Digital Advice

@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?

Our posts must have crossed.

There are posters here that will routinely dismiss CDs and tell any one inquiring about a new CDP to just stream.  They aren’t right or wrong, it’s just a preference.

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?

Because your Mac is very noisy and a poor source for streaming, and even a budget streamer will sound much better.  The Vault I recommended above is in your price range and will do everything you’re looking for (including playing your CDs) and will sound much better than your Mac. 

Here’s a Schiit Bifrost DAC for $300. 
And the Audiolab 6000CDT CD Transport for $335

Use your Mac to stream to Schiit via USB. This will beat WiiM and Bluesound.