Chord Dave or Ayre QX5 Twenty DAC???

I strongly recommend to do a preliminary test with other dacs other than Aurender. I am experiencing USB sync connection issues with Lumin U1 and Melco N1ZH/2 (latest firmware v 3.72). Still working with support in trying to fix them. I believe that USB compatibility on the MP3100 is still very limited when compared to the PDP3000.

Musicfx, nice to hear of your improvements with the new Ethernet cables. I just ordered a AQVOX SE switch with AQVOX cables. T+A is planing to include Deezer in a upcoming firmware. I thought Deezer was already implemented when I purchased the MP3100 per stated in their website. Tidal sound very good but I like Lumin U1 better feeding the MP3100 via AES. Also the Lumin app offers a little more functionality.

This has nothing to do with sound quality but in my research looks to be a bigger and bigger issue: the QX-5 Twenty lacks an HDMI input. Most Blu-ray players that support SACD discs, including players from Sony and Oppo, can only transmit DSD from SACDs via HDMI. As the QX-5 Twenty lacks HDMI… you're out of luck playing DSD except from files on a computer via USB. It remains to be seen how big a real world issue that proves to be, but for me on a recent audition it meant no DSD for me.
see: showbox & kodi

Both DACs are very, very good. But each will sound differently with any different system. You need to either borrow a store DAC with your system, or listen to either with a system that is as close as yours.

Well, it looks like I'll be selling the QX5.  I still love it and may keep it just for the great headphone amp as I listen a bit to some very high end IEM's and also a top ZMF can.  The Memory Player should be here in a week or so and I had the DAC installed internally.  It was time to simplify things as well as upgrade the sound quality.  Very excited.  I'm shocked that more people aren't going with TMP.  Their advances in lowering jitter and their defragmenting hard drive are leaps and bounds better than what's out there.  it's in a different league than any other server on the market.