New DAC! Meitner MA3, Denafrips Terminator Plus, Holo May KTE, Mola Mola Tambaqui

"Not sure I could get use to the look of the Chord Dave.." The Dave isn't for you and that's what makes this hobby so personal. 

@ricred1 I actually think it looks pretty cool and stands out especially with that curved eye for a display.  I grew up watching flight of the navigator and I'm pretty sure it was in that movie!  But I want my turntable to stand out and my DAC to be more of just a box!

I think with the MSB Discrete DAC if you purchase the Network Renderer module the DAC becomes a Roon endpoint.  Does anyone have experience using any MSB DAC as a Roon endpoint versus using a player and outputting digital to the MSB.

OP,

If you are in the market for a better DAC, I recommend that you do just that. Introducing additional components like a tube buffer also introduces another component and set of interconnects, with their associated signal degradation. The best sounding solution, assuming equal quality components is the fewest. Also, I think the least expensive.  
 

I would recommend finding the best quality DAC with the characteristics you value. It is likely to perform better overall.

Yes tube buffer idea only as secondary output feeds, more of a joke or future science project!  Future design XLR from DAC into Dan D'Agostino Momentum HD preamplifier to my amp.