[HeadphoneAddict]

I feel my Micro DAC/Amp are at least as good as my Pico with Macbook USB and slightly better when using optical, which is what I wrote in my big USB DAC Amp review thread. Mine is the portable version yet it also bests the Meier Headfive, a stock Firestone Cute Beyond and Travagans Red (but not one with OPA627 or AD743 in it), and edges out the Apogee mini-DAC headphone out.

I bought the HR last March and would never dream of selling it, despite having moved up to a balanced Apogee mini-DAC and Single Power balanced amp in my main rig since then (HR is in my bedside rig amp rotation). I did hear the HR Balanced Desktop last summer and it is a step above the Micro Amp, and if I hadn't gotten such a good deal on a demo/used Square Wave I would own the HR balanced Desktop with DAC instead.