Op you can use the streaming services or not, you may find that the streaming services built into the amp might sound better than your computer into the amp.
Obviously you can just get an integrated amp with a built in dac, the NAD C 658/Nuprime combo was astonishingly good, as we stated before this combo trounced a Hegel H190 which is a highly regarded $3,500.00 intergrated amp/dac combo, and the Nad's room correction option can really help with difficult rooms.
There is no troubleshooting just the oposite you pick up your Iphone or Android device and launch the app and you are playing music instantly the computer directly into a dac is much more complicated and more likely to be problematic as sometimes dac's drop out and need to be rebooted or may have some issues with playing files and then you have to use an Ipod or Ipad or tablet to screen mirror your computer so actually more to go wrong.
Williewonka we sell the Power Node it is very good for $800 but it is not anywhere near the C 658/Nuprime combination that we mentioned, it is also less then half price. Personally the C 658 is like a much better Node with Dirac room correction and a lot of inputs and outputs.
Erik the Dali's are insanly smooth loudspeakers with the ribbon comming in at 15k or so to add a bit of detail to a speaker whose treble is a soft dome, Dali's are known to be warm and musical yet possessing a good amount of bass, never ever heard a Dali loudspeaker called bright and we have been working with the brand for years.
The Luxman is terrific and so is the Mytek however that combo will far exceeed the OP's total budget.
The Peachtree option is a good one a lot of value there and some pretty good sound and dac. Personally we love the idea of having inexpensive sepates they will allow you to upgrade later hence our original recommendation.
Good luck OP we sell a lot of budget oriented high end lines, Rega, Peachtree, Nad, Nuprime, Kef, Dali, Paradigm, and others feel free to contact us if you would like to throw around some ideas.
Dave and Troy
Audio Doctor NJ
