DAC/Streamer/Pre all-in-one recommendations

[pvanosta]

First-gen Auralic Altair

 

[pvanosta]

Apologies. I responded based on this part of your post: "My budget is $2000 or less used or new."

 

In that case, stretch your budget a bit  and get the Altair G1 (reviewed on this very site with glowing results)

[pvanosta]

doesn't appear to have a preamp / volume control option

[pvanosta]

19 hours ago, wr_aspire said:

Altair G1 is my short list   Anyone has compared it to MyTek Brooklyn Bridge? Seem the later is also in that price range.

FWIW: I had the Altair first gen and loved it. As I have a large library, the Lightning DS library management system was getting a little sluggish, so I added a NUC and a lifetime subscription to ROON instead. That in turn removed the need for some of the Altair's features and I replaced it with the excellent Vega G1 Network DAC. All this to say I like Auralic products. You will not find better bang for your buck than the Altair G1 (especially if you like the Lightning DS software, which is one of the best in the business, but if possible you should audition it along with the Mytek. Those are the only two in this price range that I am aware of and that are worth auditioning.