High Resolution Technologies is no stranger to producing great-sounding USB DACs – the £150 Music Streamer II was a 2011 Award winner – and they’ve pushed the envelope even further with the microStreamer.
Comparisons with the Audioquest DragonFly were rife in our offices, along with references to the newly launched Meridian Explorer. The microStreamer is a light aluminium enclosure with an asynchronous USB design. This means that it, rather than the circuitry in your computer, controls the data flow, leading to more accurate timing and better all-round performance.
Clear information
There are neat little icons on the fascia to identify the line-level and headphone outputs, as well as indicate mute status. The microStreamer is capable of playing files up to 24-bit/96kHz resolution, and LED indicators on the side light up amber to show which kHz sample rate – 32, 44.1, 44, 88.2, 96 – is playing. It’s nice to see such an informative system packed onto such a small surface area.
Some might prefer the built-in USB connector design of the DragonFly, but the microStreamer is dinky enough to fit into the palm of your hand, and we like the flexibility of connecting it to your computer’s USB port with a very short (supplied) cable. That way, there’s no danger of knocking it out or damaging it when moving your laptop, as you might with the DragonFly’s design.
Let’s come straight out with it – no other USB DAC of this design betters the brilliantly musical and dynamic performance of the microStreamer. Stream Rage Against the Machine’s Killing In The Name on Spotify, and the sound is solid and muscular, with no hint of hardness. The ability to start and stop notes with precision is combined with a superbly agile sense of rhythm that allows the microStreamer to zing through the track with confidence.
Enthusiasm and energy walk hand in hand with refinement and elegance here. A live recording of Yann Tiersen’s violin solo Sur le Fil is revealing: the sense of space around the performance is amply conveyed, and the bow scraping across the strings feels raw and tangible.
Attention to detail
It’s the microStreamer’s ability to dig up layer upon layer of detail in a recording that delivers such an immersive experience. Voices are full of subtlety and rich textures that connect emotionally with the listener.
The Meridian Explorer shares a similar level of detail retrieval and balance, but the microStreamer is just a touch more transparent, melodic and insightful.
Last but not least, this little block will cost you just £180. It’s incredible value for money: from its size and ease of use to its wonderfully engaging sound, this little DAC will have you replaying your entire digital music collection just to hear how good it can sound.
Let’s come straight out with it – no other DAC of this design betters the musical and dynamic performance given by the microStreamer
Rating ★★★★★
FOR Enthusiastic and engaging performance; fast and agile timing; subtle and insightful detail; tiny, light and portable build
AGAINST Nothing at this price
VERDICT The best portable DAC/headphone amplifier you can buy now? A resounding ‘yes’
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