Help choosing a DAC

 @oddiofyl "My problem with Denafrips is there is no return policy.     What is your budget ?   Maybe consider used ,   check out TMR in Colorado.  They have a good return policy."  

+1 

Gotta say overall, with only one minor exception over the past 4-5 years, I've had good interaction and transactions with TMR Audio.  They helped me move some gear more than a few times - so I could try new stuff, at reasonable prices, and the return policy was there if I needed it.  They have learned and evolved, with increasing inventory supply over time.    

I had a CJ cav45 S2 with the Pontus and borrowed a Venus and I can relate to Vishines thoughts between the two. I think the Pontus has the relaxed character of the CJ. Venus is just a little different. If you are trying to branch out from CJ sound Venus may be the one. If you get the Pontus get the Iris or the Hermès. It’s a must have for me. I does clean up the Pontus but in a good way. 

Check out the Lab 12 DAC 1 Reference.   Cost is about the same as a Venus 

op

i trust you have seen my long thread on dacs i have tried (and commented on in length) on this board

i run a similar system as yours

i would say buy a used pontus 2 used at a good price ($1200-1400), try it, and you can resell it dollar for dollar if you think you want a little more overt treble detail and touch less midrange/midbass warmth (that is what a venus 2 will give you), then you wait for a venus 2 to show up used

don’t get sucked into denafrips' latest or 12th edition 12-1 12-2 etc etc all that abject nonsense (which is what it is) -- pontus 2 or venus 2 is what you should look for if you want value for $ spent on denafrips gear

I owned both Denafrips Terminator 2 and Pontus 2. 
The Terminator checked all the audiophile boxes but I found Pontus to be more musical and engaging. Buy it used and you can sell it for pretty much what you paid for it. Good luck!