Out of the game for 5 years...looking for help?

Like you I was out of the game for 6 years. Sold all my over top, crazy expensive gear. Just got back in this year fully focused on just enjoying the music and keeping my system within a reasonable budget. The good news is for folks who are into computer audio there is a ton of good equipment at a lower price. To me I think there is has been less improvement in sound quality and more improvement in the ability to get SOTA sound at a lower price. Companies like Shiit, exaSound, etc are doing some cool stuff.

Not too much improvement IMHO.
Starting analogue is much more interesting.

Streetdaddy - since you are running a Mac mini - take a look at Audirvana- the best player/streamer I've use to date - you can download a free trial version from their web site

It can operate as a standalone player or integrates with iTunes, which I use because my droid remote software, called Retune, works so well with it

I'll second the Schiit - just got the Bifrost + Uber upgrade + USB - $520 - put on some serious power cables and interconnects and it will wow you.

Running the DAC via USB - tried the optical and s/pdif and could not tell the difference

One of the few dacs in this price range that allows 24/192 on all inputs.

Good luck

Oh Schiit!

My response was more H-O-L-Y S-C-H-I-I-T

For $520 - great value!