Simplification sounds good. I have the QB-7(?) Twenty DAC. It is a great DAC. I get the appeal. However, if I was thinking that way, I would go the Linn DSM route. You can get the whole stack in one small box… and the performance is astounding. I have listened to various combinations. But it can have a streamer, DAC at several levels of cost/performance, preamp, phonostage and amp. I would have laughed at the idea ten years ago.
I had the streamer / mid-level DAC in my system last week… and its sound quality was worthy of its price. One elegant little box.