Headphone Out
Aside from the DAC section talks, I find the headphone out section to be incredible. The PRaT on this thing is incredible, the bass section extremely punchy, fast, and well controlled. The E10’s amplifier out, even with the bass boost on, only delivers a bigger bass quantity, but nowhere close to the punch and control of the HeadStreamer’s. The E17 is much better than the E10 in this regard, but it was also not quite a match to the HeadStreamer. The E17’s bass is very punchy, slightly more than the HeadStreamer, but lacks detail and articulation on the lower lows, and the speed falls behind the HeadStreamer though just a little.
The overall signature of the HeadStreamer’s headphone out is more forward and less dark than the E10. It has a bit too much treble, just a bit, for my personal taste, but all of you know that I have a strong bias toward a dark sound. Frankly speaking I think the tonal balance is quite all right. Pair it with dark sounding headphones like the Philips Fidelio L1, the AKG K550, and the Sennheiser HD650, the HeadStreamer does a good job of making them more lively. The effect is like waking up the sleeping driver inside the HD650. Not only does I get a faster and livelier HD650, but the HeadStreamer helps tremendously with aiding the HD650’s tendency to lack detail on the low end.
I had read some comments about the HeadStreamer’s out being quite weak, and I did find that quite puzzling at first, as I can’t seem to get enough loudness even with a Fidelio L1. However, I discovered that it was mostly due to confusion over which digital volume control to use. On OSX at least you have two different volume control, one from the music player you use, and another from OSX’s built in volume control (the volume up/down button on your keyboard).
After I got over the confusion with the volume control, I absolutely find the headphone out on the HeadStreamer to be awesome. Punchy, fast, impactful bass that I can’t get with the Fiios. The question here is what sort of a sound signature do you prefer? The Fiios are darker and more relaxed, (though the E17 actually have a very punchy bass, more than the HeadStreamer’s), fuller on the mids and lows, smoother and have better layering. The HeadStreamer more forward, less dark, faster pace, better bass speed and articulation.
The Digital Volume Control
The lack of onboard volume control may be unusual, but from my point of view it’s a good design decision as it eliminates the most common problem with potentiometer: low volume channel imbalance. This factor has always been a problem as almost all analog volume controls suffer from a degree of channel imbalance that affected a lot of IEMs and sensitive headphones.
With no analog potentiometer, there is no problem with channel imbalance as the volume is controlled exclusively in the digital domain. Some people may argue against the use of digital volume control as a cause of jitter, but still in view of the “damage” done by an analog potentiometer, I’d take a digital volume control over an analog one, any day of the week.
End Words
At the end I am not too thrilled about the HeadStreamer. Partly this may be due to my preference of a darker, laid back sound signature. But another side of it is that I keep on feeling the lack of a black background and a more three dimensional soundstage depth that I get with the Fiio E10 and E17. Lately I’ve been all about a grainless sound (mainly because I tend to listen with Senns that always have grain in their sound — even the HD800), and so I’ve been using the Centrance Dacport LX and the KingRex UD384 as my DACs both of which are very clean and grain free. The Fiio DACs happen to be grainless as well, and it makes music sound so much smoother on my ears.
I do realize that the HeadStreamer is a better recommendation for people listening to fast paced music. The PRaT is much better than either Fiios, the forward presentation tend to carry the energy of fast paced music better, the bass detail and articulation being much better than the Fiios. With “sleepy” headphones like the HD650, the HeadStreamer can make a big difference, it’s almost like injecting adrenaline to the HD650’s drivers. It’s definitely a good DAC, and if you feel that fast-paced and forward sounding presentation is your thing, you should give the HeadStreamer a try.
Gear used for review:
Macbook Air, HRT HeadStreamer, Fiio E10, E17, AKG K550, Philips Fidelio L1, Alessandro MS-Pro, Sennheiser HD650, HD580, Superlux HD661, Shure SE215, JHAudio JH5Pro, Etymotics ER4P.
