Audio Mirror vs Prima Luna tube DAC

First testing is complete.
Rega 2010 Dac, PrimaLuna EVO 100, AudioMirror III SE into McIntosh MA6600 integrated into Magnepan 1.7 speakers.
Cables into PrimaLuna and AudioMirror were Monoprice.
Cables into Rega were Auqioquest Cinamon (supposedly an advantage, but nothing I’ve ever noticed).

Figured PrimaLuna would win since I have PrimaLuna Dialogue HP integrated and really like it. Initial impression was AudioMirror was best, other two pretty much the same. Felt AudioMirror was louder so loaded SPL meter onto iPhone.

Picked well recorded artists (Steely Dan, Dire Straits, Fleetwood Mac, etc) and took song snippets via iTunes and put on repeat. Measured DB via SPL and adjusted volume level and flipped amongst the DACs (no it was not blind). The Rega & PrimaLuna were pretty much equal in DB, the AudioMirror needed to be adjusted down a bit.

The volume down on the AudioMirror pretty much evened things out.
No clear winner.

Moving gear over to PrimaLuna Dialogue HP Integrated for testing. This is the amplifier where the new DAC I purchase will actually be used. The McIntosh system is solid state, the Rega DAC will stay there.  Testing will be completed tonight and I will post results.

PrimaLuna amplifier testing complete. The same - no clear winner that I could discern when SPL meter used. Other two listeners said the same about the McIntosh test, but were NOT there for the PrimaLuna test.

We are all in mid to upper 50s, so hearing may be affecting results.
I may bring in a cheap Schiit and Schiit Gungnir to compare against my Rega DAC. That is as far as I will take this test, if I even go that far.  I may or may not post those results if and when I do such test(s).

During the tests, I listened very closely hoping to hear differences.  That is NOT how I normally listen to music.  
I just want to relax.
Sure I like details, but am more concerned about overall 'musicality' of the music.  I would prefer a non-harsh, non-fatiguing (aka: headache inducing) sound.   I could not hear any noticeable differences that made any one of the 3 DACs stand out. 


As always, YMMV...

Hmmm, I upgraded from the Rega DAC-R to the AM III SE and there was a significant difference. Just a suggestion but maybe there is a component or cable in your ststem that is normalizing the sound? 

Format is Redbook cd ripped to an external hard drive in .aiff format. Played back via iTunes into one of the 3 DACs hooked into the integrated amplifier. I use the Mac to select which DAC to use as playback device. I'm using USB input on all 3 of the DACs.  Both AM & PL claim to have good USB input. 
Any ideas?

Just for verification I hooked up my Rotel CD player which allows my to bypass its internal DAC using 75 ohm coax digital cable.  So now the comparison was Rotel DAC vs AM DAC vs PL DAC.  Same results.  Could not tell the difference between the DACs.