Farewell May DAC? Hello Sonnet Pasithea...
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- čas přidán 27. 07. 2024
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In this video, we're going to be taking a look at the Sonnet Pasithea vs. the Holo Audio May DAC. These two Digital to Analog Converters are two of the most popular hi-end options on the market right now, and they each have their own strengths.
So which one is right for you? Watch this video to find out!
00:00 Start
01:38 Ladder DAC
02:40 Aesthetics and Build Quality
06:18 Smooth Delivery
08:20 Bandwidth Resolution
10:14 Profound Subtleties
14:17 Final Thoughts
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Great job in uncovering and describing the differences in those DACs - not an easy task.
With that build quality, it’s certainly a no go for me!! And the May is certainly better looking 👀 too.
For me the absence of a silver version is a no go for the May and I even don't mention the copper details 😅 , it's all relative 😇
@@justasimplefoxindeed, but I like it, especially the built quality.
@@jos5067 me to, really shame they don't offer a silver version..I would buy it right away 👍🏻
@@justasimplefox they only want to maximise there profits, so less colours and no build quality. I would advise to wait for the new generation of Chord Electronic’s DAC’s.
So I was a bit scared about the build quality UNTIL I got one. I upgraded from a Rockna Wavelight, which I really liked, and honestly I was scared both about whether it would sound better and about the build quality, based on the video. Well, the build quality sure doesn’t compare, but it’s nothing that’s problematic or even remarkable to me, except by comparison. However, I am amazed at the sound quality; how it combines the level of detail with a sense of musicality and beautiful tone. Thank you Ron for your review and insight.
Thanks Ron for another great video!
Welcome back! It's good to see a familiar face.
My DAC merry-go-round ended with the Schiit Yggdrasil. The fact that it’s upgradable is a huge perk, too.
Mine ended with the Denafrips Ares II. They have provided me with at least two firmware updates, free of charge, to bring my two year old unit to the latest 12th anniversary edition capabilities. Very happy. So happy in fact, I upgraded my integrated setup to a separates situation led by the Denafrips Hades preamp and two Schiit Aegir amps (run as monoblocks). I am in love with the sound. And the Hades is built like a proverbial tank.
LOL, mine started with the a Denafrips Ares, now I ended up with MSB.
I ended up with the MSB Select II
Audio Music DAC/1 for me.
@@NawMan357 Heard good things. But I'm afraid whatever you do for living to afford Select II sir, I don't.
Really well done…..quality of product build, look, and feel are important I think to higher end owners. I own the May Dac and love it. You nailed its signature, and in my system, it’s wonderful. Keep em coming. Thanks ……love your casual presentations loaded with content. Best
I agree with you, Ron, on the key DAC differences. My ladder DAC is distinctly cleaner than my other units. Surprisingly my Yamaha CD player’s internal is noticeably better than all but one of my externals.
Great video! Would love to hear your thoughts on the Ferrum Wandla
Sounds amazing. Really clean and FAST, perfect transients, no stored energy in decays. Sweet. I wonder how the LGK 2.4s compare at moderate SPL to the NX-Oticas? I was planning to build NX-oticas, but many years on the speaker merry go round (yup…) tells me the coherence of the LGKs just might be the ticket? Thanks! Great review, as always 👍😊
Could you add the audio sample info to the description section?
Hello Ron, In the smooth delivery section I see GR new speakers the LGK 2.4, will we see a review on your channel of Danny's new speakers?
Hey Ron! Great video...I have the Yamaha AS2200 and Cornwall IV speakers...these 2 DACs are on my short list....since youve heard the Yamaha and Klipsch...what do you think?
do you use a ddc between your streamer and dac ?
There appears to be an absorption &/or deflection baffle behind each LGK 2.4 . . . Why? (This would seem to defeat or at least alter the sound from each LGK's rear-firing driver . . . or not?) BTW: What subwoofers are those? Thanks, Bill P.S. Excellent Review!
What tracks are used for the demo?
I may have missed it but how does this handle DSD files?
nice to see the Pasithea get a little attention - it doesn't draw much energy - it doesn't take up much space - and sounds very good
🙋♂️ RON ,A GREAT TIME TO BE AN AUDIOPHILE 🤗💚💚💚
Yeah, we got the message à while ago, thanks...
The Sonnet Pasithea is my favourite DAC....
Have you heard one? I’m interested as well.
Sounds like my May DAC continues to be what I want in presentation compared to something like this. Would love to hear your opinion on the (very expensive) Playback Designs MPD8
I have an amazing DAC few seem to have heard of let alone heard or tested - Audio Music DAC/1. Very bland name but the sound is killer.