Thomas Tsai
According to Kevin Halverston, the HeadStreamer does have an analog volume control, but it is somehow modulated by the computer’s volume slider. I don’t know how he implemented that, but he has mentioned that fact (and stressed it) several times in other venues.
sygyzy
I am not an electronics guy but is this really a mystery? If you plug headphones (with no volume control) into your computer, you can adjust the volume with the volume slider as well. This is a shortcut and a way to save money by HeadStreamer. It’s not a feature.
L.
Most DACS disable the onboard volume control
JC Arroyo
It’s also OS dependant, because I could control de audio of my DAC on both Windows and Ubuntu, but not on OS X.
Kayser Wong
I can control it on OS X.
Kevin Halverson
Sorry, but this comment is completely missing my point. The volume function in the HeadStreamer is Analog in nature (it is after the DAC) but is under control of the computer via its (the computer’s interface) not via a ‘knob’. This is VERY different and a VERY important distinction and yes, it is absolutely a feature.
Kevin Halverson
CTO
High Resolution Technologies, LLC
Mike
Thanks for chiming in, Kevin.
Can you explain more about the volume control?
Ken Stuart
Kevin states elsewhere:
“The ‘digitally controlled’ part is a repurposing of the UI (user interface) of the host computer. We take over the system volume function and map it to the HeadStreamer’s analog attenuator. This gives us multiple advantages over the other two types of volume controls that a product such as the HeadStreamer could use.
Compared to a digital attenuator, we don’t sacrifice resolution by multiplying the sample by a value less than unity. This avoids the resolution loss that happens in any digital attenuator.
Compared to an analog volume control such as a potentiometer (POT), we don’t have the inter channel mistracking that is common to all but very expensive (more than the retail cost of the HeadStreamer) implementation. We also have the convenience of a computer based UI so things like keyboard short cuts can be used.
We find our approach is the best of both worlds with the downsides of neither of the other approaches.”
Mike
Interesting. I wonder where this “analog attenuator” is located. Don’t think I have ever read about this sort of volume control anywhere else.
David Winarso
If I’m not wrong… that is on U202 chip
Mike
@google-52e8f1ce36c1abe986070bdd2fac7d2c:disqus The general layout is quite simple. After the USB input port, you have the TAS 1020 USB streaming chip with the “C AA0X” chip just like on the big HRT (http://a.www.headfonia.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/hrt_streamer_IIplus_08.jpg).
Then the PCM1793 chip.
Then two op-amps for the analog stage.
And one black chip that I can’t find out what. It says: BSG T1 06W.
Then the headphone out.
Kevin Halverson
The image that David Winarso included isn’t for a HeadStreamer. This is an image of a very old Music Streamer II+ (long outdated). No relevance for this discussion at all.
Rather than speculate, feel free to ask. We will provide any information that we don’t consider to be proprietary or privileged.
Kevin HalversonCTOHigh Resolution Technologies, LLC
Mike
I did ask, Kevin. Just wasn’t sure if you were going back here to reply.
Kevin Halverson
You are correct it is U202 that is the amplifier and analog attenuator. This device operates entirely in the analog domain after the DAC and reconstruction filters and analog amplifiers. The “chip” is a differential (balanced) input device with an integrated charge pump so we are not limited to 5V that a USB driven amplifier would be. Instead, we have +/- 5 Volts (10 volts total) and this allows us to eliminate any output coupling capacitors. This provides a considerable improvement for low frequency performance particularly with low impedance loads.
Kevin Halverson
CTO
High Resolution Technologies, LLC
Mike
Thanks Kevin, Thanks David.
David Winarso
If I’m not wrong… that is on U202 chip
Chris Allen
Very nice review, Mike. Interesting to note that the HD650s practically lose that “sleepy” factor with this little device. Can this amp be compared to the Asgard?
Mike
Well this is a DAC and not an amp, primarily, but the HeadStreamer does a better job of waking up the HD650 than the Asgard.
Pkrdlr
Greetings Mike, Audinst mx-1 or Headstreamer for Senn 600 for classical / rock. Thanks, Rick
Mike
Rick, the Audinst is more spacious and tonally is better to me, but the HeadStreamer is better with bass punch, impact, speed.
It depends. I think you can enjoy classical and Rock both ways. If you feel that the 600 is a bit slow, then HeadStreamer.
