I have both the hrt ms II+ old and new version. I did not hear much or any of a difference at all. So I wouldn't worry about that.
As for the dacport lx or the hrt music streamer II+ it depends on which do you prefer a more blacker background with more precise instrument separation or a wider soundstage with a slightly more warmer/analog sound.
I think you NAILED it here! This is what I hear, in terms of differences (but admittedly, I did work for HRT, and now for CEntrance) - I find that I love my HRT MS II (new version) in the bedroom system, as its darker, more romantic sound marries well w/ my little Marantz SR-225 - and the CEntrance (LX or DACmini) seem to give me a closer looking glass into the actual timbre of instruments and dimensionality/spacial properties (so I use it in the reference system). I came to that conclusion after using my first record release as a reference (a little house track, released on Listen to Reason Records back in 04 on 12" under the Seamless Satori name - me and my buddy Josh Seamless). We both wrote, mixed, and produced the album - so we know the sound as well as you can.