OCD hifi guy raves about that one.
So does Aussie Audiophile but he’s got a thing against Audio Music. Google for truth about the brand.
What happened to the Tyr review? I have been holding out waiting for your thoughts…
Living Stereo recordings are superb.
Maybe I’ll wait a year. Hopefully the build quality will improve!
Have you ever listened NewOntech Dac 08 or 07se
I find that delta sigma DACs have a distinct 'flatness' to their sound vs the palpably organic sound of R2R ladder DACs. And betwen R2R DACs, it really is a difference of resolution of fine detail, clarity and transparency.
I find them ALL too bright sounding!
@@dontcare563 all of them ?
I think you are right, although I don’t think it’s the fault of the DAC. More the original recording and simply the nature of digital sound. I think at this level, the music and recording are key. But I think sweetest music usually comes from a good vinyl setup.
@@Coneman3 On the contrary, it's what I've heard on the same recording, A/B'ing between delta sigma and R2R ladder DACs. As for sweet music coming from good vinyl setups, in my experience, this can be matched by an appropriate DAC + digital source setup. For it to be comparable, take the price of the TT, cart + phono stage and roughly match it to the price of the DAC + streamer.
I sold my May DAC for Pasithea last year. I2S connection takes Pasithea a notch above
@SAURAV2k3 before the May and pasithea which Dac did you own? I’m new to the audio world and are using the built in Dac inside my dmp-a6 .. I want to know if there will be a big difference stepping up to the pasithea. I don’t have a I 2S on my streamer.
May has 2 x I2S connections so not sure why that's your conclusion?
By wich mean and material do you link pasithea with i2s please?
I was thinking what you were thinking in the first part of this review...5k+ 7.7 lb Dac. No way Jose for me.
I am the happy owner of a Sonnet Pasithea, paired with a pair of Neumann KH310 studio monitors. It is very important to drive the DAC with an accurately clocked source, in my case a Cocktail Audio X50D streamer via IIS. The Pasithea opens up beautifully, making the Neumanns sound twice their size. A 13" SVS sub fills in the botton end
Sincerely suggested use Su-6 I2s To Pasithea, then the precision of mid-low end will again appear and make it more better. Usb model of Pasithea itself is somehow limited it's sound quality.
Do you know how to cabling all pin of Su6 to compatibility to rj45 pasithea please.? What I heard is metrum and sonnet i2s rj45 input have special characteristics make it difficult to link by other than sonnet and metrum streamer. Thanks by advance.
@@marc.c9456 With Singxer Su6, you could use any CAT6 cable directly, don't need to shift or change any thing.
Let’s hear the Tubadour V, please. That would be a wild comparison, imo.
Great review Ron as always. For 5k, it has to be mechanically perfect for me. Anything else makes me suspect of long lasting quality. This is due to my past experince.
Watching this sounds like you can replace your review of the Pasithea with the Spring 3 KTE except the build quality. 😂
I think I am hearing 2 sections of the review which are duplicated, “unexpected switch” 11:26 and 15:21?
Chip DACs were only made originally due to cost, not performance. But great DACs are now made which are chip and r2r DACs.
Obviously to me, I wouldn't consider this above the choice of the May. Build nixed it, never ever would I like seeing it in my system and it would cost more...not to mention I think resolution and dynamics to outweigh warmth all day!
My search ended with SW1X R2R tube dac
4:46 That does sound cheap when putting it back on the table
4:43 I think there is a place for saving on flashy bits for incredible soynd for the money. Examples would be something like the JDS Atom or kits like those from CSS Audio, Gr Research, AkitikA etc.
Thats fine, but you have to blow the competition away for them to make sense, if I wanted to spend $5K on audio gear thats made from thin steel and has a loose rca jack I'd buy some rare vintage thing. The main problem is diminishing returns, you can't blow away something like may even if you spent $100k it's never going to blow it away so the business model doesn't work with high end audio gear
Maybe I'm in the minority, but I'd find it hard to spend over $5,000 on a piece of audio equipment that hasn't had a ounce of thought put into it re: aesthetics/design.
Perhaps the Sonnet sounds amazing, but it looks like a sub-$1,000 piece of equipment. There are so many DAC's in the $5000 to $7000 range that have been well designed on the inside AND the outside, that I'd say Sonnet really needs to up their game in the design department.
Aragon got renowned designer/stylist Robbii Wessen to design their equipment back in the 80's, and it still shows today. Those Aragon amps and preamps have a timeless quality to them that (IMO) more audio companies should copy/emulate.
It's nice to see the Chinese DAC get some competition from the Netherlands.
Yeah, and the european craftmanship gets its ass delivered to it...
