New DAC! Meitner MA3, Denafrips Terminator Plus, Holo May KTE, Mola Mola Tambaqui

OP,

If you are in the market for a better DAC, I recommend that you do just that. Introducing additional components like a tube buffer also introduces another component and set of interconnects, with their associated signal degradation. The best sounding solution, assuming equal quality components is the fewest. Also, I think the least expensive.  
 

I would recommend finding the best quality DAC with the characteristics you value. It is likely to perform better overall.

Yes tube buffer idea only as secondary output feeds, more of a joke or future science project!  Future design XLR from DAC into Dan D'Agostino Momentum HD preamplifier to my amp.  

@ghdprentice Sure, a $2,300 DAC isn't high end, but budget? It may be time for some real-world perspective. $230 is budget. $2300 for a DAC is beyond the means of many, many people. (And $2,300 is probably more than a non-audiophile would spend for an entire system.)

With this logic @ghdprentice then we should all dump our separates and get an All In One?

Also AR is not the end all be all, matter of fact there are many DACs that are much much better. Bit of an AR homer. 

If you are in the market for a better DAC, I recommend that you do just that. Introducing additional components like a tube buffer also introduces another component and set of interconnects, with their associated signal degradation. The best sounding solution, assuming equal quality components is the fewest. Also, I think the least expensive.  
 

@tmccarthy he is a bit of an audio snob. He can not help himself.