Ready For Digital Source...Computer?

audiotroy - Is the EVO a DAC as well?

Usb to dac to hifi is all that is needed to test the waters initially. Cheap and easy just try it and see. I recommend a longer usb wire to keep noisy computer at a safe distance from hifi gear. Cost a few dollars on Amazon. 

After so many appalled responses to your suggestion of using a computer, I will have to consider my system as unworthy until I get a dedicated streamer! But to your initial question, I have loved the sound of my macbook playing hires files from the hard drive or streaming TIDAL. I use a Schiit Modi Multibit DAC into a Schiit Freya, a Marantz 8B and Totem Rainmakers+REL3. Adding a USB DAC years back was a very noticeable upgrade from a headphone out to RCA, but my Dragonfly phone DAC was also a nice (cheap) upgrade. Since you're just keeping costs low for now, I'd say enjoy the music through whatever you can afford! I find so much variation in recordings, that sound quality varies with any gear. And now I can go researching all the streamers...

Buy yoursellf a nice computer. Reserve $550 of your budget to get yourself a Bluesound Node streamer besides it.

I have a fanless no noise PC that I used for streaming. Works OK. Still I bought a Bluesound Node next to it. Great sound and great ease of operation.

+1 rudyb 🤣