As others have suggested, I would remove the Mac from the system and go for separates for the DAC and streamer. Some have suggested an Innuos streamer, and I have a Stream 1 with Phoenix USB output on order, although your budget says go with one of the older used Innuous models. For the DAC, last year I upgraded my Schiit Bifrost 2/64 (now in my office at home where I do use my Mac Mini M4Pro) to the Gungnir 2, and I am exceptionally pleased with the sound quality I am getting from my system—Rogue RP-7 preamp, Odyssey monobloc amps, Fyne F702 speakers with two Rythmik Subs, with 4’ Silversmith Fidelium speaker cables and a mix of AudioQuest and Morrow interconnects and Ice Age Audio power cables.
DAC suggestions?
Hello!
I’m looking for a new DAC suggestion for my 2.1 office room set up. The room is 12x11 ft with a 10 ft ceiling. The EverSolo DMP-A8 seems interesting. Currently, I have the following:
Rotel CD14 (Water 1m RCA cable)
Michi X3 (Audioquest Thunder 2m Power cable)
Rel T/9X (Rocket 88 3m Rel Sub cable)
Sonus Faber Sonetto V Walnut (William Tell Zero 12ft Speaker cable)
iMac, using Roon and Tidal (USB B 1.5m Carbon cable)
I listen to jazz and RnB mostly and prefer a warmer sound. I’m happy with my current setup but feel adding a DAC and digital streamer would be nice versus going through my iMac. Thank you so much for your time.