Potential upgrade path…

Your DAC can be upgraded along with your preamp and Amp to increase the sound quality of your room IMO and experience.  The room plays a part but with your components, you can upgrade your sound to reference level for that amount of scratch.

@backdoor 

Do you have a space to build a dedicated room or an unused room that would work? Don’t assume your larger speakers won’t work in a smallish  room. My room is considered small but my Avior ii speakers sound amazing in it. I had Jeff at hdacoustics design the room and I built it. If you have a room already built that might work I highly recommend consulting with Jeff. He is very good and very reasonable price wise. Good luck!

Ron

Bigkidz If you were me and you had my gear what component would you start with? What order would you upgrade? I would rather not do it all at once. Thanks. 
 

Ronbo Currently I don’t have a room. We have built a large porch and a sunroom lately so it may be too soon to add another room. I have an idea where we could extend our garage leaving space to build a room at the back of the current garage. That would probably be the best scenario. Contemplating that move. Thanks for the name. Also what are the dimensions of your room?

Ronboco I checked out your system. Nice gear and nice room too. If your speakers are working in your space then mine should be fine in my space (18x24x8). Interesting. 

backdoor, you wrote "Vthokie the room is actually carpeted. Pretty plush carpet actually. Knowing that and also that this room is really not that small (18x24) would you change your recommendation in any way?"

(1) Since your listening room is not going to change, you should treat the room first.....it will without a doubt help any and all changes that you do or do not make. I am by no means an expert in this area (I have no professional experience), I spent 3 months researching the subject prior to making any changes....and tried a few different rugs before settling on the below

(2) I was a late adopter in "room treatment", I actually ignored it while building my system. I saw countless posts about "treating your room", and finally decided to give it a go. I have to admit I should have done the room treatment much earlier in my process, and it was EASILY the equivalent of upgrading one or two components.

(3) Well it's at least worth looking at what kind of carpet you have, and if you have a pad that is acoustically absorbent. The best carpet package is: made of thick wool at least 1/2" pile, has an "open" cotton/wool backing (no polyester sealant or fibers, and a 1/2" pad that is acoustically absorbant. That combo is not cheap, in a room your size it might be $4,000 or $5,000 installed.

If your current carpet is polyester, nylon, or olefin with a similar sealed backing (which most carpet installed in homes is) you can expect an absorption level of 25% to 30%. A nice 1/2" thick wool carpet with open backing and an absorbant pad should produce 50% to 70% reduction.

(4) I have tested your Aurender and Holo Audio May KTE DAC in my room and system, and IMO they are not limiting factors for your system. The other equipment I have no experience with.

(5) I still believe you should be able to test drive some great speakers to see how they pair with your room (after you treat it), I do think an amazing pair of stand mounts would be worth an audition, and might be more flexible