I once tried a Hegel 12 Dac in my second system in the livingroom, an AVC6M all-in-one system, and the sound was way too clinical into Amphion 3L speakers. So not a good idea. Good to know that carefully matched cables can make a difference.
I love the idea of a final personal hifi system to end all personal hifi systems but I am with you in the assessment that the journey is the most interesting part. In that respect it is similar to the journey of life. We all know where that journey takes us.
I'm Peter, Denmark: AD Audio Satchmo 3 Line Stage + EAR 516 + Quad ESL 57 + EAR 324P + PTP6 Acoustand L75 + Poul Ladegaard tonearm/Denon 103D + Fidelity Research FR24 mk ii/Decca Maroon + Leak Stereofetic FM Tuner + B&O Beocord 6500 Cassette Deck + Synology DS 415+("upgraded" to 8gb memory) cabled to Win10 PC - JRiver - Paul Pang USB-splitter cable - Linear 5v psu - Nuforce U192s - Line Magnetic 502CA DAC