I'd recommend starting with using the laptop with a USB dac.
The new Soekris has gained a lot of attention. Uses a R2R multibit chip. For ~$400 shipped it seems like a good value. So good I bought one a couple days ago.
You might also benefit using a USB isolator between your laptop and dac. Intona gets pretty high marks.
No affiliation with either company.
Soekris USB dac with Intona isolator would be right around your $700 budget.
Hope you find what you're looking for.
-Tom
http://www.soekris.dk/products.html
https://kitsunehifi.com/product-category/brands/intona/
The new Soekris has gained a lot of attention. Uses a R2R multibit chip. For ~$400 shipped it seems like a good value. So good I bought one a couple days ago.
You might also benefit using a USB isolator between your laptop and dac. Intona gets pretty high marks.
No affiliation with either company.
Soekris USB dac with Intona isolator would be right around your $700 budget.
Hope you find what you're looking for.
-Tom
http://www.soekris.dk/products.html
https://kitsunehifi.com/product-category/brands/intona/