Have you every heard of Topping DACs? I hadn’t either, but the brand is a favorite of an audio forum that believes in OBJECTIVE test results. Topping has a line of sub-$300 DACs many sub-$200 that in the test results there are state of the art.
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php
Fair warning. I don’t agree with their slant on things. They call folks like me "subjectiveists" because I go by sound quality and not blind devotion to objective test results. But who knows, the test results of the Topping DACs are very good.
I had the Pro-Ject’s Pre Box S2 Digital DAC for a while and it wasn’t bad. I also had a Schiit Modi Multibit that I licked. But I have a Chord Qutest DAC now and love, love, love it. Unfortunately, it’s $1800 so above your budget.
PS. The Bluesound Node2 can be bettered - but get a dedicated DAC first.
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php
Fair warning. I don’t agree with their slant on things. They call folks like me "subjectiveists" because I go by sound quality and not blind devotion to objective test results. But who knows, the test results of the Topping DACs are very good.
I had the Pro-Ject’s Pre Box S2 Digital DAC for a while and it wasn’t bad. I also had a Schiit Modi Multibit that I licked. But I have a Chord Qutest DAC now and love, love, love it. Unfortunately, it’s $1800 so above your budget.
PS. The Bluesound Node2 can be bettered - but get a dedicated DAC first.