Need a DAC Recommendation.

I have the RME adi-2 and MHDT Orchid and enjoy both but very different. I added the Teddy Pardue psu to the RME and added better caps and 6sn7 and 6922 tube adapters to th MHDT.

The RME has nice big bass very transparent without being analytical and a lot of features. The Orchid is more analog not as transparent but very enjoyable. There both great but I tend to listen to the RME more but the Orchid is great with acoustic jazz and blues and images very well.

Nice to see I'm not the only one that finds the RME great bang for buck and a keeper. I tried the Chord Qutest it was nice but found it a little bass shy and hifi sounding. One thing I enjoy with RME is the balanced output along with rca output. 

I run a Audience au24 se balanced to one input on pre and a Acoustic Zen silver ref 2 rca to another input on preamp and can switch inputs on the fly to adjust to the sonic quality of recording. The AZ comes across a little softer. I run all settings on RME flat. 

As small as it is it responds very well to footers. 

The Doge looks very interesting, there is a lot of nice parts in there, looks really well built. I just read up on it and it really sparked my interest. Anyone compared that to the MHDT Orchid? 

ripleydog, I understand your comment wishing to take the tube out of Orchid would make things more interesting. The closest thing I found to making it sound a little more neutral and transparent was adding the Garage 1217 adapter and using a 6922 Amprex bugle boy or SQ/PQ, I preferred the bugle boy more.