@hoping If you aren't too familiar with DAC's you might want to spend 1/2 to an hour listening to the Youtube presentations from Paul at PS audio in Boulder. Brief but informative. Other than mentioning his own product and some positive comments (of course), he doesn't go around pointing fingers, or shaming, and just gives the basics. His company was one of the pioneers of the addon DAC. I tried to list them in order of what I consider important, so if you don't want to watch them all. and there are more also.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1j5VAfTax0o
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77DXMR3aVtc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdOj9HNS_r4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McoA82-fi9s
Perspective system advise needed.
Here's a new system that might work in my rather smallish room: NODE streamer/DAC (used as a streamer), Denafrips Terminator or Denafrips Plus DAC, and powered speakers like Buchardt A500, or step up to a pair of Genelec 8351B. Perhaps a pair of Dynaudio Focus 30 towers. I haven't heard these speakers and am somewhat apprehensive and confused. I Need the advice of those music lovers who have experienced such a setup with these speakers. What do I have to add/modify to my setup? The rough cost of my perspective system has to be 10 - 13 K US.