The state of the digital art and design has changed almost exponentially for the better over the last decade or more. Several years ago with my ~$25K analog set-up, I really enjoyed analog over my digital sound which also wasn't cheap. However that all changed with a relatively inexpensive DAC that uses an older non over-sampling no digital filter chip and a really good power-supply. It took my digital listening to a whole new level. I found myself listening more to digital and less to my analog set-up. As time passed, I sold my whole analog set-up and went fully digital and every step up the digital path since has shown me improvement with each change. The key in my opinion for improved digital sound quality is to minimize noise and jitter in the digital path, and there are a number of rather inexpensive components that can get you there.
Little Giant NOS DAC mini review
I bought this dac a few months ago from Aliexpress. It is a 47 Labs clone with a Philips TD1387 chip in non-oversampling mode.
It also employs a variant of the Pass output buffer, and utilizes a sole S/PDIF coaxial input.
When using this dac with my computer, differing levels of digital distortion were clearly present, with the best digital files having the least. The results were good to terrible.
But when I use my Carver MV5 cd player as a transport, I get much different and improved results.
Not only is the distortion reduced to a tolerable level, the sound is warmer and smoother, with a good soundstage and imaging.
I would also say that it is closer to analog than my old Micromega Stage 3, while providing more air and apparent resolution.