Better to buy a high end network player with a DAC?


A good network player does alot.  And some really good players on the higher end include a dac.  Seems to get a really good player, you need to have it come with a dac.  And these dacs seem really amazing, but you lose independence that a separate dac allows.

Why do they force an internal dac on you, and is it all that bad?  Advantages with an internal dac?
jumia
The obvious advantages of a built-in DAC are simplicity and cost. You are also relying on the manufacturer to provide better synergy between the components, since they have more control and can presumably provide better integration.

However, if you're interested in high-end streamer-only components, consider ...
Lumin U1 (higher model for the U1 Mini)
Aurender N10 and N20
Wolf Audio -- several models
Sonore Signature Rendu Optical SE

Based on my experience with digital, I feel that keeping the components (especially separate power supplies) separate is even more important compared to analog. @antigrunge2 has an awesome thread that talks about this in detail.

Possibly an internal dac is tailored and better sized to all the things included within a network player.  So this may be a huge plus when considering getting an internal dac,  

Above reference to lumin u1 i think is withou a dac.  The dac in the lumin x1 is supposed to be amazing.
I’ve never been "forced.".
I can not relate to yer "problem."
Answer is no.  
Not better (than what?) just differentThe exact same DAC should be better on board.
No guarantees.

@jumia -- the list I provided above was in fact 'streamer-only' solutions. This was in response to your first post -- 

Seems to get a really good player, you need to have it come with a dac.  And these dacs seem really amazing, but you lose independence that a separate dac allows.

As you can see, there are many world class players that do not come with a DAC. I listed a few, I'm sure there are many more.
The premise is flawed.  Plenty of great players out there come minus a DAC.  Melco, for one