How does 10+ year old technology compare to modern: Musical Fidelity M1 DAC

When I bought my OPPO-103 12 years ago, I thought it was a terrific DVD Player. After upgrading, I was disappointed in the OPPO as a CD Player or transport/streamer...I think as you're looking at older DACs, personal preference becomes even more important, and there will be less agreement from others...

Looking at the DAC market as a whole and the progression of the digital pathway with streaming & DAC units: option of buying a decent used price DAC of the last 8 yrs...say a Berkley Audio Alpha 3 2018 (not the Reference) or a Mola Mola compared to the newer Schiit or one of the other newer builds of the past 1-2 years....thoughts? Or, going with a newer lower price-point DAC and waiting say 5 years to upgrade then? Several of the "extreme" price-point systems ( MSB, Bartok, and others ) are coming out with trickle-down tech but even their entry level systems are very pricey. Is DAC progression still early; will it benefit from newer tech coming? How much emphasis goes toward...software/algorithm vs chip/chips vs shielding/electronics? Is one side reaching build limits?

jl35 no so much 'older' or 'personal preference' but rather non audiophile cost constraint (I just don't want to spend crazy, ehem I mean 'auidophile' money).

Judging the Oppo 103 as transport, SACD and DAC: name alternatives in the below $400 market. 

Ditto for 

Shiit Modi 3+ (under say $150)

Musical Fidelity M1 (under say $250)

Matching TRANSPORT for above external DAC (say under $250)

As always: Bang for Buck rules!

Transport I like, and use, Cambridge CXC...CD Players I like Marantz CD6006(7) and Rotel CD11 Tribute - I own both, just sold the Oppo...I liked the Schiit Modius DAC better than the Modi...these are simply my preferences, all within your cost parameters, based on owning all equipment I mentioned...lots of people love the Oppo stuff...

@boltapuresource

An audiophile DAC goes well beyond just getting the major sounds right. It is highly refined. So the thsss of a drumstick hitting a cymbal sounds like brass. the highly complex sound of a trumpet or sax has the full complexity for a brass instrument not just a cartoonish impression. The human voice becomes fully fleshed out. Very often on budget equipment, Schiit being a good example, the voice is recognizable but thin and a bit week... heard through a really good DAC it has real serious midrange weight.. I am not a fan of Tony Bennett and Frank Sinatra.... but the difference through a great DAC (with appropriate associated equipment) is simply astonishing... the power and depth of their voices. While, they are not my cup of tea... on a great system with a great DAC you can’t help but understand why they are so famous.

Some examples of Audiophile DACs would be Berkely Alpha Reference 3, Audio Research Reference 9, dCS Bartok (although I find this a bit thin... polite as it often referred to), MSB.