$5K DAC OPTIONS

Don't over look the Sonnet Morpheus.

$3200 proprietary R2R DAC from Cees Reutenburg also of Metrum Acoustics.

He's using a less expensive case then the Metrum DACs  but uses his 3rd generation R2R boards with the option to use the defeatable built in volume control. Also has an MQA board available for purchase. Sounds like a next level Metrum Adagio at a more affordable price.

The Rose is more than just a DAC as I'm sure you know. Are you looking for a combo box or just a DAC? The Holo Audio May KTE is very good and also popular.

I recommend you get a DAC with 12S input(s).

Almost all recommended dacs will sound wonderful and without actually comparing side by side you will be hard pressed to tell huge differences. Myself I'd be buying made in USA for best customer support YMMV

try the w y r e d 4 sound 10th anniversary dac the reviews have been really good one of the reviewers put it up against his VPI turntable with a $5,000 Japanese cartridge and he said that it was every bit as analog sounding, cost is $4,500 US and it's bested dacs costing much more. and they also give you a money back guarantee if you don't like it you can send it back.