Streamer, no DAC please?

Since you already have a Denafrips DAC, I'll suggest the Denafrips streamers - Arce or Arcas. They are purist, stripped down devices with a focus on hardware. You will need to bring the software - Roon or JPlay iOS. Add HQPlayer and connect via I2S you'll have a high value/low cost streamer solution. 

I'll be looking at the new steamers from Matrix Audio.   The TT-1 seems to be close to your budget at $1800.   

Sure, easy to spend some else’s money. 🤑

You may want to try inexpensive streamers available on Amazon first, see if you like it. Pick one with coax out. There are plenty.

I did not like streamer experience, all these custom apps, small iPhone or iPad screens, $$$ for Roon. I just feed DAC from my desktop PC with 34" monitor. Ripped all CDs to FLAC years ago. Don't even own anything that can play physical media.

I don't want to be that guy that is "hey, it's all 1s and 0s man, it doesn't matter what you stream from", but...

I went from a Bluesound Node to a Roon Nucleus to a Rockna Wavedream NET server.  Since I was using the DAC in the Node, it's hard to say how good it was a streamer only.  I did not notice any significant improvement in sound quality when moving from the Roon Nucleus to the Wavedream NET.  Thankfully the NET does some other great things that the Nucleus doesn't or I would have been kicking myself for how much I spent on the Wavedream.

A friend who had the PS Audio Airlens just did an A/B/C comparison with two of our mutual friends between the Airlens, a Roon Nucleus, and a Bluesound Nano.  None of the three experienced audiophiles could tell any difference between the three.  The Airlens is gone, replaced by the Bluesound Nano.  

My suggestion is to prioritize the features of the streamer over any concerns for sound quality. Does it have the connectivity you want/need?  Does your DAC work best with i2s, coax, BNC, etc.?  What software platform do you anticipate using - Roon, HQplayer, Conductor, something else?  Does it have other appealing features - ripping / playing CDs for example?

The DAC is where all the conversion from bits to analog happens and that's where to prioritize budget in my opinion.