Thought I should probably post this here rather at the bottom of the
thread that led to it.
Long story short, I recently ordered a HotAudio DAC/amp as a gift for a friend. It's basically a HOTUSB2 (with the fixed USB cord) with a few tweaks -- a PCM2707 chip rather than the usual PCM2705 and some secret sauce which Dave said would make the DAC section "super quiet."
Anyway, it arrived today courtesy of CanadaPost and I had a chance to A/B it with my Apogee Duet before wrapping it up for my friend. Initial impression: money well spent.
Tried my 650s first, without expecting much from an amp the size of a large box of matches. And, yeah, it can't drive them fully. But it did surprisingly well. On the intro to Dire Straits' "Telegraph Road", the soundstage was a lot smaller on the HOTUSB, as you'd expect, but the reproduction was good, the bass hits had some authority and, as promised, the noise floor was very low. Same impression on Talk Talk's "Happiness is Easy" -- a really good recording with a beautiful close-miked upright bass line loping through it. Everything is still there, the little amp just doesn't have the power to bring it up close and personal on the 650s, where full volume on the Mac was just a shade above comfortable listening level.
Then moved on to the Senn 555s I got to go with it, and here the competition is a lot closer. The Duet still does a better job, but at more than five times the price it really, really ought to. The HOTUSB happily drives the 555s close to earbleed and, again, the DAC section holds up its end very nicely. I've never heard 555s before, but I spent a contented half hour listening to random lossless tracks on shuffle and my inexpert opinion is that the combo with the HOTUSB is a pleasant one and an excellent value.
Other than that, the unit is simplicity itself -- which may be a plus or a minus depending on your propensity to tweak. You plug the USB cable in, it's detected, you play music. There's a Mission Impossible footnote at the bottom of the short instruction sheet claiming the amp will commit hara-kiri if you try and open the casing. I don't intend to, so I can't testify to it.
Dave was friendly and responsive via email. I'm happy with the purchase and think my friend will be very pleased with his starter rig.
Th-th-that's all folks.