Metrum Onyx versus Metrum Pavane

I’m using powered studio monitors, often nearfield and in a quiet environment and the hiss is annoying me a lot.

Dare I ask what speakers you're using and how much they cost?  I'm fearing a potential gross mismatch here in source vs. speaker and amp expense, but I'll just wait to hear what speakers you're using.  I'll just say that if imaging and sounstaging are high on your wish list, not sure powered studio monitors are the right place to start.  But maybe that's just me. 

Just picked up a Jade DAC/preamp and it sounds amazing for the money.
After putting it in my main system today, I am reevaluating whether I should be using the Adagio rather than my Pavane L3.  Consistent with my earlier comments, they are cut from the same cloth and the sound is close but there is maybe just a touch less body and tonal warmth with the Adagio (compared to the Pavane L3 through my preamp) but the resolution, natural sound, definition, and frequency extension are very good.....and that from the Jade, not the Adagio, which is even better.  The Onix is to the Jade what the Pavane L3 is to the Adagio, fyi.

@mitch2 so not worth it to upgrade from Onyx to Pavane unless you are super critical listener? 

@nitewulf: Thank you!
@soix: Right now I’m using my old Mackie HR824 (mark I, USA made) monitors, but I’ll upgrade to better speakers + amp within a year or so. Not sure to what, though, from all I’ve listened so far I liked a pair of Spendor SP2/3R2 driven by a Densen B175 amplifier the most (other possible contenders: other Spendors, Proac D30RS, Harbeth SHL5+, Atc SCM40A etc. - kinda all over the place, I know). Choosing speakers is very difficult IMO, so I’ll start with the dac and thus reduce the number of variables.

@justjames72 , to your question,

"so not worth it to upgrade from Onyx to Pavane unless you are super critical listener?"

I would say, probably not, unless the rest of your system is dialed in at a fairly high level. 

However, this stuff is subjective and more than a few say the source is your most important component (closely followed, or led, by speakers).  I definitely would not trade the Onyx or Jade for the Level 1 Pavane, that doesn't use the Transient DAC Two modules. 
 
I have been on a small mission to simplify my system and I am strongly considering purchasing an Adagio so I can remove the preamp from my system.  One thing I didn't notice the first time I auditioned (i.e., owned) the Adagio, is that in addition to improved resolution and HF extension, the Jade (or Adagio) direct seems to provide a bit of a boost in dynamics over the Pavane L3/preamp....possibly because the DAC direct route is providing a higher voltage output than my preamp or, maybe just because there are less electronics in the path.  The differences are relatively small. 

The other thing to consider is that my amplifiers are relatively optimal for both passives and DAC-direct because of their high'ish 100K ohm input impedance.  This DAC-direct option may not work as well with amps having lower input impedance.   However, the output impedance of the Jade and Onyx is a low 100 ohms and output impedance of the Adagio is 100 ohms for the RCA output and 320 ohms for the XLR.