Pkrdlr
Mike, Thanks for your reply, your time and effort with advice and reviews are appreciated by this newbie. Rick
Mike
You’re welcome, Rick.
Don Vittorio Sierra
That is waking up the 650 tonalitywise right? I can’t imagine this thing being able to make the hd650s really boogey volume and dynamicswise with just USB power though. Correct me if I’m wrong.
dalethorn
I was wondering that myself. I’ll find out more tomorrow when the UPS guy delivers it. It needs a burn-in they say so I’ll put some heavy hours on it first. I’ll try the Philips L1, the ATH M50, and the Shure 1840 which should be good examples for detecting clipping and distortion.
Mike
A bit on the tonal, but the faster pace and the bass punch do improve dynamics as well. I don’t know how they do it from USB power, but they did.
I think 5V from USB is enough for the HD650’s 300Ω driver, it’s just a matter of designing a good implementation.
I mean the part about the bass detail alone, it still puzzles me how they were able to pull that off from USB power which is never considered as clean power.
Don Vittorio Sierra
Well lets say compared to an O2, Is it even close in power?
Mike
What do you mean by power here?
Don Vittorio Sierra
volume without distortion
Mike
@facebook-592879899:disqus Oh I think it’s plenty. With the HD650, I can get it louder than my ears can handle.
Ken Stuart
The HRT MS2 includes a circuit that is a regulated power supply for the DAC, that only uses the USB power as a raw source. It’s certainly possible that the Headstreamer has the same circuit.
Chris Allen
How would this amp do when paired with the HE-300? Being that the HE-300 (I believe) can be compared to the HD650.
Mike
It’s a really nice pairing, Chris. I even tried the HE-500 with the HeadStreamer and it has enough power for the 500.
Chris Allen
Really? Must try it then! Thanks, Mike! 🙂
Mike
I like it better with the HE-300, but it had enough power for the HE-500 as well.
JC Arroyo
Can you control the volume with this on OS X through the volume slider?
Because I just got a Mac and I can’t do that with my Audioengine D1, which annoys me, a lot.
Mike
Yes you can, JC.
Gorboman
Know any seller in Indonesia who carry this, Mike?
Mike
Nope, sorry
dalethorn
Pretty darn good review. I was waffling on this but now I ordered it. Worst case, it should be useful for a few tasks.
Mike
Good, dale, perhaps you should write a review too.
dalethorn
I’m really curious how this will compare to my iStreamer, but apparently the HeadStreamer can’t output the DAC only, so the comparison will be really weird – iPhone DAC to PC-based USB DAC on that end, then the HeadStreamer amp to whichever amp I use with the iStreamer on that end. Don’t you just love these choices?
Mike
I’ve been listening to the iStreamer powered by KingRex’s UPower supply. With the stock USB PSU, I don’t really like the iStreamer, even with the RSA Dark Star amp, I don’t get the feeling of space with the iStreamer.
With the KingRex’s UPower, it’s quite different. Space improves a lot, and while it’s no big DAC slayer, it’s quite an enjoyable system to listen to.
dalethorn
Good tip – thanks.
dalethorn
I’m running the iStreamer now from a Mophie Juice Pack – the $80 version, 5v at 2.1 amps – seems to be doing the job – dynamics, weight are OK – sound is clean. Be interesting to see how it holds up, although the battery life will be limited.
Mike
@dalethorn:disqus I need to try one of those battery packs as well. See how it compares to the KingRex UPower.
dalethorn
My test today might not be the last word, but I’m going to play straight through and see how long it lasts, and try to determine whether there’s a loss of signal quality when the charge level drops but there’s still plenty of time left on the pack. I noted with a certain battery-powered amp that the distortion level increases when there’s still a significant charge available, but maybe the lithium-ion battery will be better in that respect.
Ken Stuart
HRT’s web site now shows an “iStreamer 12V” but no details other than a small low-res picture of an additional white object, which might be a separate 12V DC power supply. So, it is possible that HRT noticed that difference if the power supply is upgraded. (For historical reasons, I don’t own any Apple products, so this is as far as I can go on this subject 🙂 )
dalethorn
That’s the one for the car, yes?
