"Coming from $10,000 DAC" provides no qualification in this discussion. What does is them saying they set up a controlled test, matched levels and without knowing identity of one DAC vs another, they consistently showed a preference.Don't ask me. I've never heard a Benchmark. But these guys have. Many of these guys are coming from $10000+ DAC's so their standards are higher than most.
That is the only reliable piece of data. You know what the ear really heard. Not what the eyes saw, the brain thought of the design, purchase decision, whim of the moment, etc. Just the sound and nothing but the sound.
So yes, absolutely trust your ears. Just know how to isolate it from the many other things that impact what you *think* the sound is.
You understand this argument, yes? You keep repeating the same mistake and false arguments we have heard as if you have thought of something knew.