EAD 7000 Mark III

Hi all 

My EAD 7000 Series Mark III DSP has died, and may not be repairable.  So I have to figure out what to replace it with.  Because it's been about 20 years since I shopped for DSPs/Digital Gear I have a few basic questions. How much has digital gear improved in 20 years?  How good are network streamers these days?  For example, one piece I want to listen to is the Cambridge Audio 851N streamer?  Does anyone have an opinion about how this, or any other DAC/streamer I can get used for about $1500 would compare to my defunct EAD?  Or to put it another way, am I going to be disappointed in the sound?

Thanks
Howard