Ken Stuart
HRT’s new web site just launched hirestech.com and one of the improvements is – shock – actual description of the difference between the iStreamer and iStrreamer 12V – and you are right, the new clear picture and description shows that it is the car version.
So, never mind my previous comment about them noticing power supply improvements. 🙂
dalethorn
So I guess they intended that for use in a *very* quiet car? It would be difficult to hear those very fine differences in most cars I know of.
dalethorn
http://www.stereophile.com/content/mophie-4000mah-battery-powering-iphone-dac-lieu-ac-dc-wall-adapter
Here’s where I posted my test review. I didn’t try to compare any fine details of the sound, but I would guess it achieves the same basic effect as the UPower battery.
Mike
@dalethorn:disqus Looks good, dale.
Benedict Brown
Nice review, good to see that the E10 still measures up to these new-fangled devices. Even though I mostly use my E10 as a pure DAC feeding better amps, I can’t help feeling that the lack of a volume control on the HeadStreamer would annoy me. Earlier on in my headphone career I had a DAC I could only control through my computer volume control and I hated it. There’s just no tactility, and I’ve never found a decent potentiometer (like FiiO uses) to degrade the sound at all.
Plus I can control a volume pot in the dark with my eyes closed, can’t do that with a computer volume control!
Mike
Yes plus and minuses, I think it’s nice to be able to turn a knob. We’re just so used to having a knob to adjust a volume from.
dalethorn
HeadStreamer arrived a bit late. Nobody is going to believe that they can drive a mid-efficiency dynamic like the Senn 600/650 etc. with this little box, especially when they see how little – about half the size of a pack of Camel regulars. Compared to using the sound card on the desktop the difference is most obvious on a recording such as Emily Palen’s Inevitability of Water – a violin solo I picked up from the Stereophile site. Desktop: slight distortion in loud parts, Headstreamer: turns distortion into actual tone, rosin and bow. In comparison to the iStreamer with O2 (no way to separate the effect of the amps here from the DAC’s) I hear a better or larger soundstage and more sense of air with the Headstreamer, and I first I thought there might be a difference in bass, but if there is it’s not that much. For the price and convenience (no config required on Win7-64 at all) it seems like a good deal.
dalethorn
A lengthier listen to the Headstreamer on a desktop PC compared to the iPhone-iStreamer-O2 amp confirms my impressions – the Headstreamer sounds better – bigger, more air, more alive. My only cable liability with the Headstreamer is the supplied 18 inch USB cable, and with the iStreamer a 15 inch $80 cable I got by ‘StraightWire’. So I don’t think my StraightWire cable is losing enough to cause that much difference. Given that the Headstreamer costs less than half the price of the iStreamer plus O2, it’s quite a deal. Judged on its own I think the Headstreamer matches up to the review here, although I think your impressions of the bass would depend on the headphone you use. A little more bass than neutral would be best I think. And BTW, the volume selection for Foobar didn’t appear right away on the Volume window, but it got there after a bit – it confused me for awhile.
Mike
Good impressions. If you read my comments somewhere else on this site, the HeadStreamer was able to drive Hifiman’s HE-500 so it’s certainly very powerful.
Now I’ve been listening to the iStreamer and while I’m not such a big fan of it stock, out of the KingRex UPower I would consider it to be better than the HeadStreamer. The soundstage has more depth and width, the sound smoother warmer and fuller.
I’m using the RSA DarkStar to evaluate them both, but in this case I also take the output of the HeadStreamer and feeds it to the Dark Star.
dalethorn
Don was asking about the relative volume of the Headstreamer compared to the O2, and although I don’t know if my PC can play louder with some additional tweaking, it plays well more than loud with 99 percent of my tracks. But my O2 plays much louder on low gain if that means anything.
