DAC Question: Delta-Sigma vs R2R

If I were to point you in a direction it would be towards a tubed DAC. Tubed equipment tend (also highly dependent on the implementation) to be more natural sounding, especially in the budget category. The Border Patrol is immediately appealing for that reason and not the R2R thing. If you can find a used Audio Research DAC… also tubed… it would have the character it sounds like you are looking for. What is your other equipment… this makes a huge difference in the ultimate output. 

What your max budget ?

This question has been asked and answered many times on this forum. In my experience it depends on your amplification. If , as I do, you have a tubed pre and power amp you might prefer Delta Sigma. If you have SS amps then try tubed or R2R DACs. What it boils down to, as many have said, is to try as many DACs of different type as you can.

The Search button can be quite useful 😀  asked and answered. 

As an older guy with Meniere's ( tinnitus's big brother) I find my Denafrips Ares 2 a best solution at the price, many Dac's sound far too bright to me and some have a lot of sibilance, of the ones I have Marantz are the worst culprit,  I have a Cambridge Audio Dac in my SACD player and it sounds great on SACD's but is improved a little with CD's if I use the Ares 2. I would not buy the Ares to replace the Cambridge Audio however the CA does not process USB. I also have an iFi iDSD micro BL which is a Burr Brown Chip based Dac, but prefer the Ares 2.