You might just be another perfect candidate—dare I say, guinea pig—for the Node ICON ($1.2k, might be w/ a good LPS like you said), which The Absolute Sound praised for sounding only “subtly” different from a $35k rig that included a $28k DAC and a $6.7k Aurender N200 streamer. Note that N200 is highly raved by the Agers here.
And if it is good and you decide to keep it, report back pls and also teach Agers a good lessen here that a hi-fi gear does not need to be expensive.