Streamer upgrade advice.

A quick look at the CXN specs and I did not see native support for Apple Music. You also mention Airplay, iPhone and Mac. Can you describe how you are  currently playing music and how you are connected to the CXN?

Rose250a everSolo A8 support AM natively that sound reasonably good and are in your budget

Airplay, Apple Music snd ALAC isn’t exactly an optimized streaming setup. You can improve it by getting a streamer with native apple music support but it’s still not going to sound as good as qobuz or tidal. 
Just as an experiment can you do a free trial of either qobuz or tidal with your CXN and compare it to AirPlay/Apple Music?  Stream these natively thru the streamer app. Start there and see if you can hear any differences playing the same tracks. 

@zlone, CXN and Mac are on the same wired network. Airplay from mac to cxn, controlled via apple remote. Obviously this has limitations. 

I'd stay where you are at until you decide to upgrade your streaming services. 

You can get a better system by converting your music files to the general flac format and storing them on a NAS.  Then get a Bluesound node nano and connect the usb output of the Bluesound node to your dac.  Run an ethernet cable from the NAS to the node nano if possible, otherwise you can use wifi.

I think the Node may need an ethernet cable connection to a wi-fi extender at least.

Sadly, it's time to move on from Apple.  The most cost effective solution would be to get a streamer/server with some onboard storage.  Relocate the music you own onto the new device then switch streaming services to Qobuz or Tidal.  This should really unlock the potential in your system.  

If you stay with Apple you will always be handcuffed. 

@rick_n choice for a good streamer/server with on board storage? 

Here’s a very good streamer w/ internal storage at a good price that also has an excellent app that’s very user friendly.  Very good customer support as well.  If interested move fast because at this price it won’t last long.

https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/650237304-innuos-zen-mk-3-server/

My eversolo a 8 is a bargain. Some say customer service is lacking. 

You have to be a mug to pay thousands of dollars for an audiophile streamer with built in storage.  You can get a good NAS with RAID protection for less than $500.  When a hard disk fails you just swap it out for a new one, instead of paying thousands for a new audiophile streamer box.  Save your money for the DAC and amplifier. 

Here's a  review of the control app for Synology NAS devices. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZQE1xp76QY

It controls any DLNA or UPNP streamer on your wifi network.

And a cheap Bluesound or wiim streamer can produce great sound with a great dac, amplifier, and headphones/speakers

Innuos!

Point 1&2 just killed you. Get off of computers and Mac in particular (if you're serious).

Also, forget any improvements unless you're willing to shell out $5K or better. 

This is all assuming the rest of your gear is above par. 

Have a look at the streamers and streamer/DAC from Lindemann of Germany. You can also add a USB drive to the back of these devices and play locally stored music files. Also, the Volumio devices from Italy are very well respected. Both brands make a streamer without DAC or streamer with DAC.

I was stubbornly attached to Apple Music airplay etc etc. I gave up when I tried qubuz with roon. It works the way it should…. Now my digital stream is sublime. 
 

sadly, Apple just isn’t serving hifi very well at all, despite their lossless catalogue. 
 

r

Like others have said, moving on from Apple to Qobuz or Tidal will open up more hardware options for consideration, and you may find the quality from either of those two superior to AM.
If you are sticking with Apple, consider an Eversolo DMP-A8 ($1,980). Plays AM natively so you get the full high-res playback, and it has onboard storage, up to 4TB (additional cost), to store your purchased music. 
I have the original A6 and plan to upgrade the power supply to LPS. I feed that via USB into a Denafrips Ares 12th. I have 2TB of onboard storage and connect a CD player to the second USB port for playback and ripping to the HD. 
There are lots of features and functionality, even when "only" using it as a transport. Add to your audition list.

I, too, am. Dedicated Mac user, since January1985 while stationed with the Army in Europe.  However, I recently added TIDAL to my system, still through an iPad Pro.  A comparison of the same songs between the two services was simply stunning, with far better imaging nd somewhat better tonal qualities immediately evident.  So, I have an Innuous Stream 1 with added reclocker on order.  Given the quality of your system, I believe the addition of a better streamer will make a significant difference but also that switching to TIDAL—its monthly fee is modest—will also make a huge difference.  Once you get your new streamer, check out Tidal and Qobuz via their free trials.  I was “sold” in less than an hour.  Wishing you great music!

Airplay is a non-starter. Just for fun, get a Qobuz trial and configure it on your CXN so that it streams directly to the CXN, and use the CXN for control. This will be a low/no cost test. My guess is it will be a significant improvement.

I have a very similar setup with the M1200’s, StellarGold Pre and the StellarGold DAC.  I recently bought the PSAudio AirlLens.  Somewhat expensive for what it does but it works seamlessly between my Roon server and pre-amplifier.

