I have an "all digital source" music audio system and believe that DACs are the things that are being "most improved" these days.
For the last 3+ years I've been enjoying a PS Audio DirectStream DAC whose unique design (based on an FPGA chip, instead of an off-the-shelf DAC chipset) allows them to publish firmware updates (which seem to be available 1 or 2 times per year), which improve the performance of the DAC.
If the DirectStream DAC can't be had for the money you want to spend, they also offer a DirectStream Jr DAC, for about 2/3's the price of it's bigger brother.
PS Audio is a fantastic company to deal with.
For the last 3+ years I've been enjoying a PS Audio DirectStream DAC whose unique design (based on an FPGA chip, instead of an off-the-shelf DAC chipset) allows them to publish firmware updates (which seem to be available 1 or 2 times per year), which improve the performance of the DAC.
If the DirectStream DAC can't be had for the money you want to spend, they also offer a DirectStream Jr DAC, for about 2/3's the price of it's bigger brother.
PS Audio is a fantastic company to deal with.