Sonic Satori - HRT Levels the Field with the MicroStreamer

[estreeter]

Quote:

This DAC needs more threads! It must just be very new - even the Dragonfly and Meridian threads are quite alive

 
 
More threads ? The reason we centralise everything into one thread on HF is because it just gets messy when you have threads sprouting all over the place - particularly with gadgets that span the DAC/computer audio/headamp subforums. I'm happy with this one thread, and there are only so many ways that you can type 'this thing ROCKS !', and Mike 'Madman' Mercer pretty much beat us to it  

 

[jazzman7]

Quote:

This thread needs more posts!  The microStreamer must just be very new - even the Dragonfly and Meridian threads are quite alive

Fixed. 

 

[jarrett]

Yeah, more discussion

such as...why does the microstreamer sound so amazing? Has anyone figured out what DAC it uses?
 
I'm going to order mine from Audio Excellence
 
Edit: I emailed HRT to ask my question about the DAC used. I've not been able to find the answer and have looked multiple times

 

[fuzzyash]

Im about to get mine soon also
looking forward to it, as I've been using my iphone4 for quite a while

 

[Nitrile]

Quote:

Yeah, more discussion

such as...why does the microstreamer sound so amazing? Has anyone figured out what DAC it uses?
 
I'm going to order mine from Audio Excellence
 
Edit: I emailed HRT to ask my question about the DAC used. I've not been able to find the answer and have looked multiple times

 
its a Burr Brown PCM1793 DAC.
 
http://www.ti.com/product/pcm1793

 

[jarrett]

How do you know though? Isn't that what the Music Streamer II uses?
 
Edit: Oh that's the microstreamer circuit

 

[mikemercer]

Quote:

How do you know though? Isn't that what the Music Streamer II uses?
 
Edit: Oh that's the microstreamer circuit

most HRT products are based around XMOS chips,
but the DAC itself is just a part of the whole:
 
Implementation is everything.
 
I'm still blown away by this little gem,
and I rock everything from my E.A.R HP4 tube headphone amp to the ALO Studio Six!
 
The MS got MAGIC

 

[mikemercer]

Quote:

 
 
More threads ? The reason we centralise everything into one thread on HF is because it just gets messy when you have threads sprouting all over the place - particularly with gadgets that span the DAC/computer audio/headamp subforums. I'm happy with this one thread, and there are only so many ways that you can type 'this thing ROCKS !', and Mike 'Madman' Mercer pretty much beat us to it  

WELL PLAYED SIR, well played

 

[estreeter]

I like to keep you on your toes, Mike - I think that's important in your line of work  

 

[pnoble]

Help! I downloaded the new MS firmware. How exactly do I update the unit and which of the two files - uS_IV2.bin, uS(NAS)_IV2.bin - (or both) do I use? I have a Mac.
 
PS: I'm using the MS with RE-400's with just 256bit AAC iTunes files, and the results are still astonishing to my ear. Bravo to Kevin Halverson (and to Dr. Fan Blan of Hifiman). I compared the Dragonfly and Explorer and found in particular the Dragonfly to be rather brittle and fatiguing by comparison. The microStreamer is exquisitely musical. I'm currently listening to Diane Walsh: '33 Variations on a Waltz of Diabelli' - extremely well mic'ed and recorded solo piano. Shockingly good. Sublime. Even compressed. No doubt there  are many further miles to travel down this audio enthusiast road but I reckon that for less than $300 (plus my MacBook Air) I have already entered the Pearly Gates!

 

[mattwardfh]

Quote:

Help! I downloaded the new MS firmware. How exactly do I update the unit and which of the two files - uS_IV2.bin, uS(NAS)_IV2.bin - (or both) do I use? I have a Mac.

Unfortunately, you'll need access to a PC to run the firmware upgrade utility. 

 

[morserotonin]

Quote:

Help! I downloaded the new MS firmware. How exactly do I update the unit and which of the two files - uS_IV2.bin, uS(NAS)_IV2.bin - (or both) do I use? I have a Mac.
 
PS: I'm using the MS with RE-400's with just 256bit AAC iTunes files, and the results are still astonishing to my ear. Bravo to Kevin Halverson (and to Dr. Fan Blan of Hifiman). I compared the Dragonfly and Explorer and found in particular the Dragonfly to be rather brittle and fatiguing by comparison. The microStreamer is exquisitely musical. I'm currently listening to Diane Walsh: '33 Variations on a Waltz of Diabelli' - extremely well mic'ed and recorded solo piano. Shockingly good. Sublime. Even compressed. No doubt there  are many further miles to travel down this audio enthusiast road but I reckon that for less than $300 (plus my MacBook Air) I have already entered the Pearly Gates!

The RE-400s and the MS play extremely well together! I need to use that combo again very soon!

 

[pnoble]

Not a problem. Any instructions would be appreciated. 

 

[mattwardfh]

Not a problem. Any instructions would be appreciated. 

I wish I had taken some notes to be able to tell you exactly, but it's a fairly simple process. (Others on this thread should feel free to correct any errors).

if I recall correctly, the firmware update utility isn't included in the firmware download and has to be downloaded separately from HRT's support page.

Run this program on a Windows PC with the microStreamer connected. There's a button to pick the firmware file. The firmware with "NAS" in the file name is for use with network-attached storage devices. If you're not connecting to one of those devices, you want the non-NAS version. Select that, click the button to install the firmware, and then wait until the process is finished before disconnecting the device. You can use Apple's System Information app to verify the firmware version.

Hope that helps; let me know if something's unclear.

 

[jarrett]

I'm not sure if I asked this before, but where is the microStreamer supposed to fall in terms of sound quality?
 
Music Stream II+ > microStreamer > Music Streamer II
 
?