Just Getting Back Into Audio and Need Help

I think "need" is almost never a factor.  Your challenge is to put together a system that you prefer over your past memories.  It sounds like one of your goals is to minimize the pieces of equipment.

If you can find an integrated with a built in DAC that you like the sound of with the Focal speakers (I have Focal 836v speakers and love them), then you're set.

I can tell you that I love the sound of my Denafrips Ares II DAC and Pathos Classic One MkIII integrated amplifier (1960s Mullard Tubes) feeding my Focal speakers.  New the combination should be under $5k.  Based on the amplifiers you listed this is a bit more than you're looking to spend.

Soix, I can vouch for what you said about Hegel’s built in DAC. I just got the H590 and its DAC sounds significantly better that the stand alone I had been running, which is a 3,000 unit. I haven’t tried the Hegel streaming device as I’m very pleased with the Innuos rig I’m using.

I am a fan of Focal speakers. I would be a little wary of pairing them with class D amplification such as the Parasound you mentioned — out of concern that you will end up with too much of a good thing, with a hyper-detailed, fatiguing and possibly bright sound. Crutchfield is currently offering the 906 on sale for a savings of $440. If it were me, I would use the savings toward a Bluesound Node2 DAC/streamer and look at a class A/B integrated. While I agree that a Hegel integrated with internal DAC would be a good investment and would likely pair very well with the Focals, it would be outside your budget based on the integrated amps you are considering. Of the ones you are considering with the Focals, I would highly favor Musical Fidelity. The onboard DAC is a weak point however from what I have read. So total investment with sale price on Focal 906 and Bluesound Node would be $4000. This would be a truly musical system. Good luck!!!

discovered the unfortunate truth that everything from the wall power to the wall/floor ceiling treatment, equipment stands, furniture…everything mattered.

+1, everything matters, leave one out and you are spending money on pointless upgrades. Nail them all and save money in the long run because everything just works.

I noticed on Audiogon that Underwood Hifi is offering the MicroMega M-One 100 new for only $1999 ($3000 below list). This integrated like Focal is manufactured in France, and has been featured in audio shows with the Focal Sopra 2, considerably up the Focal line from Aria collection. The streamer per Underwood is not very good, the only weak point.