Node2i + Qutest or Yggy or Codex or something else

Since the budget is $1800 here are options:
if you want clarity and realism and detail then the Schiit Yggy used is a good choice. Someone also mentioned the Gugnir. Also a good choice. Those are both multibit DACs. The Quetest is also good and in your price range. It has different filters and is adjustable to taste. A quality product FPGA DAC that is built like a tank. Another good DAC you can sometimes find used (I did) is the Mytek (a chip DAC) Brooklyn DAC+. I don’t have experience with the Codex. But these are all quality DAC and it’s a matter of taste. 

PC Audio,

Our club held a DAC Shootout last Saturday. 10 DACs involved.
The Schiit Yggy is $500 over your budget. Cutest is $100 over.
The majority of participants  chose the $800 Black Ice Glass FX DSD Wifi 
over almost all others including some at $6,000.  This was a blind test.
Take it for what it's worth and Good Luck !!
PS: Before I spent a penny I would install some early reflection absorbers where possible.

I upgraded from DAC in the Bluesound Vault2 to the Yiggy.  Fantastic!  You will love it.

@pc_audio - Here's another possibility. Looking at your system, based on the components you mentioned, you only have a single source - Node 2i. Since you are using the P5, which, based on experience with the unit in my system, is your weak link, you could buy a high quality DAC that also has a pre-amp or volume control built in. That way you could replace the DAC and pre-amp at the same time, with one box. Both replacing the pre-amp and adding a high quality DAC will likely provide significant improvements in SQ.

Not sure what current DACs have volume control. But I do know that the Mytek Liberty ($995) has digital volume control  and the Mytek Brooklyn DAC+ ($2195) has a built-in pre-amp.

This is just something else to consider if you want a boost in SQ within your budget (if you sell the P5, the Brooklyn would be in your budget if you used the funds from the P5).

Thanks for all the suggestions.  @reubent - you got me thinking about selling my P5 and using the funds towards a new and better preamp + DAC.

Assuming I can get $700-800 for my P5, my budget is now around $2500 for a DAC+pre-amp.  

What do you all think of PS Audio DirectStream DAC Junior. It's discontinued by PS Audio. I can find used at around $2500.  How does that compare to Mytek Brooklyn DAC+ or others?

Thanks.

PC_Audio