DAC upgrade

Thank you all so much.  I have been looking at options and reading through people's responses.  Two of the options have peaked my interest and after speaking to a representative at The Music Room they have both an MSB Reference DAC with their Reference Powerbase and Pro USB as well as a Lampizator Poseidon in great shape and either would be at a good price with a trade in of my DAVE.  I haven't dabbled in any tube gear before, but both of these seem like they could be a good fit in my system and seemed to have some favorable responses from people in this thread.

Given these two options, what would you do?

Again, I really appreciate everyone's input.

This would seem to fall into the “you probably can’t go wrong either way” category, but I’d read as many reviews of both as possible and go with the one that offers the sonic characteristics that most closely align with specifically what you’re looking for and choose that.  Short of someone here having heard both in the same system, which is highly unlikely, that’s probably the best you can do.  I know this advice probably falls into the “well duh” category, but that’s what I’d do FWIW.  I’m sure you’ll be thrilled either way, and best of luck. 

+3 on Bricasti

I currently own a M3 DAC with a friend owning a fully upgraded M1 SE.  I have heard their flagship M21 and haven't heard a better DAC anywhere.  All of my Bricasti equipment sounds fantastic on my Tidal Contrivas.

Musicality of the Grimm MU2 is amazing. Replaced three pieces in my system including a Sonnet Pasithea DAC. Not looking back.

lots of comparisons between this and the Playback Design MP8 which seem to put them on similar levels. MP8 usually comes out marginally ahead but at a much higher price point.

op

i concur with the suggestion to try an m scaler in front of your dave, it is an obvious thing to do ... the scaler typical adds a sense of richness and relaxedness to the sound of the chord dac it is connected to

the denafrips dacs (venus and up) do add a sense of midbass weight to the sound while still maintaining a nice sweet upper range

i tried the bricasti m1 se and to me it sound pretty much identical to the Weiss 501 (pre 4ch upgrade) they are in the clear and crisp school of sound... I have not heard the m21 maybe it is better/different

i do think the msb dacs are excellent (but $$), same imaging and clarity as the best like the dave and others but a touch more relaxed and dimensional, i’ll never part with my analog dac/pb

i had the am tubador and did not care for it, it sounded slightly veiled and low energy to me

good luck on your pursuit