DAC question - is music streamer DAC better than mcintosh DA2?

I have had my MA12000 for 3 yrs now. My first dip into audio was the 70s/80s, hence always leaned towards separates.  I  went to several listening sessions of different amps/preamps and a few integrates before my purchase. One session I had the chance of comparing the McIntosh separates to their integrated MA12000 side-by-side…done deal. They really nailed it…the tube front side with the s.s. backend done in a proprietary pathway is excellent.
The MA12000 does everything well…some exceptionally well. You would be hard pressed to find a better preamp. More connectivity than anyone would every need too. It will drive most speakers easily; never gets warm. As more of an analog guy…I decided to add a phonostage even though the MM/MC sounded really good in the MA12000; PS Audio had a discount promotion on their Stellar phonostages. It was difficult  to tell the difference…the separate phonostage added a little more “depth” at the bottom end, but very little else compared the the MM/MC input on the MA12000. Again, this integrated does everything well and some exceptional well, really no weak areas except it is really heavy ( a two person lift) & big in size.
The D2 card I have not compared side by side yet with a separate Dac. I am looking for a good streamer, currently using the Bluenode which is great for what it does at the pricepoint. Last week I did a lessoning session/audition with the Aurender N20 with a Berkley Alpha 3 Dac = I found my streamer! I think my best path is to go with the Aurender streamer and use it with the MA12000/D2 & add a separate Dac down the road – if needed; D3 may be out by then?  I feel the DAC world will only improve and hopefully the price-points drop…the MSB discrete has positive reviews but at 12K…I can wait. I like the company philosophies of Chord & Schitts and their Dac builds….if a decent used price comes up, may get that to compare with the D2 card.

You will be very happy with the newer McIntosh integrated! 
 

In my travels, with my Mac 8950, the only DAC I’ve heard that made me say WOW was my amp with an MSB Discrete.  But as just previously stated, that’s a bunch of money (12k).  I do believe that the MSB is a dac streamer BTW.  

Integrated Amps with built in DACs get a bad rap.  My Cyrus i7XR integrated has the same chip set as the DA2 and sounds phenomenal.   I was going to use my RME DAC with the Cyrus but I ended up selling it because the amp sounds so good using it's DAC.  

The McIntosh removable DAC card helps avoid obsolescence and sounds damn good.   

I recently upgraded my Yamaha AS2100 to a McIntosh MA8950. Although I felt the Yamaha was good for it's price point, it was the weak link in my system, and works really well powering my outdoor speakers. I also use a Node to stream. Upgrading the Node was on my mind. I was running the Node through the external DAC in my Yamaha CD-S2100 SACD. That was an improvement over the Node but the clock in the Yammie DAC was glitchy. I went to the Mac specifically for the DA2 and the audioformer. I have Sonus Faber Cremona Ms, which are 4 ohms, plus 2 KEF subs and felt like the Yammie wasn't doing them justice. Since swithching to the Mac. I've noticed significant improvement in the streaming. The DA2 is far superior to the Yammie DAC and the Mac has opened up the Cremona's. After hours of playing at 50% the Mac barely gets warm. I'm real happy with the choice and glad to hear others share my experience. 

Glad to hear you are enjoying the 8950.    Awesome amp