Could I make use of a DAC with my setup?

Thank you, n80.  I don't think there is a way to bypass the preamp DAC.

If you want to use an external DAC with non-powered speakers (and not headphones), what would be a typical way to do that?

OK, great, thanks for all your replies.  I did not know this, as I thought any input signal into the P5 preamp would go through its DAC.

This opens up a lot of things for me to think about!! :-)

And, yes, n80, I have been looking at the Schiit products, but just thought there was no way I could make one work for me.  :-)  Thanks for your thoughts about this.

Well, it is complicated. :-) My PC is next to a wall, while the audio rig and speakers are well out into a somewhat large room (20x25).  In the morning, I listen to my $20 desktop speakers while at the computer.  I don't power on the rig until later in the day. 

Anyway, when I would "tell" my 10-yr.-old Win10 PC that I now wanted to listen not to my desktop speakers, but to my USB connected setup, the PC had trouble making the switch-over elegantly and often (not always) sent static over the USB connection to the P5.  I grew tired of trying to troubleshoot this. 

I was told that the 3.5mm connection is high fidelity (like the USB), and this has worked out well.  The P5 has an 'AUX in' on the front panel.

The only problem is one of convenience.  I have to manually switch out the 3.5mm cable from the P5 to the 3.5mm cable of the desktop speakers when I want to transition.

My goal is to buy a laptop, integrate into my setup, and stream from the laptop.  I'm still in transition, held up not so much by lack of funds as a lack of knowledge about how to proceed; hence, the DAC question above.

Nice that your integrated amp has a lan port.

What?  8{

I did not know that!!  I thought it was using the P5 DAC throught the P5 AUX in.  Dang!  

Yeah, I know that Spotify Premium is not something to write home about, but I thought at least....at least I was taking advantage of the very best electronics that I had in my possession, but with the AUX being analog, I'm using about the cheapest DAC ever made.

Well, thank you for telling me.  And, yes, I am waiting for Qobuz hopefully in late October, which I will sign up for as soon as it is available.

@djones51 I looked up the Micromega M100, and that looks like a pretty awesome piece of equipment.  They are not giving them away, either.  :'>  The company makes an array of audio products - cd players, DACs, etc. - pretty impressive.  Have you tried their MyDAC?

@lowrider57  I'm using an old Acer desktop that originally came with Windows 7 (I think) and now has been "upgraded" to Windows 10.  Every time I get an MS software update, the USB keyboard and mouse stop working and I have to unplug and plug each to get them work again.  Definitely long in the teeth, but, overall, it is like my 2001 Toyota Echo -- it just keeps going and going.

To be sure they will.  Both French companies.  Would be unpatriotic if they did not work together! :')

@tketcham  - Thank you for the message.  When I rec'd. it this AM, I was intrigued because I have been thinking about how to listen music in two rooms.  My "listening room" is the living room (for me & my dog), but I spend a lot of time in the kitchen-dining room area.  I have fans, refrig., and what-not going on in the latter space, so it is difficult to try to listen to what is playing in the listening room.

Of course, I know nothing about Bluesound or similar products.  So after reading your message, I called MD and talked with a knowledgeable person. 

My essential question was, "OK.  I subscribe to Spotify Premium.  Say I have a B. Node 2 connected as part of my main rig, internet-connected via ethernet.  In another room, I want to listen through non-powered, non-bluetooth bookshelf speakers.  I have a small integrated amp for powering the bookshelf speakers.  What else do I need to bring the Bluesound stream into this arrangement so that I can listen in the 2nd room?"

His response was that I would need another B. Node 2 unit.  Thus, this would be $450 for the first unit, and then $450 for the additional unit to retrieve and make use of the sound in a 2nd room.

Now, keep in mind that I'm a know-nothing on this, so I could have gotten something wrong along the line.  Does that sound about right for you?

Thanks again for your message.  I enjoyed the research.

"Good luck in your quest!"

Thanks, you've answered the question.  I was thinking that once the B. Node 2 was purchased, the locatable second device would only have to capture the signal (similar to a bluetooth dongle) and send it to an amp.  Thus, the 2nd device would be significantly less expensive.  But, such is life!  I like very much the idea that with Bluesound, you're dealing with lossless music, unlike bluetooth.  (I think that is a fact, but I'd better check.)