Need help matching DAC to speakers and amp

Great advice, all. I find it very hard to trial equipment as most of the dealers near me have only a couple sources to try out.

I suppose my budget should "match" the relative price of my equipment....meaning I would not want to buy a $4,000 DAC nor a $300 one. Since DAC's are relatively new new me, I was guessing around the $1k mark.

I saw Musical Fidelity's Triple Threat tube DAC for sale and I thought it might fit the bill of what I was looking for: nice clean tube sound. My only reservation was that they have been discontinued.

The upgrade path of the internal DAC board was an obvious option at around $1k. I would also avoid having to buy interconnects. The one reservation I had with that option was that it seems the technology for DAC's is changing so rapidly that I would be better served by a more modern DAC release. Maybe you guys can help me out here.

I probably should have chosen my words more carefully when explaining my thought process when I put my amp and speakers together. I did not buy a bright system and now I am hoping to balance them out with a warmer sounding DAC. But if I get a bright sounding DAC, then the equipment I have, with the metal dome tweater and revealing amp will scream how bright the DAC is.

Also, in regards to my price range, Any real faults will be revealeed with my system. I know the price of a component is not the whole story.....but you will be hard pressed to convince me that price is not a good indicator of the quality of the equipment. Sure there are exceptions, and that's what makes them great buys.....but those are exceptions.

I am looking for recommendations on DAC's that would fit the description I am looking for and information about how DAC's have changed or improved the last few years. Should I generally stay with DAC's that are newer?

I appreciate the feedback

Jeff

My music library primarily comes from iTunes these days. Once I get a DAC worked out, and I am leaning towards the internal Bryston DAC since it eliminates a separate chassis and interconnects, I will work on how to get my music from iTunes to the DAC. Someone mentioned getting an older Apple TV box which keeps the library stored internally. Does anyone have any suggestions? My vision is to be able to access the library from an App on the iPhone or iPad and control it that way.

Hey, dumb question, does anyone know how the internal DAC is installed into the amp? Can do it myself?