Adding a Dac and Stresmer

I recently bought an Auralic Aries G1 from an online retailer. It was their demo unit and the previous generation but they gave it a full warranty and knocked $1K off the price. Then I bought a new Denafrips Venus 2 12th edition. The match up is heavenly and was the total price for both was right about at your budget. There is not a lot of difference between the G1 and the G1.1.... Several revisions back in my system I had the Bluesound Node 2i and the Denafrips Ares II. It was very good but to my ears the people that are saying that an upscale streamer and App don’t make much of a difference must have a less resolving system. To me it is night and day. Everything has improved and noticeably. Rounding out the system is a Parasound Halo Hint 6 and Martin Logan ESL-X speakers.

I am using a MHDT Stockhom 2 DAC with my tube setup.  Check it out nice full rich sound, good bass, wider soundstage

Thanks a lot for all the suggestions, I spend about 8 hrs a day with my music so this is very important…

I agree with the people recommending the new Node with power supply upgrade.  I have this, and the sound is very very nice and in fact nicer than the Innuos Zen Mini I also bought some time back.  The Bluos is a really nice user software program it is very easy to use and can save favorites conveniently.

@troidelover1499 Try the Zen Mini with a LPS and then report back.  The Node is not in the same league as the Zen Mini.  And the Innuos Sense app continues to improve and sound even better.