@eddy1
If it were me in your shoes, I would only push the spend if I was planning on upgrading my other components in the near future. If you are on that path, then spending more will pay dividends now and down the line. Let’s call this the patient yet more future proofed approach. This will give you good results but it will give you much better results sometime in the future, though it will require a much higher outlay over that time period (speakers, amps, etc.)
I look at the component as a mini-system in of itself.
Even though the Yggy comes in under 2.5K when I consider the supporting elements that mini-system is actually a $6.5K component (cables in, platform, footers, Sonore/Uptone, etc). More if I assign a percentage of the power conditioning, upstream power cable, etc. This does not include what I consider my digital source component (PC, Server, Router, Switch, mini power supplies, and the supporting cabling, etc).
I’m mentioning the above because I advise you to consider a $1K budget for a new DAC (used/new).
The 1.5K in left-over budget, in my opinion, would be better applied to a networked approach (which eliminates your PC as the direct source), better cabling, and a product to clean up the signal into the DAC (input dependent). Let’s call this the best bang for your current buck /system approach. This will provide you with really good results, and is beneficial in that is broadens your approach to and understanding of computer based audio.
