How to get into high end digital? (Feeding a DAC)

Everything affect digital. Home power is a HUGE issue.  You can't make a blanket statement about jitter or clocks not mattering.  They do in most cases, but not all as long as the DAC/streamer/renderer is designed properly to begin with.  That's going to be costly as I am finding out in my own search for a new DAC that I'm going through now.  

Budget is the most important thing.  There is some good digital at all price points. The thing is that you have to figure out what compromises you can handle adn what's most important to you.

As for Steve Nuggent and his DAC's and Synchro-mesh etc... he makes GREAT products.  Steve is also a GREAT person.  I owned his DAC and loved it and I have a Synchro-Mesh that I no longer need, but when I used it, it helped everything.  Holmz, you know how to get in touch with me.  Please reach out if you would like to and we can 'talk'.  Digital comes down to what flavor you like (for the most part).  that goes for all price ranges based on what I've beee auditioning. 

Based on a lot of listening and testing with friends and by myself, i have found that getting the best source is more important than getting the best DAC.  Figure your budget and then you can find out which DAC and server play best together.  There are so many very good options for each that are 'affordable'.  The higher you get in a DAC (cost), the fewer compromises it should have.  that's not always the case, but it's a general starting point.  I also have found out that cost isn't the be all end all for DAC's.  Codex is still a GREAT option for an under 2k DAC.  It's actually pretty amazing, but most aren't even talking about it as it's an older DAC now, but Ayre Ariel at Ayre designed it and made it to be a DAC that would go against the 5k DAC's.  They actually cost Ayre a ton of money to make.

Then you have a ton of DAC's by solo shops. Steve Nugent of Empirical Audio is another solo shop and what a shop it is.  He is as smart digitally as anyone I have ever met and spoken to.  There are some others who folks discuss on the boards.   

your 2 channel will be fine.  Can it be better?  Of course it can.  It can always be better, but at what cost?  That's when you figure out what to do with 2 channel.  Try it the way you are doing and then we can talk, lol.  :). 

I’m a tried a d true AQ guy. I do use two top end Wireworld for Ethernet though. 

I just set up my Brinkmann Nyquist mk 2.  I realize that I now need to get a preamp. I was under the impression I could use the internal volume control, but it guess that's not what it's designed for.  I'm waiting on a new one from a specific manufacturer, so I'll get a used balanced with zero feedback one until the one I want is ready.  Darn me!!!  That's the MS.  I can't always think straight and don't always understand what I read.  I could have sworn a reviewer used them directly to the amps. Oh well... Next piece of gear...:)