The older ESS DACs have a reputation for being clean and bright, and also harsh. The newer ones are have better reviews, but I moved away from Delta Sigma DACs quite a while ago. Both ESS and AKM chips can have high-pitched whiny artifacts too.
First, each person needs to try for themselves. Some people hear or claim to hear minor differences while others don’t hear or care. Some want to be dragon slayers, whereby they (imagine) that cheap items sound as good as more expensive amps. This can be true sometimes, or it can be wishful thinking. Finally, many people are heavily influenced by appearance, reputation, and image. They buy with their eyes rather than their ears, and spend a fortune for no audible improvement.
This forum has had numerous questions similar to yours, to include from Europe or Asia where USA brands (e.g., Schiit) are hard to get or not worth the imported price. Check out these threads for a lot of feedback on specific models: