UPGRADE PATH FROM CHORD QUTEST

I've owned all of the Chord DACs, Qutest is by far the best price / performance ratio, I didn't think the TT2 was a significant improvement upon it.

After market power supply and really good music server, usb cable and interconnects are a very good thing to do to a qutest.

I currently run PS Audio Directstream - I feel it's slightly better than the qutest as it is more natural sounding (yet still has the dynamics/PRaR).

Schitt More is Better (avoid Less is More, too dark sounding), Lampizator, Laiv Harmony or the new LTA DAC is where I'd also look.  

What’s your budget ? For $2 k. The New Denafrips Pontus  15 

is a big upgrade .

I agree with the suggestion about tubes or even the preamp. I felt the same issues in one of my systems compared to others. I swapped speakers. Then I upgraded DACs. Finally I swapped my tube amp to a ss (all of this from stuff I had in other systems or lying around) The ss made a difference. So I went back to the tube amp and put nos Mullards in. That made me happiest of all the swaps. Eventually I "upgraded" the amp to one that cost less with less power but maybe cleaner signal path, and kept the nos tubes and now have been happy with that for several years. So I would try tube or pre amp swap before DAC.

I own a Qutest and the RP-1, so this is an interesting thread to me. I found the stock J&J tubes to be VERY poor… unresolving, muddy bass etc. I bought 3 sets of NOS tubes. Brimar CV4003, Siemens nickel plates & Tele red tips. All significantly better sound than the stock tubes & each with their own unique sound. Upgraded tubes is my recommendation. 
Also, your Lumin streamer was one of my target streamers & I was talked out of it in an Audiogon forum discussion and went with an Aurender N150. 

@lpretiring: I agree with you! The OP should spend the $5K on a pair of the new JBL Century 100’s. They will satisfy his desire to listen to Rock at appropriate sound levels - something the Martin Logan’s aren’t good at. Buying a different DAC is a waste of money!