Chord Dave Replacement

Thanks for the responses.

frozentundra,
I do use Roon and I'll try the linear warm filter.

You could try some of the newer dacs that has gotten good reviews. Like the Lab12.

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/a-dac-that-crushes-price-vs-performance-ratio

I have had Dave in my system. Great Dac but for me a NOS DAC (Metrum Adagio) won the contest over all the others Dacs I have tried so far. 

Saved me also 3K in direct comparison with the save and even more on the MSB.  

I would recommend in general to try some NOS dacs .
Mayby you already don so.
Look also below your budget range and not at the Usual Suspects. 

The DENAFRIPS Terminator was not around yet when I bought my new Dac. It does NOS , OS and DSD. The Rockna Wavedream does the same. 

I have no need to change the Metrum it’s already at the level I can live with for many years to come. But those two Dacs would be on my list of options for shure. 

@ricred1, I would like to suggest you take a look at the Mola Mola Tambaqui when it arrives later this month I understand. Going by the performance of the Mola Mola Makua (pre with dac module) it will be extremely good. Price £9k in the U.K.

Not sure if you are aware but there is a comparison between Dave and Makua in the Computer Audiophile Forum which might be worth reading.

toetapaudio,

I sent you a PM. I'm also looking into the Hugo M Scaler and Blu mk2 as possible upgrades.