Hi. For me it has to be Lumin D3. It's CNC aluminium chassis is a build quality that is not going to be bettered,  No gimmicks, The focus is on quality components. It will gives you a taste of high end refinement but not a high end price. Does TIDAL Connect and Airplay 2 Compatible as well as Roon Ready, Spotify Connect, MQA, TIDAL, Qobuz, Plex and TuneIn.

To answer your question I would take a good look at Innuos and Aurender.  They are superior streamers and will locally store the music that you own.  Your budget should be able to get you into one of their entry models especially in the second hand market.  Both companies only make streamer/servers (which is a plus) and both offer very good apps to control your music from a phone or tablet.  Good luck and don't forget to demo!  The streamers actually all sound a bit different.  

Hey OP

I highly recommend that you look into Eversolo (which ever fits your budget)

you said you only wanted apple music. then here it is "  Eversolo Streamers Apple Music User Guide – eversolo  "

I highly recommend the Eversolo A8, it fits your budget and has a very good phone app from which you can control everything. Works well with many streaming platforms including Apple. In addition you’ll get a decent DAC and backup preamp!  It does have a screen, but you don’t need it, the remote works well. I only ever use the screen for updates. BTW, Apple Music sounds great on it, I use Apple, Qobuz and Tidal; all work well. 

If you use or plan to use HQPlayer then the options are really limited.  I am using Roon->HQPlayer->SOTM Ultra Neo with LPS, fiber ethernet and LHY SW-10 switch and the results are fantastic.  Very transparent.

I use a Bluesound Vault 2i. Allows me to either use the onboard DAC or connect to a stand alone DAC. 2 TB of storage and on board Qobuz, Tidal, Spotify. ~$1,700. I'm currently working through my DAC options. Currently debating between the LTA Aero, the Schiit Yggdrasil (more is better) and the underdog Geshelli DayZee. Probably by the time I make up my mind it will be a different one all together, I'm fine taking my time on this, the built in DAC sounds great in the meantime.

What’s everyone’s choice for best dac and streamer built in? 12k or less..

@charles007100  The Bricasti M1 would be up there, or a used Grimm MU2. 

https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/650213276-grimm-mu2-8tb-major-dac/

Tidal through the Airlens is superb. Qobuz I've heard is even better.

@soix thanks for the recommendation and link. Others here also spoke highly of Innuos, from both a musicality/SQ and user interface/app perspective. So, I went ahead and bought that Zen Mk 3 unit on USAM!

@bimmerlover  You’re welcome and congrats.  You got a great deal on what’s basically a new unit, and I’d be interested to hear your thoughts on it versus the Cambridge if you could. 

It's an interesting aspect of our hobby. We can spend thousands on a streamer, but then hesitate on the software that truly makes it shine. The combination of annual subscriptions for Roon and Qobuz comes out to about $23 a month, yet the improvement they bring to the experience and sound quality is, for me, one of the most significant upgrades you can make at any price.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zTJQaY4bxo&t=29s

If your files are stored on a NAS or some kind of computer on your wifi network, you can stream them using only software.  No extra hardware required.  Software will read the data from the files and stream it to a digital output port, which can be connected to your DAC.  Could be Roon, JPlay, BubbleUpnp, or Synology DS audio software.  Sure, it can be convenient to get a cheap hardware streamer like a Bluesound or Wiim, but that's just a convenient way of creating a digital audio stream.  Its makes no sense to spend thousands of dollars on that.   The bits that affect sound quality are the dac and amplifier. 

Sure, it can be convenient to get a cheap hardware streamer like a Bluesound or Wiim, but that's just a convenient way of creating a digital audio stream.  Its makes no sense to spend thousands of dollars on that.   The bits that affect sound quality are the dac and amplifier.

@jimmyb123  If you think a multipurpose computer compares to a good streamer you have much to learn.  Everything matters in a streaming setup, and that certainly pertains to streamers.

As long as the bluetooth is turned off and there’s no electrical interference, one USB digital audio stream is the same as another.  It’s just digital data. It doesn’t have to be an expensive streamer.  I have a NAS in the computer room and a wifi extender wired to a $379 streamer ( a Roon ready bluesound nano https://www.bluesound.com/usa/node-nano) in the living room. Sound is great, because there’s a RME ADI-2 DAC, a Luxman P-750U headphone amp, and Meze Empyrean Elites!

Just to be clear, I do like streamers like the Naim Uniti Atom, but I see the value as being in the built-in DAC and pre- amp (or headphone amp) functions rather than the streaming part.  Also with a cheap streamer, its important to use the USB output, so that the DAC takes care of the clocking.

If you can use coax a frugal choice that punches way above its price (at least by 3x) is to get the ifi Zen streamer. But you will also need to add a quiet linear power supply ($50) or use the ifi elite power supply. 
 

But only over coax does the performance of the ifi Zen excel!
USB on the ifi zen is pretty marginal.

Coax performance on the ifi zen is positively sublime and superb.