Higher End DACs

I wouldn’t pay a dime for the streaming function. In my case, my DAC is hooked to Volumio / Raspberry Pi. The web interface is well done. Under the hood, you have the standard MPD (Music Player Deamon) that you can control with any MPD client, be it on you cell phone or PC. All my music is FLAC based. I have a 4TB hard drive hooked to the Raspberry via USB and an NFS mounted drive to one of my file servers.

For budget (~ 1000$), i like the Rega DAC-R.

I listened to many DACs, i loved the Ayre QB-9 hooked to Krell KSA-100s, KRC-3 Preamp and Dynaudio Contour S 1.4. There are used QB9 to sell, they are usually bargain for what they offer. I don’t know about the new Ayre models.
The best DAC i heard was the Meitner MA-1.

@djones51It is some effort to design audio equipment on the first place,  and the product is made as an island. There. The specs are published as if the device wasn't connected to anything other than a power supply. 

When the device is connected to another device the abstract world of the original device no longer exists,  it's part of a system, connected to noise makers left and right  on just about an infinite scale of interfaces.

How the device now sounds can be totally different to what the designer had intended and blame for that is directed at the wrong component. 

DACs are so vulnerable,  since the ultimate output is the translation of the source and it's noise from power supplies, processors, cabling, the list goes on. The digital  chain is far too long and allows interference to readily transmit.

One user may praise the DAC while another is ready to throw it against a wall. I went through a similar process with the Curious cable. It was a disaster in my system, but others were fine. 

@rms456 
Not real sure what you're saying but DACs aren't measured in isolation chambers as if it was connected to nothing but a power supply.

Just like OP, I was looking for a streamer/DAC. I have been following this tread and learn a lot on the ongoing discussions. Based on @audiotroy recommendation to OP on the T + A SDV3100 HV, I bought the SD3100 HV and expected delivery next week. I am brand new in streaming and need help on the best way to setup the system.
I have a 80 feet CAT7 cable from the router to my music room. I want to use Roon and Tidal. I have a 6 years old Macbook Pro and a iPad Pro. 

@khiak  First, congratulations on your T+A SDV 3100 HV.

Since you are "new [to] streaming" ... as a starting point I recommend going with Tidal first. That is Tidal direct, versus going through Roon.

The SDV can accept Tidal Direct wireless or via your CAT7 cable from your router. You can control Tidal via your iPadPro (using Tidal's App)  OR directly via the T+A Control App which offers Tidal, qobuz, Deezer, control.