Looking for best streamer without DAC under $3500

Lumin U1 mini

@dznutz  Would it be silly to get a D2 and use as a streamer? There's one on Audiogon for $1750 right now. I see it has a BNC/Coax.

Not silly at all, the added flexibility may come in handy at some point.

Right on. I may just have to pull the trigger on that.

How familiar are you with Lumin products? 

I enjoy the Metrum and tried a Mytek Brookyln for a short time but found it too be too bright/clinical sounding. But as most of us in this hobby, it's fun to upgrade to the next and best. I don't have the luxury of being able to demo to compare. 

I honestly doubt the D2 would better your onyx/ambre combo.
Different yes
Better ? in the ears of the beholder.

I have an Aurender N100 and tbh I have just changed to using Roon, running core on my computer and using a Sonore Microrendu as a bridge then straight into my MHDT Orchid DAC and that sounds slightly better to my ears. A little more air and easier to pick out instruments, not quite as dark as the N100.

In fact I was considering buying an Onyx/Ambre combo using i2s to see what that sounds like.

The N100 does allow the use of Spotify but the sq on that is blown away by Qobuz hires imho