Hi,
I'm going to pull the trigger and order an HRT microstreamer tomorrow to replace my HRT MSII so I can have a dedicated headphone output port that I can use with my relatively new ATH-M50X.
I have two questions I hope somebody in this thread can answer:
1. Is the microstreamer's performance better or at least on par in terms of sound quality, distortion, noise and USB isolation with the MSII when used as a DAC for my speaker system via line-out port or is the microstreamer more optimized for headphone listening only?
My system:
JRMC18
NAD C326BEE
KEF LS50
SVS SB12 NSD
2. If I wanted to just listen to headphones, can I plug in my M50X to use the headphone output port of the DAC while the line-out port is permanently connected to the integrated amplifier at the same time without any detrimental effects or should I only use one output port at a time?
Thanks.
I can't answer your 1st question bu tI can tell you that the Microstreamer only plays through one output at a time. Also, the line out is slightly better sounding to my ears, not surprising that it is direct from the DAC. For my harder to drive headphones, I mostly use HRT line out>Cayin C5>headphones but the headphone out itself is good enough to drive most cans really well anyway, I just imagine the line out via a good external amp might get you the best sound quality.