@bigfatpaulie I am using a Schitt Yggi+ LIM DAC that I like a lot. I have a Benchmark DAC3B in my Livingroom system, The plan is to get a PlayBack Designs Dream DAC to supplement the DAC3B. You may want to read up a bit on the PBD. I wanted a DAC that was FPGA based and the PBD designer made the first FPGA based DAC. In fact, he mentored Ted Smith at PS Audio. Nagra DACs are also using his lower end tech.
I already have a lower end PDB streamer, and it is comparable to the Lumin X1 (using fibre) and the Sonore OpticalRendu (fibre again). At the moment I am only using SPDIF on the PBD streamer and it can still compete with the other 2. It has fibre but I need get a PBD DAC to use that feature. I figure if he can make a streamer this good his DACs should be spectacular.
The other FPGA DAC I was considering was a Rockna. I did not consider the DAVE or the PS Audio.
The following thread could be helpful for your DAC ideas:
If you mostly stream with ROON, JRiver, or a computer you may want to talk with a fellow Canadian Mitch Barnett. The dude is a genius at what he does and is a relatively cheap alternative to resolve speaker placement. The adjustment in the digital signal is done BEFORE the DAC. All work is done remotely.
He is now also making a name for himself in the headphone space. I used his tech when my room was not acoustically nice as it is now. I no longer use his solution (with ROON) but it is genius level stuff and my safety net for speaker room interactions. In my opinion, the most important aspect of good sound.
Digital Room Calibration Services, Convolvers, Headphone Filtersets (accuratesound.ca)
Monoblock amps will solve you speaker cable issue. I use Benchmark XLR for my lengths over 15 feet. Those cables are cheap and do the job well.