Better DAC or better Streamer

The Aurender 100 is so different it is unreal. The Aurender is leagues better... the SP2000 sounding dry and flat. 

@bluethinker 

+1

OP, 

I own an Aurender 100, an W20WSE... I have heard other models as well as dCS, Linn, Grimm and others.  Also I own and A&K SP2000. There is nothing  remotely bright about any of the Aurender streamers. It must be coming from somewhere else. Yes, Focal tend to be on the bright side. 

@mclinnguy

I have a A&K SP2000 DAP and an Aurender N100 (10 pounds) and an Aurender W20SE (46 pounds). I actually like talking weight. It isn’t there just for looks and is a pretty reliable indicator of sound quality. 

I’ve used all of these through my main system which has a good DAC. The A&K is a joke in comparison to either of the Aurender... obviously I have the W20SE because its sound quality justifies its cost.

One’s conclusion on Aurender’s Conductor app may be highly dependent on when you used it. They did a major upgrade about six to nine months ago. Not a spectacularly smooth transition. But is solidified and now far more powerful than the earlier version... and it is getting even better daily,

I certainly depends on the sound character you want to change. If I had your system, I would want a more musical and natural sounding DAC. The DAC is likely to have a bigger change on the sonic character. The streamer will lower the noise floor, increase  dynamics and detail.