adding a DAC/Streamer or what

Great comments. I have decided to separate out the DAC and Streamer. I thank the person who directed me to the you tube videos to try to understand the basics of streaming and DAC's. Now I have to make the decision what products to purchase. Listened to a Chord Qutest yesterday and the dealer introduced us to a Bluesound Node 2 but have more research to do prior to finalizing a decision so any comments are all read and taken into account and greatly appreciated for those of you who take the time to express your experiences and opinions!

Knowing a budget would be helpful.
Node2 has a DAC which you won’t be using, but it’s still a good introduction to streaming.  It has one of the better software packages, which is very important in streaming, and it’s a good enough streamer that many people never feel the need to upgrade. It also does Bluetooth.
Many people don’t find the DAC to be adequate, but some find it sufficient.  One suggestion would be to see what return policy the dealer has.  If he will give you a few weeks then purchase the Node2 and the Chord.  Try the Node2 first by itself for a few days and then add the Chord.  If the Node2 is adequate return the Chord, and if you later hunker for an upgrade, there are many fine DACs in every price range, or just purchase the Chord.  Later on you may feel the need to change the streamer and at least the Node2 is a relatively small investment.
  Another option is to purchase the DAC and try it with a PC for a while before deciding if you need a streamer.

I am thinking of spending under 10K for both items together. Your thoughts?

There are tons of great DACs and streamers. I of course like the brands and models that we've chosen to carry, as well as many others that we don't carry.

In addition to the budget, it would also help to know what kind of sound character you're looking for. We can make a guess based on your choice of KEF Reference 5 and Pass Labs INT-250, but maybe picking gear that also provides a similar sound would be pushing you too far in one direction, and you'd instead prefer adding more neutral gear. ???

What sound qualities are you looking for and are most important to you?