Don Vittorio Sierra
ahh there you go. I listen loud so this would be of no use to me. Thanks Dale. With my dt250-250, my average volume is full on the low gain on the o2 using the FiiO e10 as the DAC. With movies or very quiet old recordings, even full volume on the low gain setting on the o2 is not close to being enough with the dt250-250 due to its low sensitivity so the headstreamer may just be not for me at all. I think the MusicStreamer standalone DAC or the ODAC would be better for me.
dalethorn
Something else I thought about too, Don. I still have some question about what kind of magic they are using to get the bass, the dynàmics and decent volume for the less-efficient headphones. And they do *seem* to be doing that. So I’m wondering if they have some kind of soft-clipping or very subtle compression going on that would be hard to detect in normal listening. I don’t have any indication of that, but maybe HRT can go into that with more depth at some point.
dalethorn
Oh, and with this latest comparison of iStreamer and Headstreamer I did not use the battery, so there you go.
dalethorn
Here’s my review of the Headstreamer – no surprises here, just a different perspective for less-experienced users:
http://www.stereophile.com/content/hrt-headstreamer-dac-plus-headphone-amp-review-dale
Mike
Thanks, dale.
Trent_D
How does the sound here compare to the MS2 with a cMoy?
Mike
I don’t have the MS2 around, unfortunately, but I would put my money on the MS2+Cmoy.
Mark Ma
for the sennheiser hd 595 which would be better- The headstreamer or the fiio E10?
Mike
Mark, I would lean toward the E10 with the 595.
Joakim Foxegård
Hi! Great test again of you!
What is best for electro music, (like house,hardstyle)
This one Or the fiio E10/E11,e17? Or some other?
Will use with My sony XB1000 for music and films,games
// Joakim!
Mike
Electro music. I think either the E17 or the HeadStreamer.
Hendy Widjaja
@headfonia:disqus I am currently using Sennheiser HD25-II paired with Ibasso D12 as DAC/AMP and i kinda like it. However i am looking for an upgrade to a portable combo that will give a noticable upgrade to the current setup.
Any recommendation? I am currently looking at the HRT Headstreamer and the headstage arrow 4G since they fall somewhere between my price bracket.
Mike
I’d recommend a high quality portable DAC to improve the source quality. Amping is not very important with the 25-1.
Gorboman
I saw a Headstreamer Mobile on HRT website. Feature & spec seems the same with the Headstreamer. Even I can’t find the difference between both products’ pictures. Any info on what is it that make the two different?
Mike
Sorry, I haven’t had the chance to read more about the HS Mobile.
dalethorn
The mobile includes adapters for ipads and Samsung etc. phones, ‘Surface’ tablet…
Gorboman
So the unit itself is the same, is it?
dalethorn
It sure looks the same. I compared the specs page and features page for both and they’re identical.
Gorboman
Thanks, Dale! 🙂
roval suco
Hi Mike. From Spain. Hrt head streamer or Fiio E10. music house .pop. dance. thaks.
dalethorn
The Headstreamer I had sounded much better than the FiiO E17 I have when the E17 is used as a computer DAC. So maybe FiiO would have a better DAC in the E10, even though the E10 is much cheaper than the E17? Don’t know.
Mike
Fiio E10 would be more fitting.
Or the upcoming E07K (review coming)
Rova Suco
Nice all reviews.
I listen to music from my laptop with a Creative Aurvana Live and soon with some AT ES55.
thanks again.
Bruno
Hy, how would you compare this product to Audinst HUD-MX1. i listem mainly U2, Metallica, Rock music
Ivan
Hi Mike! I know this review was long time ago, but I just got AKG K550, I already have FiiO E10, and I am thinking of upgrading that part a bit.. So will the Headstreamer be a step up compared to FiiO E10 with AKG K550 or not so? Or if you have any better proposal up to $300 for combo or separate amp and dac, I would really like to hear your opinion.
Mike
I don’t think the Headstreamer is an upgrade but I think it may live up the slow-paced K550 sound better than the Fiio.
Ivan
Thanks Mike, I really appreciate that. Probably I will go with Headstreamer, also I think that I will get Aune X1 MK2 to see what that little guy can do. Its really shame that they are not interested in having their review here.
dalethorn
Do you mean HRT isn’t interested?
Ivan
no, Aune.. They have couple quite good (as others say) amps and dacs in budget range, but they are not answering on headfonia calls.
Mike
Yeah, if they’re already making good sales they probably wouldn’t bother. Who knows, a review that doesn’t turn out to be positive may actually hurt their sales.
Mike
I even tried to reach out to the local Aune importer but he keeps on postponing things.