Sonic Satori - HRT Levels the Field with the MicroStreamer

[glrtrgi]

Hey guys, can anyone recommend a cable between my MS and Portaphile 627X HP amp?

Thx

 

[Gilly87]

One that fits

-_-;

Hey guys, can anyone recommend a cable between my MS and Portaphile 627X HP amp?

Thx

 

[glrtrgi]

Well, that's a start...

 

[kenshinhimura]

One that fits

-_-;

someone a little grumpy?

 

[Peccz]

I made my own using Star Quad microphone cable (Gotham GAC-4/1) with a pair of gold plated plugs (Pailiccs) to connect my mS and PA2V2. Works very well and looks really nice.

 

[Gilly87]

Someone a little condescending? ^_^

I just don't buy that one cable gives better SQ than another, especially USB.

someone a little grumpy? :tongue_smile:

 

[kenshinhimura]

Someone a little condescending? ^_^

I just don't buy that one cable gives better SQ than another, especially USB.

i was just playing with ya. i just thought it was funny in a slightly mean way.

i'm personally not a cable guy. only cable i've heard make a difference was stock and aftermarket cable for the HD700 at the NY meet i went to a few months ago.

 

[Gilly87]

Yeah, I thought I heard changes with a silver dragon cable with my UM3X, but after pretty extensive a/bing I feel sure it was just placebo, or so minor that it wasn't at all important.

 

[strawman]

Hi guys,
Following this threat with great interest. Thanks all for your insight about the HRT microstreamer. I am curious if you could you confirm that the microstreamer works with Samsung Galaxy S3 IGT-I9300 on 4.1.2 with Boeffla Kernel.
Thanks so much for help.
Mike
 
 
 

 

[Gilly87]

Hate to be the pessimist but don't get your hopes up; not many Android enthusiasts round these parts.

 

[Nirvana1000]

I am of no experience that mike is with audio components, but I've had a MS for two months now, and picked up a dragonfly at best buy for $100 on tuesday. It is going back by the Jan 15 return deadline. Super low volume output (by comparison, and trying to power HD700s), don't like that it sits right in the usb port, and I agree it isn't as enjoyable to listen to my mostly alt rock as the MS.
Dragonfly got clearance to $100 and has a revision for a reason I suppose. Because the competition has made it not worth its 250 price. Worth 100? I guess I don't really know. I haven't heard enough products to see, nor do I have that sort of experience. But even if I had a return option for my microstreamer to get my 180 back, I'd still return the dragonfly and get the 100 back I paid for it.

Also, the microstreamer is awesome with Verizon Note 3, so that keeps me happy.

Warning.Canuck rant approaching!

 And apologies for getting off topic.
Just using your quote as a reference kayza.I still have a $100 best buy gift card from Christmas,i have yet to use.Because of the sad selection of audio electronics best buy in Canada has to offer.And the selection progressively keeps getting worse.Which is the total opposite of BB in the US! Which if I could use the US website,(I've already inquired)i would have an abundance of choices.And it's not just Canadian BB but also Amazon,New Egg and so on.The difference is laughable

.It's like some sort of audio electronics consumer conspiracy.Anyways end of rant.
 
PS. I said the same thing when the DF was introduced, that it was way overpriced at $250.

 

[CharlesC]

So, having gotten fed up with some of the USB transport issues on my Surface 2, and having read that the microStreamer works on the iPad, I broke out my iPad Mini, bought a CCK kit, and gave it a try.  I did some comparing.  My understanding going into this was that the iPad Mini wouldn't be giving the microStreamer as much juice as the Surface 2.  This seems to be born out by the fact that for proper listening levels I keep the Surface 2 at about 20-25 percent volume and the iPad Mini at about 80% volume.  This seems like a pretty objective comparison.  The sound quality, however, is a bit more subjective.  Right now I'm inclined to say that the sound quality is indeed impacted by the quality of power provided by the source.  In fact, I would say that at a given volume the sound quality is noticeably better, even significantly better, when more power is provided to the microStreamer by the Surface 2.
 
The only other variable on the sound quality comparison that might be a factor is that I did convert some WMA lossless files to Apple lossless in the process.  I have read that lossless files convert losslessly and I assume this is correct - but maybe this is not true.  Would it be a better comparison if I ripped directly to Apple lossless rather than convert?
 
Anyway, I'm just throwing this out there in case anyone else has made any observations along these lines. I'd be happy to hear someone else's impressions.

 

[Gilly87]

Interesting. Makes me wanna try a powered USB hub with mine on my PC...

 

[mattwardfh]

Hi guys. I think I mentioned earlier in the thread that I was working on a big review of a number of USB DACs, microStreamer included: 
 
- Audioengine D3
- Cambridge Audio DACmagic XS
- HRT microStreamer
- CEntrance DACport
- AudioQuest DragonFly v1.2
- Meridian Explorer
- Arcam rPAC (not actually reviewed here, but I included it in my comparisons)
 
Anyway, review's out; hope you guys find it interesting: 
 
http://www.macworld.com/article/2089224/usb-dac-review-six-compact-components-for-upgrading-your-computer-s-audio.html

 

[zenpunk]

Great review, thanks. Personnaly I haven'been able to listen to the Dragonfly for more the 10mn without feeling the urge to switch back to the microstreamer. Using Fostex th600, P7 and various iems such as S-EM6 and Sony H3