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

Over a few years I have trialed approx' 12 Digital COAX Cables all between 0.7mtr and 0.9mtr in length in Silver and Copper Signal Wiring and in a price range between £70 and £500.
Some are Branded and some have been custom made but produced to be marketed.
I have found Copper to be the most attractive in my set up, and chose a cheaper copper signal wire cable over a very expensive silver signal wire cable.
It then evolved to a Copper Ribbon replacing a Copper Wire and more recently it evolved into a D.U.C.C 7N Pure Copper Wired Cable replacing the Copper Ribbon.
There is one thing that is quite noticeable from my trials and recollections of these different cables, and that is the COAX Cable can make a CDT > DAC coupling a very attractive source when the Cable is discovered that produces an ideal interface and SQ for the end user.

The only explanation I can offer that will be from a subjective viewpoint, is that when experiencing certain cable types within the System there were presentations that were immediately recognized as being able to be a detractor and not an attractor.
From recollection the most short lived cable used in a trial was a Silver Wired Cable.
In contrast a Silver Wired Din > RCA Phono Cable has been in use for more than Three Years, and has only very recently been changed, this cable has been compared to approx' Six cables over this period, that have been made up of varying purchase values.
The retained Silver Wire Cable proved to be a satisfactory cable throughout the usage period.
Its replacement is a PC Triple C Wire Cable.  

A set up like the one outlined below in the second bottom paragraph should fit in correctly with the Title of the Thread and the OP's inquiry.

From descriptions offered to myself following inquiries, it is certainly  going to be a very different experience and will fit in the OP's requirement,
 "But high-end to me would be something that sounds good and does not sound like it is obviously coming from a CD player."    

"Well I was not thinking much of budget, but less than 10k."
I think a prudent approach can get you to this level of set up with quite a few $$$$'s left in the coffers, leaving enough for a HQ Player Subscription for many years if this method of replay is investigated and becomes a High Up the List choice.
 
I have followed various user experiences around this method of replay during the Lockdown of 2020 and after a long hankering to experience the set up, it is looking most likely I will be able to have a demonstration of the set up later in 2021. 
I am taking a friend along who is a very adept EE and Digital Enthusiast to the demonstration, I am hoping the EE develops a curiosity for this method and carries out a build, this will make it much more accessible for myself to experience, as at present the Trip will be between 300 - 500 Miles round Trip depending on the venue.

A DSD decoder set-up as a source with a 'Valve DAC'. used 
with HQ Player upsampling to DSD from PCM FLAC files and DSD256 Tracks.

A Thread covers this arrangement and other very similar set ups on the DIY Audio Forum

@holmz                 
              Your Thread Title and OP make it very clear that you are inquiring and looking to have a input to help improve your understanding of the requirements.
If that is being shown as difficult to embrace by a contributor, it is not really something to be concerned about.
A more compatible Mentor will show up.