Dac with build-up streamer

Yes, I have owned a sub-$5k dac with streamer.  Moon 280D is an excellent solution.

There's trade-off's and benefits for combined units - I chose Moon 280D based on how it sounded and my goals (at the time).  I currently have Moon 791 which is a pre-amp with a built-in DAC/Streamer and phono stage.  I love it and again there are trade-offs I've made that I think are well worth it.

My advise is listen to as many different options as possible then evaluate based on your goals.  And consider if you will be using software like Roon or not it creates another option.

There is an argument for both combined and separates.  At home, I am wanting the best and my MM Tambaqui definitely benefits from a stand alone streamer.  I have upgraded (changed?) the streamer several times and they all sound different.  But at  my vacation home, I run a much more modest system with an Auralic Altair Streaming DAC.  It sounds quite nice, is simple and rock solid on the network,  and appropriate for where it is.

Bryston BDA 3.14 comes in at about $4.1k

I have been reading about the Audio Analogue AADAC, the Bluetooth looks like it’s really good…so your smart phone is the streamer…it has a good volume control so you don’t need a preamp…anyone have any experience with it..

Bluetooth and a smartphone as a streamer???  No…just, no.  Bluetooth has limited bandwidth and smartphones absolutely suck as streaming sources. 

@soix 
0k thanks…

so many streamers out there…