Absolute top tier DAC for standard res Redbook CD

Hello

I have Metrum Pavane with Manley Shrimp (siemens NOS 60s tubes) pre and Audia Flight 100 amp. I got from a friend of mine Metrum Adagio just to test whether its better to go diectly from DAC with pre to amp. Probably i have an option to get Adagio by selling my Pavane, since my friend went to full AN system.

My observation (1 evening) tests that Adagio (comparing to Pavane/Tube Manley Shrimp) provides a lot more details, refines and cleanes the sound give more inside into layers and depth of the music. Is it hi-end sound? yes! do I like it? i ddidnt decide yet.

But in the same time I lost some tube magic and impact (guitar strings no more hit my body) and the bass is no more so scaled and full. No oomph at all.

I also find some mismatch of Adagio and Audia Flight.. i need to set vol knob to 12-13 to get the level of 8-9 of Manley Pre.. May be its not my cup of tea?

So my question is whether Adagio pre is so good? did anybody find the solution (pre) which is better that Adagio pre? I would have best of two worlds (adagio resolution and deatails) and tube pre body and impact

Thank you

Mitch2, thank you for your input.
lived one day more with Adagio and then switched to Pavane/Shrimp - so the sound become dull, fat and significantly less resolving. It seams that it is no way back with Pavane/Shrimp.

Also the dynamic range and the range from quiet sound and lound sound with Adagio become 2x wider. For me it means it brings more emotions to the music as it was designed by sound engineer. The same as you are in cinema with good equipemnt then the movie has wide dynamic range. Its not the same as you watch just TV. So if Pavane/Shrimp plays in 3-7 whereas Adagio can provide 1-10. (1-10 some scale of sound loudness)

Also nobody burned properly XLR outputs from Adagio and XLR inputs in my Flight 100 amp. It imporoved significantly comparing to day 1.

But in the same time I understand that better preamp + Pavane level 1 (and level 3 of cause) can easily touch Adagio but it needs approx 2x more investments (hopefully i can spend 1-1,5k to get Adagio after selling Pavane). IMO

Some more observation. That Adagio in sound signature is more like good Dual mono AKM 4399 DAC than Pavane R2R. So on this level i can hardly say that R2R sounds different that good Delta Sigma. Borders became less obvious.

What buffered preamp you are reffering to?

Thank you

What about other dacs with pre
ayre? Rockna?

Before final deceision between Adagio and Pavane level 1 I put it directly to my Manley Shrimp preamp. And finally Adagio has less body and impact tham pavane level. So Manley Shrimp giving some tube character doesn't affect the initial impact and body. If it is here the Shrimp - will give, if there is no, shrimp will not give that.  Audia Flight 100 is fully transparent - it provides what you give. 

Finally pavan level 1 in more engaging for me.. its more musical despite doesnt give a minute details and leayer as adagio. But gives more full mids and impact.

I Will stay with Pavane despite i liked Adagio for its technical excelence and molecular details.  

Mitch2, can you give some more information about your pre. Some link, price range? is it possible to buy?