Streamer/DAC - Where is the value?

I spent more on my DAC than my speakers or my amp. I like them seperate generally since you can never predict your upgrade journey. I would buy either an Allo USBridge Streamer or an IFI Zen streamer, both very good and under $500 and get the best DAC I can get. Upgrade streamer later. I went with Chord Dave DAC and Innuos Zenith Mk3 streamer.

It depends on your longer term goals. Will you keep evolving your system to better sound? Or is this next purchase an end point?

I would recommend an Aurender A200 (combined streamer / DAC)… if you just want one and done. I own two Aurender streamers and cannot recommend them too highly.

If this is a step towards a better system, or really getting the most out of your system, then separates. They are both equally important. Aurender for the Streamer and… in that price range I don’t know the perfect DAC. I will say given the rest of your equipment if you want very top notch performance up to the standard of the rest of your equipment I would be looking in the $4 - $6K each range, DAC and Streamer. [my estimate is based on matching to,your speakers] Yes you can get stuff for less money.

Also, I recommend switching to Qobuz. The service sounds a bit better than Tidal but also has half a million high resolution albums versus Tidal… only a few.

My systems are shown under my UserID.

I like your system - I have Sf Nova's as well and I previously owned McIntosh pre and amplification.

I am biased towards DAC/streamer due to space and simplicity.  I started with Node 2i, then moved up to Moon 280D and now I have Moon 390 which is also a preamp.  The Moon 390 replaced my Moon 280D and McIntosh C2600...it was an upgrade for both.  And I sold the McIntosh for more than I paid for it. 

If you like the streamer/DAC that happens to be a pre-amp.  I wouldn't shy away from it.  Your integrated amp can be used just as an amp and if you decided to go to components a streamer/DAC "Network player" provides you flexibility in transitioning to separates (such as MC 312).  

Good luck in your journey!

Given your budget and the quality of your gear, I'd recommend a DAC in the $3000 range (the Denafrips Venus or Holo Audio Spring would be at the top of my list) and a solid but not crazy expensive streamer, maybe a Lumin U2 Mini or one of the less expensive choices from Aurender.

I'd do separate DAC and streamer; that way you can upgrade either/or unit if you feel the need later. I'll leave the streamer recommendations to others (I use the latest Bluesound Node 130).

Denafrips Pontus II DAC (alone or with a Denafrips Iris DDC which is amazing) and the Holo Audio Spring 3 (Version 2 or higher) or Holo Audio May DAC are great "bang for the buck" DACs.....$2,000 to $3,500