See if you can borrow a DDDAC with a valve output stage from David at AD Audio.
It may be that you’ll never be satisfied with digital. Even buying something really expensive will never fix a poorly mastered CD.
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Have you tried an Audio Note DAC yet?
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Not yet, but it’s one that would probably suit my taste.
Going to try a dac or two and see if the sound changes significantly.
Then, when I find it doesn’t I’ll buy a reel to reel 
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