HRT Streamer II+

*CD-63 MkII KI, I meant.  I see we still can't edit opening posts!

*tumbleweed rolls by*

So no one tried it then?

I have been home demoing it this week, excellent little unit. Crystal clear, lively sound. Also demoing Wyred4Sound microDAC (they actually use the mu symbol which I think is going to cost them in google results...), which I am going to go with - it is a bit more expensive but with a tad more detail and bass (they also add coaxial inputs so it isn't just usb, although that's its intended function in my system). The HRT II+ is superb for the money though. Got these units from the ever-helpful Mark @ Item Audio.

What software are you using? I had to install the demo of JRiver as I usually use foobar2000 and HRT does not like it at all. Works ok with iTunes though.

Well having bought from a respected trader who posted mine first class four days ago, I'm still waiting for it to arrive.

I don't doubt that they dispatched it, but I do wonder where missing post goes to.

I can't help but feel that because outlets like eBay provide such rapid no-questions-asked disposal, one or two less-than-honest individuals in the postal-chain shall we say exploit their position when handing small, business-franked, easily-confiscated packages which they think are likely to contain valuable saleable items.

Having notified the trader, hopefully I will be in receipt of a duplicate real soon.

Not sure what software I'll use with it.  I'll cross that bridge when I come to it I guess

I received the duplicate on Friday.

Initial impressions are very positive indeed.

I'm using it with my mid-2010 Mac Mini running iTunes & Spotify Premium.

Even though the standard sound-card in the Mac Mini is one of the best I've heard in a computer, this thing is several leagues ahead.  Crisp highs, a superb open mid-band and soundstage with good instrument placement and separation, both with iTunes ripped ALACs and even Spotiify.  It can be a bit bass-light on tracks that have been mixed lean, but that's the only fly-in-the-ointment in terms of balance.

I'd expect to have to spend a great deal more to experience really noticeable improvements that are obvious in anything but a side-by-side comparison.

Setting it up on the Mac Mini was a piece of cake.  I did try it on my old HP Windows XP laptop and while it worked, I don't know how you could easily make use of its HD potential with the standard Windows software.  ASIO4ALL recognises it and will set it up to play 24/96 but WMP won't use ASIO4ALL as a sound-driver.  I suppose if I was using it with Windows I'd have to look at Foobar, JRiver (etc).

Major, it's good to hear an update, and bears out the excellent reports that have been following this unassuming bit of kit.

Thanks cno, yes I'm mighty impressed and I would highly recommend to anyone that they give it a listen no matter if their DAC budget is ten times more.  I've no idea if it's genuinly a giant-killer, possibly not if you're comparing it with a DAC several multiples costlier, but one might find that this little grey alloy box gets a very persuading 99% there for a fraction of the money.

Obviously if a potential buyer needs more than a USB-input then sadly they'll have to look elsewhere, also imo it has a slightly-lean sonic balance which may or may not be an issue, but other than those two caveats, it's difficult to fault it.