High Resolution Technologies iStreamer DAC (Playback 40)

An Affordable Hotrod DAC for Apple Portable Devices

January 19th, 2011 -- by Chris Martens
Source: Playback

SPECS & PRICING

High Resolution Technologies iStreamer DAC
Accessories: Power supply, power supply cable, Apple-compatible dock/USB cable, RCA interconnect cables
DAC: 16-bit, with support for 32 kHz, 44.1 kHz, and 48 kHz data rates
Digital Input: USB
Transfer Protocol: Host Mode (master)
Analog Output: Stereo analog audio (RCA jacks)
Full Scale Output: 2.25V RMS
Frequency Response: 20 Hz- 20 kHz, 0dB/-.4dB
Noise Floor (DC -> 30 kHz): 28uV
Signal/Noise Ratio: 98dB
THD + Noise (1 kHz FS 44.1 kS/s): .002%
Dimensions (H x W x D): .875” x 2.3” x 4.6” 
Weight: Not specified 
Price: $199.95

High Resolution Technologies
(323) 967-7447
www.highresolutiontechnologies.com

Distribution
Elite Audio Video Distribution
(800) 457-2577 Ex. 22
www.eliteavdist.com

Comments

Steven Stone -- Wed, 01/19/2011 - 18:06

Great work Chris. Easily the most complete review I've read on the iStreamer, and that includes my own.

Steven Stone
Contributor to The Absolute Sound, EnjoytheMusic.com, Vintage Guitar Magazine, and other fine publications

MikeMercer -- Thu, 01/20/2011 - 13:24

ThanX for the thoughtful and thorough review Chris! You are a Rockstar!!!! You really get it. Steven you did too - u both ROCK

Michael Mercer
The Daily Swarm
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doncr@earthlink.net -- Thu, 01/20/2011 - 20:47

It would have been helpful to those of us who own the Wadia 170i for Chris to have made a comparison between the Wadia with one or more well known DACs and the iStreamer. Many of us own the 170i (I have two) because it was the first device readily available to access the digital output of the various Apple products.

surfcity@verizon.net -- Thu, 01/20/2011 - 21:53

I purchased an iStreamer DAC for my Christmas present to myself and could not be more pleased! I first learned about iStreamer from Jeff Kaplan at the December LA/OC Audio Society meeting and purchased the iStreamer from him the next day. On Jeff's advice I let it break in for a couple of days before giving it a serious listen, and it does benefit from a break in period. I have my 80 gig iPod Classic running through the iStreamer connected to all tube Cary electronics driving Martin Logan electrostatic speakers. It is superior in all ways to my Denon 2900 universal player on redbook; sure wish it was high res capable as well. It's not as good as a direct to disc LP through my system but not much is, and there are not that many D2D LP's available. Hard to beat this combo for convient high quality sound without spending really big bucks!

Ronzeb -- Sun, 01/23/2011 - 00:46

Would it make sense to have Moon build a LOD cable with a USB connector so I could go iPod/LOD/istreamer/headphone amp/headphone?

surfcity@verizon.net -- Wed, 01/26/2011 - 02:06

I suspect a higher quality cable would improve the sound a bit, but I would have to have one to AB, the cable that comes with it looks ordinary but who knows, it may be better than it looks

FlyhiG -- Sat, 01/22/2011 - 21:33

This sounds like a great product how be it limited in some ways. May have missed it in the report, but does the iStreamer supply power to the iPod? If not then is it running off the battery of the iPod solely.

Steven Stone -- Tue, 01/25/2011 - 10:33

The Streamer has its own power supply.

Steven Stone
Contributor to The Absolute Sound, EnjoytheMusic.com, Vintage Guitar Magazine, and other fine publications

surfcity@verizon.net -- Wed, 01/26/2011 - 02:03

Yes the iStreamer charges the iPod as long as the iPod is connected to the iStreamer and the iStreamer power supply is plugged in to the AC line

mdunjic -- Sat, 04/09/2011 - 08:36

Take a look at PURE I-20 digital iPOD dock for 99$

MikeMercer -- Mon, 05/09/2011 - 18:28

The Pure i20 is a Great buy for the money (we got one at the Elite office to compare) but there is NO iPad support. Plus, and this is ALL subjective, we found the iStreamer to be far more resolving in the reference system we use (and I would say otherwise, believe me, if I thought the i20 sounded better). The iStreamer also charges your iPad - it charges ANY iDevice that is compatible!! I also own a Wadia 170i, and I still use it - as I get to use my EAD DAC that I love so much (I also use the iStreamer in my car, as HRT now offers a 12v/dc version for it - its been taking off in custom car audio installs, as the iPad is replacing head units in that configuration)

Michael Mercer
The Daily Swarm
Positive Feedback