UPDATE:
Just received the replacement Burson HA-160d unit.
Changes noted:
1) transformers have a center wrap that looks like copper foil.
Previous unit has paper sticker.
2) Build quality slipped a notch. Several frame screws were not fully seated.
3) source LED is now a yellow/amber. Previous unit had bright blue LED.
The blue LEDs were actually piercingly bright on the previous unit.
Have not been able to do a great deal of critical listening as it is the work week. Good news- the USB receiver in the Burson registers in the macbook pro Audio Midi control. Now 96kHz is selectable and 2ch/16bit, 2ch/24bit and "encoded digital" show in the other pull down.
HOWEVER - when playing 24/96 files, the audio is muted for 24/96 but plays for 16/96. This is using the AyreWave player 1.0b (9).
If I select 24/96 in the Audio Midi control and then launch the AyreWave player with a 24/96 file - the output has no sound.
If I select 16/96 and launch the AyreWave to play 24/96 file - the output has sound.
Then during the playing of the 24/96 file - one can "select" 2ch/24bit in the pull down of the Audio Midi control but I don't hear any difference.
In other words, it seems for this particular set of circumstances, 24/96 plays only at 16/96 which seems odd to me and less than promised.
I will try other configurations this weekend and report back.
If anyone has a successful method for playing back 24/96 files via USB on the Burson HA-160D I would love to hear about it.