My two cents: A few years ago I was using a Mytek Manhattan as a DAC . Amplification was Parasound, the JC pre and power amps. Had a problem with the pre and it took weeks to get it repaired so I tried using the Manhattan as the pre. Mytek was marketing it as a pre/DAC combo. The sound was harsh and fatiguing. After a few weeks I inserted my prior preamp, a Cary SLP3, a tubed preamp that cost around two grand at the time. I fell in love with the Cary and now the Parasound remains in storage..
Especially considering that the Node is the current preamp in the discussion here, I think an active preamp, virtually any active preamp, will be an improvement. I think the suggestion that only $15K will bring the desired result is silly. First off, it’s a second system, and that kind of expenditure is probably not possible, and would be outsized compared with the rest of the components.
Since the OP is Canadian, I would be looking for a used Bryston preamp. I am assuming that Bryston ownership is more prevalent in Canada, and therefore there may be more used Bryston equipment available than in the U.S. Bryston makes great amplification and they have a 20 year warranty, which is transferable. The alternative would be to go tubed, and Rouge Audio might fit the bill here