DAC PREFERENCES TO MATCH WITH NODE2

My RME replaced a NAD M51, a very good DAC no doubt but the RME has clarity unlike any other source I've ever used .   Bass is incredibly realistic,  upright bass and kick drums, which are tough to reproduce , are faithfully rendered.   Its dynamic, detailed,  black background.   Plug and play with any device I have connected via USB...software is excellent no need for drivers .   Install the RME digicheck software and its a bi directional recording interface....   more importantly it just works.  With iPhone, iPad, windows 10, Samsung Tab....have music on a device?  Play it right through the RME's USB input...  great remote, selectable digital filters, 5 Band PEQ ,  Loudness contour ( adjustable), Bass, Treble, Balance, very good headphone amps with Cross-feed,  a bunch of other stuff too if you dig into the 70 page manual.. 

First, thank you greatly for your commentary. 

For context, I've been hooked on audio since teenage years that were dominated by the original AR  amp and Ar 2's, and their bigger speakers, the AR Turntable and through stuff too numerous to mention.  Regret giving away my Dahlquists years ago.  Same with Martin Logans, those in a dedicated listening room.

I'm running now what many (I read Audiogon too) will smirk at: my old but lightly used Rotel amp is an RB 956 AX, it's pre amp gathering dust in a closet, biwired to B&W 702's. via a Bluesound Node 2.  I have no need to listen to my otherwise wonderful Denon DCD 1560 because Tidal and Qobuz (via ethernet) are giving me more that I've ever experienced, frankly.

Incidentally I detect a small quality improvement MQA over Qobuz hi rez but wouldn't wager much in a blind tasting.

I have my satisfactory. few-years-old Sonos amp providing tunes to the lanai, too.

Listen primarily to Jazz these days, with a renewed appreciation for Keith Jarrett at the moment, (we have a musical loss there)  but never turning away from well recorded Blues, and a Tedeschi-Trucks and Bonamassa fan too.

Re budget, yes, to a $K or so but with the ability to return what does not make a significant difference to these ears. I'm not unhappy with what I hear, just curious about what's around corners.

With a $1K budget:  
Shopping Used:
Ayre Codex for just under $1000 (have listened to a lot), and this would be my number 1 pick in your price range.
Bryston BDA-1 for $600 or so (own one, and still a good value at this price point.
Can highly recommend the Chord Qutest (own one), but that DAC goes for around $1400 on the used market.
I'm sure the panel can recommend many others at your price point.

op

do a search, much written on other threads on good modern cost effective dacs - by me and others who have run the gamut

Your direction depends on what sound you prefer. Tube sound? Look for a used R2R DAC. I went from using a Node 2i for streamer & DAC and purchased a used Audio Mirror Tubadour III DAC. The sound improvement was massive. It was like buying a whole new system and that is not exaggeration. The DAC in the Node is no doubt a great DAC for the price but it’s not a great DAC.

The improvement I saw from going to an outboard dedicated DAC prompted me to upgrade to a dedicated streamer. If the improvement on the DAC was that big than I must be able to get just as big of an improvement if I spend the same amount on a streamer! I went and bought a used Lumin U1 mini which I am happy with but the improvement was no where near the scale as the DAC. Just an FYI.

Good luck on your search. So many options it’s impossible to narrow it down as you’re going to get as many recommendations as you get replies. Start with trying to provide what type of sound your looking for and you’ll get good honest replies. Hopefully something rises to the top.