Streamer Recommendation.

Not sure you have to spend all your budget but that is a good place to be.  There are several good streamers in the $5k and under price range.  Biggest difference is abilty to do roon and controls.  to me the big 3 are arurender, innuos and auralic.   Aurender sees roon as a competitor and doesn't support roon so stay away from aurender if you want to ever use roon.  If you don't use roon, then the control software on each system will be important to you.  I chose Innuos.  It does roon and controls from a phone ap.

after the streamer you should probably upgrade the digital system feeding it.  make sure you have good quality ethernet cable from your router.  For digital, i like cables with silver coated copper.  Not necessarily terribly expensive. Audioquest has several levels that work for me.  install an upgraded 'audiophile' switch.  I used etherregen.    the switch plus calbles will run you a grand or a bit more.

Jerry

Everyone's sense of budget is personal.

That said, the rate at which streaming seems changeable would prevent me from spending $7k or even less on a streamer right now.

we would recommend a 432evo Aeon it will compete easily with the most popular 20k servers and streamers

it is upgradable and modular so it will never become obsolete

it runs Roon and has been designed to run Roon in a way that improves Roons

sound quality

432 evo keeps innovating its sound quality by coming out with new and improved

operational filters and sound quality such as the new Extremo and augmented bass mode filters,

https://432evo.be/index.php/2022/05/25/432-evo-2022-reviews/

we sell them with a two week in home trial

https://topnewreview.com/432-evo-aeon-review/

you can use a ethernet bridge to overcome the wifi issues.

Dave and Troy

Audio Intellect nj

us importers432Evo music servers

I'd recommend looking at Lumin, and also echo the suggestion of Auralic.

If you like music discovery you should really give ROON ecosystem a look, especially with a $7K budget. If you just like firing up an album and listening (Ron Popeil ,set it and forget it) then go with a one box solution.