Best EXTERNAL DAC suggestions

I believe the CH-FI products have made great strides in the last couple of years, but still, I find my JDS Atom+ for all of $109 to still be a supurb DAC.  I really would like to hear an Aries II though.   I listen only to ripped CDs. ( JRiver, WASAPI/exclusive/asynchronous)

I have a Topping DX3pro+. It measures fantastic, but still has a little less than the JDS. I also have a Schiit Asgard with the new ESS DAC board, and it is a step back from the JDS but was a big step up from the original AKM board.  My specific sound I hear is the edgieness or sibilance of female vocals like Judy Collins and Joni Mitchel. They hit a few notes that unmask anything wrong.  I am an old guy, so all that top in air and depth stuff is lost on me if if it actually exists. 

@tony1954 if he buys the DAC I say he will be done buying dacs forever. Pay once cry once!

Moose89,

First congratulations on the pre-amp, that's a great start.

Second 12AU7 type tubes have gotten very expensive of late, my favorite are the Mullard NOS (not new production) or the NOS Amperex versions with gold pins....these will both be around $100 per tube, but are amazing tubes. NOS tubes will definitely give you the "warmth and soundstage" that you were referring to.

A very good 12UA7 tube is the NOS RCA "clear top" tubes which can be found under $40 and will be better than any new tube. Brent Jessee will carry a huge selection of 12AU7/6DJ8/and his reputation is perfect http://www.audiotubes.com/12au7.htm

Third if you do decide to go with a $1,000 DAC, I'd recommend looking at the Denafrips Ares 12th edition at $1,000.....not the Enyo/Ares II version for $870. It's definitely worth the extra $130; and is definitely on the "warmth and soundstage" side....and I'd add "fun" as well.

@pennfootball71 

When someone supplies a budget it is to tell the people responding "what he can afford to pay".

This may surprise you, but just because pennfootball71 can afford a Lampizator Baltic 4, it doesn't make it a sensible purchase for those of us that can't.

In a different forum I'm in, people are raving about the new Eversolo DMP A6. It's under a $1000 and people who are coming from a Bluesound node and are shocked at the improvements! I purchased their Master Edition for my headphone setup. My home stereo system I'm using a Holo Audio May KTE and Aurender N200 so this should be an interesting experiment.