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

+1 for the Denafrips Pontus II DAC, though I have not heard the Gustard. I'm also a little over a week into testing a Denafrips Iris DDC feeding the Pontus, and yes does it make a very noticeable difference.......from a Node 130. Cost of the Pontus II and Iris DDC is $2,300.....I should get a report out this weekend or early next week.

I also can recommend the Holo Audio DACs, but they'll run you even more

Soix,

As of right now using a 1 meter Audioquest Vodka 48 HDMI (8K) for testing, and since I'm  comparing the system with/without Iris.....don't yet want to muck up the works with different cables. 

I do have a Supra 2.1 UHD (8K), that I think should give excellent performance, and I have a Wireworld Sphere 48 (8K) that's inexpensive and am looking for another reasonably priced high speed HDMI cable to compare (maybe Furutech?).....open to recommendations $250 and under

Great for you, please do report back when you have it up and running