Metrum Octave versus Eastern Electric DAC


I own an Eastern Electric DAC, the older one with volume control, no mods. Have any of you in the community compared these two units? Would I be better off doing the op amp upgrade, buy the newest EE with upgrades?

I have enjoyed the EE and like it well enough, but I am curious about the Metrum. I would like slightly more warmth, more fullness, a little more meat and bones, without losing any of the detail I now enjoy.
mikirob
Thanks Dpatterson,
What was it about the Metrum sound that you liked in particular? Was it warm, did it have body, was timbre correct, was it musical?
hi dpatterson:

what did you prefer about the solid state mode over the tube circuit in the minimax dac ?
Mikirob,
Even though I found the resolution of the Metrum to be greater than the EE I think it is more analogue sounding at the same time. I find it less fatiguing when listening for longer than a couple of hours. I am playing less vinyl since I installed the Metrum. Of course this is in my system, my room etc.

Mrtennis,
I really didnt expect to prefer the ss over the tube mode and was surprised that I did. I found the bass to be more controlled without giving up anything in the mid-range. Perhaps the pairing with my tubed preamp was the reason. Again this is what I hear in my system.

My system:

Doge 8 tube preamp w/ phono
Wyred4sound SX500 monoblocks
Von Schweikert VR4jr
SoundQuest SQ12 cdp used as transport
Metrum Octave DAC
MMF 7.1 tt w/ Ortofon Bronze

Don
Devilboy,

The Metrum Hex uses 8 DACs per channel instead of four. Check the Metrum website for additional info.

Don