+1 to the HifiRose or Lumin recommendations. Also +1 using an extender and cable. I don’t own one, but so many “fawn” over them (as you so aptly described). But serious, excellent sq and UI. I’m personally using a rpi based streamer by Pi2design. If I could swing the $$$$, however, I’d be all over the Hifi Rose. Have also heard a Lumin T1, and that is simply amazing. Also Lumin mini without a dac if you’re going to go with separates (recommended).
As far as the extender, just switching from wifi to using a cable from a network connected extender actually improved sq for my setup. Too many variables to consider exactly why? But the difference was clear, obvious, palpable. Just using a TP Link extender in client mode. It requires just a bit of setup by connecting to it via laptop (recommended instead of trying wps) but super simple after that.
I might also try an Ethernet RF filter. It’s been recommended on the rpi thread about my streamer. Also recommended to use only one in the path in the case of a streamer, not two. We’ll see if it does anything, cheap enough to try.
Lastly, a Melco ethernet cable is a very, very nice Ethernet cable for the money.