Dac upgrade

I have not hear the t + a units.  Reviews are amazing and only you can be the judge it is a step up from your Ayre unit.  

I would tell you that IMO (worth what you paid for it) that Chord has a better sounding DAC than Ayre.  The TT2 with an M-Scaler would definitely be a step up and the Chord Dave with or without an M-Scaler would be a big step up.  Chord is not chip based and is an FPGA DAC that is a combo of software and hardware based.  

Rockna is the other brand I would look at.  The balanced Wavedream would be brilliant in your system.  Read the 6Moons review.  This is an R2R DAC.  

Don't get me wrong.  These are much more than the  t + a solutions but as you know, the better something is, often it gets pricey fast.  Do some research and I think you will be intrigued by both.  I am a dealer who would happily take your Ayre against either the Chord or Rockna gear.  PM me if you have any interest.  

@newtoncr As I said, my opinion was worth what you paid for it. Good luck. I am following to see what you ultimately end up with.

I am thinking one of the major differences is the balance of your system vs. mine. I preface this by saying I love Ayre Amps and Preamps and the equipment you have was in one of the best sounding systems I have ever heard.

My system is entirely tube based (Art Audio Conductor and Quartets) which definitely adds warmth compared to the Ayre gear so my system likely does more to offset the somewhat clinical nature of the Chord where the Ayre gear doesn't.

Incidentally, the system I referenced above had Wilson Alexxs as the speakers and an Esoteric DAC. Don’t know the exact model but it delivered jawdropping sound.  Might be worth taking a look at Esoteric.