I still own this combo, though it is not in use right now, and have owned the Dusty Vawter-modified DDE v3.0 and DTIPRO32. I now use the Perpetual Technologies P3A, stock with standard power supply in one system and ModWright modified with P1A and Monolithic Power Supply in the other. I think even the stock P3A with standard power supply would be a step up for you in terms of general refinement and soundstaging. You can often find that for $500-600 here on Audiogon, and even direct from PT it woudl be in your price range.
Rich
Rich