+1 @mahgister
I heard a SIGNIFICANT difference with each of my moves.
1917: iPhone/Pure DAC
2019: Devialet 400
2023: Vinnie Rossi L2S preamp with DAC
2024: Playback Designs MPD-8
The PURE was not good enough for background music. The Devialet was okay. The VR showed me that digital could be eminently listenable. The PD blew me away. The latter uses an FPGA, but also incorporates a superb analog preamp section along with three separate power supplies, one for each digital channel and one for the analog section.
It has pretty much replaced my need (but not desire) for analog. And Maghister is correct about the impact of the listening environment. Without room treatment, what you hear is not music but a smear of notes. Might be a very nice smear, but a smear nonetheless.