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

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

OP

  if you don’t want to spend money for an included DAC, just get a traditional integrated that just has pre amp and power amp.  Surely McIntosh still makes those?