$1300-1500 DAC

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.

@plga ok, so I see that the SOtM sms-200 is on sale on their website for $450. I can buy that and use the node 2i in my garage system/theatre. It has usb out. The schiit Gungnir DAC has usb in. Something they have called generation 5 usb that apparently it’s quite nice. So maybe I’ll go that route. 

Please tell me me about the converter your using and what it does.