Favorite Streamer/DAC combo under 3k?

I have been using Sonore Optical Rendu for close to a decade now. I had the Lumin X1 DAC/streamer which was $15k. The DAC is OK and the streamer in it is great. You can buy that streamer standalone now as the Lumin U2x for $10k.

I also have the PlayBack Designs STREAM-IF for $3k and that was also great but I only used SPDIF since I did not own a PBD DAC which has fibre optic connection (via PLINK) from the STREAM-IF to a PBD DAC.

I also had the ROON-ONLY OpticalRendu. I compared all 3 streamers side-by-side and found they were ALL great,but sounded different. I ended up selling the Lumin X1 and the STREAM-IF and bought 2 more Sonore OpticalRendu's.

I ran all 3 in 3 different rooms and I controlled them using ROON.

I have 2 Rendu's and 2 DACs left. I am looking to sell one set of the Rendu/DAC so I can start saving up for a much more expensive DAC, which I will use a OpticalRendu to stream to.

BTW - Streaming via fibre is the way to go because it does not matter what is behind the fibre (glass cable). The glass kills the analog noise that resides in Ethernet cables.

Both the Holo Audio Red and the Denafrips Arce cost less and sound significantly better than the T8.

The Eversolo losses a lot of micro detail easily heard in a headphone setup. And with speakers I found it reduced the soundstage compared to other gear I have. I compared it directly to a number of other streamers, with a variety of headphone and speaker amps, and with a variety of DACs.

There is some good advice on optimizing the T8 if you really enjoy the screen and various functions. But do not be mislead - it is not the best sounding streamer at its price point.

90% of the Youtube salesmen (reviewers) have a long history of gushing over every new item that comes out. Often being able to keep the gear as a reward or upping their Youtube income with clickbait.

How many gushed over the Willsenton R300 amp - the only one I have ever had fail on me - only to wait for an honest reviewer (Skunkster) to show it is a pile of crap.

I'm going to pair the Eversolo T8 with either a Pontus 15th or a Garlubidor Divinity-- combined are around $4K, a little above your budget but worth considering IMO.

I recently upgraded to the Denon DNP-2000NE through which I stream Tridal Connect and play CD's. A noticeable sound quality improvement over my previous Ifi Zen Signature. It matches well with my Marantz PM8006 integrated.

NAIM Uniti Atom?