Need advice on media player and or dacs

Not all AVR's are created equal.  Anthems, for instance, are quite good musically. Their amps are very good as you know.  ARC seems to work better than the other auto-eq systems. Speakers and room are way more important than the electronics. 

Differences in DACs and streamers?  Yes, but compared to speakers, rooms and even amps, the differences are very small.  Larger than cables probably, but small.  I am not sure how far up the line one has to go before the differences are audible without direct A/B listening. I have not gotten  there yet. Probably above all the commodity CHI-Fi chip products. Chord? HOLO? 

Personally, something to tame down the top end of those Paradigms and B&W would be first on my list.  It is a matter of taste, but I am way over to the Sonas Faber, Revel balanced  response speakers. 

If you are more into music than movie special effects, you might consider looking at the Schiit SYN idea. Gets away from all the DSP  If I did not already have the rear speakers in my guest/HT room, I would run 3.1. 

If you are more into music than movie special effects, you might consider looking at the Schiit SYN idea.

@tvrgeek , Great suggestion on the Schiit SYN....

@sandrodg73 , For upmixing music from stereo to multichannel (surround music) and involving a Hifi streamer/DAC in the chain, you should perhaps look into an all-analog 'simpler' surround processor like the SYN (400 USD). It has analog inputs, i.e. your can connect a 2 channel HIFI Streamer/DAC analog out --> SYN surround processor/preamp --> upto 5 channels of amplification ---> front/center/surround speakers

Watch this review from Seltzertronics...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HhJeOSN1bY&t=1611s

@deep_333    Ouch 

Thanks for the link. Soooo much crap  out there hard to navigate

Any thoughts on rel s series subs

 I have never bought a sub. I do have some observations over the years having built quite a few on what to pick:

I find low Q sealed subs to blend with the room gain better than ported. Less group delay, no port noise. To me, they sound more precise and better controlled for music. If a HT or with DSP, the response can be mitigated somewhat and for a HT and si-fi special effects, maybe better to go ported to get below 25 or so.  If you don't already have some DSP for the sub, I recommend looking at the DSPeaker Antimode products.  I don't want DSP in my mains, but for the sub it is invaluable.  I find smaller subs 10's or 12's blend with mains better. The more the easier to tune the room.  

SVS and Rel seem to own the market right now. Rhythmic I think maybe should get more attention.  Subs are actually not very difficult so I wonder how much better the above are over maybe a Monoprice?  ( or Rel S over T) Several cheaper ones so each does less excursion may have lower distortion that one otherwise better one.  Just a thought.