DAC/Pre-Amp Advice

Chuck_Tamu, here are some recommendations.....these will al be R2R ladder DACs.

(1) Denafrips - Pontus II 12th Anniversary DAC $1,850. You will find many many reviews on this DAC, almost all of them glowing. Add  a Denafrips Iris DDC at $560, and you have a killer set up with the Node 130. This is the what I currently have (except I have the Pontus II and not the anniversary, and am extremely happy with it....especially at $2,400

Output USB from the Node 130 to the Iris DDC (bypassing the internal Node DAC), use I2S from the Iris DDC to the Pontus II 12th, and then from the Pontus to the Yamaha.

(2) I have never heard the Gustard in my system, so I can't offer an opinion.

(3) Soix already recommended Musician, and I have heard and enjoyed their DACs. I believe Soix uses the Pegasus with the Denafrips Iris DDC. I preferred the Pontus II over the Pegasus, both going through the Denafrips Iris DDC.

The Musician Aquarius is another animal entirely at $3,100. I compared the Pontus II and Iris DDC straight up against the Aquarius....and I must say that it was really close, the Aquarius is a rockstar. For some reason I did not add the Iris to the Aquarius, but my assumption is that it would be killer.

(4) Holo Audio Spring 3 KTE edition at $3,200. Another great DAC for the money. I lust after it's big brother the Holo Audion May DAC KTE.....but that is up at $5,600, and that brings a lot of other DACs into the mix

Hope that helps a little bit.

but listening to the difference in room correction made me a believer.

Yeah, I hear ya and I’m a believer too.

I have the speakers toe'd in toward my seating position in the room. 
 

So, how far are the speakers from the front and side walls and how far apart are they?  My experience with your speakers is they tend to work well when angled in so they point just outside your shoulders and not pointed right at the listener FWIW.  I’m at a bit of a loss as to how to incorporate RC into your system as it is, but someone else here will probably have some good suggestions.

The speakers are approximately 8 feet apart, and are spaced 1 foot from the front wall. There's about 2-2.5 feet between the speakers and the side walls.

If RC isn't going to be an option at this time, I understand. I still think upgrading the DAC, and getting subs will make this system complete. 

Try the speakers 6’ apart and another 1-2’ out from the front wall.  You should experience a nice boost in 3D imaging and larger/deeper soundstage and maybe even better overall frequency balance.  Just try it and see what you find.  And again, angle the speakers so they fire just outside your shoulders. 

@chuck_tamu 

An external LPS for the node would be a noticeable upgrade and leave you with enough money for a nice stand alone DAC.