$1300-1500 DAC


I’m thinking of adding an external DAC to my secondary system. I’m running a bluesound node 2i, RCA out to a Schiit freya+, RCA out to an Accuphase P-250 (beautifully restored) amp, to a pair of ascend acoustics Sierra 2ex. It already sounds awesome, but y’all know how this is... I want more. 

Im looking at a Schiit Gungnir Multibit... the price is right and it’s well reviewed. 

I will say that, in my main system I use a Simaudio Moon 280d and it’s awesome. 

Any thoughts? What else should I be looking at? 
andrewkelley
@andrewkelley
Have you compared the Simaudio Moon 280D with any good 1.5k DAC?
I believe a good dedicated DAC with a good source should sound better. If not, the Simaudio Moon 280D is a giant killer as, for the price, its a streamer and a DAC.
If not, may be you should think about upgrading your main system with a better streamer + DAC and keep the Simaudio Moon 280D in your second system. It would cost a little more, but you could get better sound in your main system, as I guess could be better. Of course, you would have to change the Bluesound Note for a better sounding bridge like the SOtM SMS-200 Ultra Neo or the cheaper Sonore Ultrarendu. 
I prefered my SOtM SMS-200 Ultra Neo + Gustard U16 USB Converter + Audio-gd R8 Ladder DAC combo (about 3.5k total) against a +20k Mark Levinson streamer and DAC and also vs a +20K T+A DAC.
Just an opinion. 
I have just done exactly what you are thinking. I had bought a Chord 2qute Dac which was too bright in my system, I have swapped this out for an Exposure Dac which has a very organic analogue sound could not be happier. It is a brand which is often over looked. 
I really like my audio mirror tubadour lll, it's very musical. Can't have it all at $1500 but it's certainly not going to be shamed by a more expensive unit. 
I think that I’m just now finding out that the node 2i will ONLY OUTPUT 24/96 over coax! What kind of crap is that? The whole reason I bought the thing is for a streamer, and to use and external DAC with it. Urgggghhh 
I wouldn't care much about coax output and sample rates. 

For me, another issues play a MUCH bigger role on sound quality and music engagement. To mention a few: gear quality and synergy, AC conditioning, accoustic treatment, location of speakers and listening position, recording quality, digital signal quality, etc.

Some called experts recomend streamer, or network bridges, with a good and clean USB output and then, if you have a DAC with I2S input, a USB to I2S converter.
I can't agree with them more. Thats why I've got the SOtM SMS-200 Ultra Neo and the Gustard U16, both being VERY good upgrades for my DAC. Its right to mention that the U16 has troubles with some gear and some sample rates, but once you get working, it sounds superb. 

If you can, I would follow that way. I know some will say keep it simple, but I believe that the quality of the digital signal you feed to your DAC is FAR more important than sample rates and maybe as important as your DAC quality. 

Im pretty sure, eventhough I cannot demostrarte it, that my streamer+converter+DAC chain, wich costs around 3.5k, can equal, if not better, almost any +10k DAC fed by a USB signal from a computer.
I already heard two +20k DACs that, in my opinion, didn't sound according to their price level. One of them was a streamer with DAC incorporated and the other one was fed by a computer with Roon. Im sure, at least on the last one, that the USB signal from the computer was a big parte of the shortcomings in sound.