I use a $1200/$800 street DSPeaker Anti-Mode 2.0 Dual Core (big name, small unit). It serves as my DAC, preamp, and bass DSP. Good sound, crummy physical design (connections are very tight and remote is super cheap but have gotten used to it). I had Schiit Freya (balanced tube preamp with NOS tubes) and Gungnir Multi-Bit (R2R DAC) in house last spring that made 10% of my iTunes ripped CD library sound better, but 30% sound worse compared to the DSPeaker, so I sent them back ($2,200 total invested).
Before the DSPeaker I had a $500 Emotiva DC-1 (another half width component, that I got a $50 show discount on) that was a DAC, preamp, and headphone amp. Decent sound (a bit harsh/mechanical) but seemingly much better built than the DSPeaker. Both units have single ended (RCA) and balanced (XLR) outputs (am a balanced design fan).
Note I'm big into the importance of the listening room and have a dedicated study, shaped as per Cardas Golden Cuboid, listen near-field, room is well isolated with good electrical service, and also have six GIK 244 panels in use. (Created the room when we built the house, so it was free - really Cheap and Cheerful.) So the DSP is truly the (appropriate) icing on the cake. The DSPeaker allows for four settings, which is perfect for me as I have two pair of speakers and a subwoofer so I have settings for each pair with and without the sub.