A QNAP NAS with i7 and 16GB RAM isn't cheap, from my quick perusal of Amazon.

Personally I'd go NUC/Mac Mini and lower spec NAS. Probably cheaper still and this would allow me to upgrade the former to higher spec without the need to go through the potential aggro of changing the latter.

Sooloos, Roon, G series (with LPS upgrade), 800 series (with LPS upgrade), HD621, AC200, Prime and PS, DSPs old and new.

Purdeys, Moke, Leica, 'Blad. Only the best.