Nice one, AnakChan.
 
I agree with you that light, small yet powerful and internal battery-driven DACs represent a good way forward. After all, head-fi-ing should be as much about portability + convenience as sound quality, and if we are paying premium, we deserve the best both ways. 
 
I have a Hugo, so will check out the Flow when the opportunity arises and post viewpoints to complement your review.
 
Cheers.

Thanks for this, AnakChan: insightful and detailed review. As always.
 
Just to add on a few thoughts on the Flow:
 
1. The side control buttons seem to only work when the connection is through the USB 3 cable. On the other hand, it does not work if you were to use the toslink cable;
 
2. Aurender must be commended for its thoughtful implementation of various options for connecting the Flow:
 
a. when you opt for either iOS or Android, the selection will automatically switch the charging function off so that you do not get alarm bells on your device that the Flow draws too much power;
b. another thing is when you plug it into a PC or Mac, you can select the charging function to automatic so that once you stop playing music, it will automatically charge up;
 
c. furthermore, in order to conserve the battery supply (unless the USB is plugged into a PC or Mac), once you pull out the connector, the Flow will automatically shut down; and
 
d. whenever the Flow is shut down or even when you switch IEMs or headphones, as soon as the jack is removed form the Flow, the volume automatically turns down to a volume which will not blow out the drivers of any sensitive IEM.
 
3. The build quality of the Flow is impeccable: there are not recessed controls or sockets which are otherwise challenging for other components on the market. Here, not only is the concept a good one, but the implementation is also correspondingly well executed.
 
And, by the way, the Tralucent 1plus2 (with both the silver/gold and Uber cable) sound good with the Flow.

Good points Kiats. Cheers. Yes you're right about d. I haven't worked out if it's a blessing or a curse yet. I talked to Harry and he said it's done on purpose to prevent accidents but at the same time it's kinda annoying that whenever I'm plugging back 'n forth between the Flow & the CLAS/Duet set for comparing I have to set the volume back. I talked to Currawong about it and he's wondering if there's enough internal memory to put in another option in the menu feature to let the user decide to remember or not to remember the volume setting. If that's possible I'd also prefer if the Flow can remember the CHGA/CHG-/CHG+ settings too.

I like it that on the page http://www.aurender.com/product_v1000.php
 
they say ''targeted serious headfiers" Thats some recognition for all of us

Have you any experience with the iFi Audio Micro iDSD?

Sadly no. I don't. Well I should say that I have heard it at the show but I can't remember it's SQ.

Thanks, Anakchan. Hmm... For the USB connection to my MacMini, I only recall setting it to CHGA when I first used it and it has remained at that setting since then. So, it may be that there are defaults set up but you can adjust them to your preferences. Of course it could just be coincidental.

Thanks anyway!!

Thanks for the review AnakChan. May I ask what kind of 1/8" > 1/4" adapter you're using on your Duet? It looks really high quality.

@TheGimp That's Furutech F35G. It's nice but it's really long.

@AnakChan  Thanks!

AnakChan,
 
Have you tried the advance menu for PCM and DSD setting? They do change the sound, not significant, but not hard to notice.

@TheMiddleSky actually I came across the option (long button press to access, correct?) but I don't know what I'm doing there so I didn't want to mess it up. I may give it a shot later.