Over the last month I've auditioned some modest dacs, SMSL, Topping, Soncoz for a second system. All measured well here and were recommended. I put them into my main system where my reference is an Audiolab Mdac and tried to listen as objectively as possible. Compared with the mdac, which is ESS chip based, and measures okay as far as I can tell, all sounded thin, with a reduced left/right soundstage. I'm willing to be convinced that I'm hearing things, but would be interested to hear what others have to say.