can i get a significant dac upgrade over my Lumin d2 for 2k?

@sgreg1 

Music first, system second, agreed and understood. However it would be nice if you post your system. It always makes it easier to understand why a member may think certain ways about anything audiophile they comment on. I try to be as transparent in my system page as I can so folks may understand better why I think certain ways about anything audiophile. The music is most important but obviously it is always system dependent . 

Bluesound NODE with Teddy  Pardo LPS to Gustard X26 PRO via DH Labs silversonic USB connection. Sweet!

Gustard now doing the R2R thing because it is the talked about thing for analogue lovers. Smart of them. However the X26 pro is an absolutely thing of beauty sound wise, better than the Aries 2 I owned.

Good for you Greg. It's likely to be a great sounding dac for you.

But this R2R craze  brings me to the following thoughts: Why would anyone who is so in love with analog sound would want to find it in digital? Point being analog will always sound different than digital and vice versa. Both can sound wonderful but in a slightly different presentation. I am 68 years old and never thought I would get into the digital world. Analog was it for me for 50 years and my 2,000+ vinyl collection. But since I have always wanted to live in the present, researching digital became inevitable. Boy, am I glad I took the dive this year. CDs came first and now streaming. What a wonderful world of discovery! All this to say if you really want to live with your analog sound, then stick to analog. If you want to explore the present and hear the wonderful sounds digital has to offer, go full digital. The R2R thing makes very little sense to me now and I regret having followed multiple advice received here getting me to purchase the Aries2. It did not work for me. But no big deal, it was easy to sell it.