Metrum Onyx versus Metrum Pavane

@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.

@mitch2  My system is currently:

Metrum Ambre > Metrum Onyx > McIntosh MA6600> B&W 702s2

I use Roon as well.

Whats your system comprised of ?

@mitch2:

I definitely would not trade the Onyx or Jade for the Level 1 Pavane, that doesn't use the Transient DAC Two modules.

Really? Have you heard the level 1 Pavane and you prefer the Onyx / Jade soundwise? I find this quite surprising (and very good news for me - I think a Jade would meet my needs very well so I really hope I will like it, I think I'll try it later this year). Pavane level 1 has received some very good reviews and I didn't expect for the Transient Dac Two modules to make such a big difference as to compensate for the other advantages of the Pavane level 1 against Onyx / Jade (such as the all important power supply).

@don -- So, I looked up your speakers and they’re like 700 bucks. For BOTH speakers and amps!!! Why are you even messing with a DAC at this point??? Upgrade your speakers and amps first, THEN talk to us about a DAC. C’mon man. If you’re concerned with imaging and sounstaging, $700 for active pro speakers ain’t getting it done! You’re putting good money after bad. Don’t waste our time talking about $2k DACs to play with "toy" speakers at this point. End of story!!!

@donquichotte, 
I see that I should probably clarify the intent of my comments.  I have owned quite a few Metrum products and they have all been great for their intended purpose at their price points.  I have owned the Octave II, Hex, Pavane L1, and Adagio, and I currently own the Pavane L3, Jade, Amber, and Baby Amber.

I am not saying I believe the Jade or Onyx are better sounding than the Pavane L1, but rather that I wouldn’t trade-in the Jade/Onyx on a Pavane L1.  If the Onyx and Pavane L1 were side-by-side, I may very well choose the sound of the Pavane L1, if cost were not a factor. The Pavane (at any level) offers obvious improvements resulting from a much larger and superior power supply and larger number of DAC chips.  

However the newer Transient DAC Two modules with the FPGA within the module do offer sonic advantages over the original Transient chips.  Metrum have done such a nice job with the Jade/Onyx that IMO the sonic difference may not be worth paying more to purchase a Pavane L1 vs. saving up to afford a Pavane L3 or Adagio, or whatever else they may come up with in the future.

As you can see from my ownership and from Metrum’s product history, this digital stuff is continually evolving so I personally wouldn’t move in a backward direction for the Pavane L1 unless my plan were to upgrade it to the L3 version.  Even then, I would make sure the rest of my system were dialed in first.  It is all relative.

@justjames72, 
My virtual system is posted here under “Sounds Good”
It is mostly up-to-date.