Trying to upgrade to a similar priced DAC is almost never a good idea. Typically you trade one set of weaknesses for another. Instead I would wait and save up to be able to jump up a level of performance. Given the category you are in I would recommend a 3x increase in investment to get up a level. All aspects of the sound should improve with this jump up. You must do your research of course, you can’t blindly buy something. You have to make sure its characteristics align with your values in sound… musical or hyper detailed for instance.
Need help picking a new DAC
Currently using my built in streamers dac which is alright but nothing inspiring.
I have a chord qutest enroute for demo and was looking hard at the merason frerot dac both would be getting a linear psu. I was hoping to get a little light shed on weather the merason is a better dac than the chord. I like dacs with a large Sound stage and neutral representation I don't like many dacs that soften up the sound too much.
Any insight would be appreciated
Thanks
J