In my personal experience, if the streamer doesn't apply badly implemented sample rate conversion or otherwise messes up the signal (even cheap solutions like chromecast audio are in this category, the chromecast hdmi and most android based solutions are not), then the spdif signal from the streamer only requires jitter to be reduced before reaching the dac, since most dacs are very sensitive to incoming jitter regardless of marketing bs or technical descriptions of nice concepts that are not properly implemented to be effective at the low levels advertized which requires not only clocks but also ps and routing. Most dacs starting at a few hundred dollars can sound great if incoming jitter is under control. Often the simpler the better, ideally without incoming signal treatment like src.
Before changing the streamer or the dac, my advice would be to test a jitter reducing device between them with as good as possible digital cable before the dac, so that the best of what the existing units can do can be assessed. I tried several solutions over the last decade and only 2 really stand out: SynchroMesh asrc reclocker for SPDIF from Empirical Audio with reference coax cable and AFI USB synchronous reclocker from Acousence. 2 totally different technical solutions but both exceptionnally well implemented and effective. My bet is you will not believe what your existing setup can actually deliver. Try to get a money back guarantee or a possibility to audition, as usual, since the rest of the playback chain must be up to the task as well... especially the speakers and their interaction with the room.All the best in your audio journey, Patrick
