B is a little shy on the bass and that makes the top seem hotter.

The best DAC I own is the Musetec 005, ($2965 - $3300). It has the perfect warmth, detail, and really dense sound. I would like to get a second 005 to replace the rather good Topping D90SE DAC in my living room system.