Digital Advice

The WiiM Ultra is a great streamer via USB output. Using the Ultra with the onboard DAC was not my cup of tea. 
 

Perhaps the WiiM’s onboard DAC will be to your liking…..

The WiiM works with the vast majority of streaming platforms out there. I can personally vouch for the Plex and internet radio options working flawlessly. 

+1 for the Bluesound options.  I have the Node N130 and the Wiim Pro Plus.  The sound is better to me on the Node and the BluOs app works great streaming Qobuz and other streaming services including Amazon.  

@mybuddy

How have you ripped CDs to the Mac? If you use an Apple Optical device as the ripper, it can also be used to play CDs if it’s attached to the Mac. If you then add a Wiim streamer or Bluesound Node you are under budget.

Personally I would check out a CD player from NAD or a CD transport from the likes of Cambridge Audio . I would continue to use the computer attached to a DAC as your streamer. Dedicated streamers are just networking computers that are made to look and operate like audio components. They usually have better DACs than PCs have but you said you already own a DAC.  If you add a program such as Audirvana to the Mac then it works more like a streamer and less like a PC playing music and may potentially increase the audio quality

DAC & Mac = 0

Streamer DAC = 4 votes

A repurposed Mac allows me to spend the entire budget on a DAC. This should result in a better DAC. Also the Mac is already setup for streaming, and most of the CDs I own are on the hard drive. Surprised to see zero votes for this option. Why?