OOPS, sorry, I read your post wrong. Thanks for mentioning
the Tara ICs, never tried them but I am curious.
I use a Stealth Dream preamp-specific cord on my EMM DCC2
that I enjoy as a balance between smoothness and resolving-power and, strangely, after trying several much more
expensive cords on my EMM CDSA, a TG SLVR that turned out the best with no artificiality or lumpy bass or stepped-up highs but also with just-right resolution. If you can find a used one, I think it would be worth it to spend a few hundred to try it and resell for no loss later if needed.