CLAS sounds a little drier compared to hp-p1, the p1 slightly more 'analog' sounding. Hp-p1 can do line out to  Continental so there's no double amping.

Home stereo setup? You mean for headphones or speakers?

Stringfellow: there is a v2 of the continental amp out.

hello..what do you guys think about HRT music streamer ii? Currently in search of the best cheap DAC's available. please advise ya!

hello..what do you guys think about HRT music streamer ii? Currently in search of the best cheap DAC's available. please advise ya!

HRT is not bad for DAC, as i read from all over the places, it has a slight resemblance of the centrance

What's your budget?

maybe rm600 max. Is there any dac that similar with HRT streamer that i can research for? I want to pair it with the aktimate mini.

Looking for a DAC 

Source : Check my sig
Equipment : Check my sig
Requirement : Lowers the piercing highs on alessandro sound sig while retaining the power and aggressiveness with a slight bass boost that does not drag out the bass
Budget : Rm 0-800 (Maximum 1000 but prefer to stick to 800)

So, you're looking into a transportable setup. That depends on what you consider transportable. Some desktop DACs and amps are considered transportable, coz they're small and can fit into a sling bag. If that is the case then it's wide open, although to me, I'd rather have that kind of setup as a permanent setup at that location than bringing it to and from from that location and home.

My advice is to look into these two setups I've mentioned:



The first one if you're running off a DAP, the second if you also happen to carry a laptop with you with all your music in it.

As for the amps, it depends on what you want to run it with. I was initially thinking of an amp that can run and drive my Beyer T1 successfully until I came to the conclusion that only a dedicated home amp can properly run the T1. Relegated the T1 to home rig. I then moved on to my previous Denon D2000, which isn't hard to drive at all, even the built-in amp in the HP-P1 can drive it to satisfactory level. But I wasn't satisfied, I needed more. Got myself an ALO Continental, and this beast of an amp drives even the Beyer T1 with gusto and authority. Got myself an LCD-2, relegated the D2000 to [WTS]. Been running the LCD2/Continental/HP-P1 ever since.

Only 3 portable amps I know that can drive the T1/LCD2 satisfactorily: ALO Continental, Triad Audio L3, Ray Samuels Audio SR-71B running balanced. Out of the three, I discarded RSA SR-71B coz I'm not ready to go the balanced route. Triad Audio L3 is humongous for a portable amp, so that's out of the question. ALO Continental is the only one left. Was lucky to find one in Osaka when I was there. The ALO Continental is of limited run, already discontinued. They're moving to the solid state version, the ALO National, but even after reviews, the National isn't as powerful as the Continental.

Centrance DACPort LX vs Fostex HP-P1. Apples and oranges here. The HP-P1 only takes iDEvices as source. DACPort LX takes any USB sources. Which is why I had them in two different rigs. I'm not bi-amping my audio because the HP-P1 has a line-out port that is free from the amplification circuitry. Just don't plug your mini-to-mini interconnect to your phone out lah.

I already have a dedicated home setup. This happened by accident and out of necessity. Accident coz I wasn't satisfied of what I can drive at using my planned portable setup at the time, and necessity coz I needed something to run the Beyer T1 properly at the time.

My home setup: MacMini running lossless up to 24bit/192hz - Benchmark DAC1USB model - Burson Audio HA-160 amp - Beyer T1/Audez'e LCD2.

Previously the Centrance DACPort LX was in charge of the DAC duties before the Benchmark DAC took over. The DACPort LX does an admirable job for its size! The DACPort LX is now part of my transportable setup: Macbook Air running lossless up to 24bit/192hz - Centrance DACPort LX - ALO Continental - LCD-2.

CLAS sounds a little drier compared to hp-p1, the p1 slightly more 'analog' sounding. Hp-p1 can do line out to  Continental so there's no double amping.

Home stereo setup? You mean for headphones or speakers?

Stringfellow: there is a v2 of the continental amp out.

Home stereo setup.

My Lafigaro already lowers most of the piercing highs.
Never-mind my previous requirements i just want a DAC that is similar to the CEntrance DACport LX but cheaper

Nice setup. I've bit the bullet and bought a Wadia 121 last night. I agree with your views to have a more permanent solution rather than to bring things to and fro. Let's hope the Wadia impresses.

Oh, I wasn't clear, by home setup, I mean, with the amount of $$$ you're spending on your headphone setup, have you considered going with speakers?

I'm running a HTPC, but it's huge and definitely not something I can bring to hotels haha. Not that I'd want to. I don't think I could stand watching a movie through only TV speakers these days.
Home stereo setup. Sorry wasn't clear.

Thanks for sharing guys.

I do have a basic speakers setup that I use for music and movies but it's hard to listen / enjoy cause there is noise around the house and I can't pump up the volume late at night.

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Added on May 2, 2012, 3:47 pm

Similar as in running off USB? No power supply? Look at offerings from Hippo and GoVibe although I think the LX is hard to beat.

With my traveling around, watching backlogs of movies and TV shows through hotel HDTV is my only solace these days. Better than watching French/German/Japanese tv show offerings.

As for home speakers, I don't have the luxury of space for it. I do have an Onkyo HT 5.1 speakers/subs set up for my movie watching. I like the freedom I get from listening on headphones than blasting speakers in the middle of the night at the risk of angry neighbors.

what hongrui said, and from my experience, you're probably better off with software based DAC (like ASIO) that is free until you're ready to bite the bullet on the centrance.

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Added on May 2, 2012, 5:36 pm

aww would love to have the opportunity for that

Source : Phone and Desktop
Equipment : Audio Technica ATH-M50
Requirement : Portable, worth the run for the money that I paid for
Budget : RM300-RM450

New in audiophiles section would be grateful if someone is able to teach me more about DAC and Amps.

Stretch it, go for the FiiO E17    By the way, what phone are you using 

Stretch it, go for the FiiO E17    By the way, what phone are you using 

Source : Phone and Desktop
Equipment : Audio Technica ATH-M50
Requirement : Portable, worth the run for the money that I paid for
Budget : RM300-RM450

New in audiophiles section would be grateful if someone is able to teach me more about DAC and Amps.

Going to change soon, wanted to get something like HTC One XL which is not available in Malaysia. Presently using SE K550i. BTW, FiiO E17 is way out of my budget    Other suggestions?

thinking of maybe goldring dr50 or grado sr60i but no idea where to start with a dac. Is there a dac cost around say RM300 or less that will go nicely with those cans?

its for desktop so not interested at battery powered stuff.

ah..recommending the product you selling