Inexpensive Streamer for Office System

I evolved my office headphone system somewhat like you did. 

Bluesound makes some very good little streamers. I have a Node that I use for breaking stuff in. 

Just a note on headphone systems... it's all about the head amp. You can see where I have ended up after many years. My systems are under virtual systems. But a headphone system can be very very close and satisfying as a main system. But the same commitment, effort and careful choice in components gets you there. 

So, a word of warning... it can be like the pursuit of an high end audio system if you have that personality. 

Have the Bluesound streamers improved with time?  I remember listening to their gear when it first came out and finding it a bit "hifi" in nature.  But that was many years ago.

And thanks for the words of warning.....I can already see where this process will ultimately end up; though it will evolve more slowly than my main system.

get an old auralic aries mini or a bluesound node with lps mod -- easy peasy, dead reliable, sounds good

Wiim Ultra

iFi Zen Stream 3 was just released as a successor to its successful Zen Stream. It is based on the Volumio 3 OS. I have the original and always found it to be reliable and easy to use. It is built with all quality parts but has an aesthetic you either love or hate. Anyway, at $399 a great option.

iFi is still supporting its original Zen Stream with an OS update that I find very nice of them as they could have easily dumped us and tried to get us to go for the new 3.

Many have reported various issues with theirs but I don’t know [rolling eyes]