Ok I wasn't sure but it sounds like U get it, Someone with a good Ear, I keep that in mind whenwant to spend Big $$$$ I currently just switch between NOS, Up sample, and Tube PreAmp added to the DAC or R2R etc..... Along with TOSlink/ Coax all rhing jave trade-offs in Audiophile world....
16:50
dac loving Audiophiles 😂😂
If Sonnet use better integral cablin, fuse and material on pcb signal path this will be the best dac. To make the best of it could be good to upgrade few things. No a lot of people will risk guarantee. May KTE done a lot this kind of things. Sonnet Pasithea KTE edition is that we need :)
What chip does it use???
No chips. It's a resistor to resistor ladder dac
Nice review...
for that kind of money you can get an italian made Aqua La Scala...better hifi❓I'd like to see a shoot out of the two...
It isn’t just looks for components. The guts matter as that is what makes or breaks it. R2R has been proven as the champion for realism. Each must still compare and give their choice a chance. Buying a DAC in this price point is a bit problematic. Spending 5K on any piece is going to cause a problem as which will win. Using a comparison file or CD to evaluate the two and you are familiar and every nuance on this list that is designed to trip the one up that doesn’t set the example. There is always a way to trip up gear that may be flawed or is not for you. It is your choice so you need to be sure in it and be happy with it. Who want’s to be miserable with any component. It’s up to us to make our gear adapt to our preferences. This makes and keeps us in our happy place.
Ron why don't you review a audio note dac
Overpriced and overrated.
Great review but after all you've said, I don't think it's enough to change the May KTE. Especially after seeing the Pasithe with such poor production and design. In my opinion, the price tag of Pasithe should have been around $3K. I believe, May KTE is still the best DAC for its price on the market as of November 2023.
How does the May compare with DCS Bartok or The Dave DACs?
I suspect the May is killer in its price range.
Rather get the spring 3 over a pasithe
tyr review?
Is the Sonnet Pasithea an R-2-R or Sigma-Delta DAC? (I lean toward it's being Sigma-Delta, judging by its size and weight.) From watching your video, I have to say that the Holo Audio MAY KTE (Kitsune Tuned Edition) DAC is FAR better built than the Pasithea. For one thing, there is no way that the Pasithea's built-in power supply can compare with the Holo Audio MAY's massive separate power supply unit. There is likewise no excuse for the Sonnet's poor quality-control over seeing to it that all components are properly and securely mounted to the chassis (if ONE output jack is loose to the point of rattling, what ELSE might also be loose or improperly assembled inside the unit?). I'm glad you mentioned the quality control issue to the manufacturer.
All in all, Ron, you've published a great review - you really know how to describe in detail what it is that you're hearing. These two DACs are a close call pricewise, because the Pasithea at 5 grand costs just about as much as the Holo Audio MAY KTE. Is the Sonnet Pasithea a Chinese- or Korean-built DAC?
Pasithea is non oversampling R2R dac. Sonnet audio makes their own R2R “chips” (not a chip per se as delta sigma chip) based on unique know how brought from Metrum Acoustics (same owner and the same designer). All Sonnet products are made in the Netherlands. It is hard to compare “small” unit to others, because Sonnet uses different approach to R2R, their design uses extremely short signal paths and at extremely low voltage, hence there is just very small linear PSU inside.
I feel like if you have to spend weeks listening to even hear a single difference, it’s not worth it
IDK i think its a 2k at best
Id buy a Sonnet hands down if they looked better. Just that display turns me off
What is i2s via ethernet? Oh i se rj45.
Until i have 10k speakers ill stick with my Smsl su1
Where is the beard?
Loose RCA connectors? No thanks.
Try some AC/DC :) :)
These engineers simply do not visualize user requirements. One optical connector and one digital coax is insufficient in a modern system at any price.
I dont get how you have a review and dont turn the unit on NOT ONCE? Makes no damn sense...prolly because for $5k , they put a parts bin lcd display on it (THAT YOU SEE ON THOUSANDS OF AMPS), which is a HUGE FAIL
Again, the key word is „subtle“ and how much you are willing to spend for something that most people will never notice 😂
Interesting, BUT.... in my experience this small difference can become from Power Cable and digital cabling and streamer. The build quality of Sonnet DAC is "imbarrazzing" and also missing the native DSD, for me the Holo May + new DDC Holo Red have more value and can reach the Sound Quality of the Sonnet Pasithea.
I'm shutting off this video after the build quality issue.
大洞😂
I am done with this video I heard enough at 4.27 minutes.
And then there was the Cen.grand DSDAC 1.0 Deluxe smashing both May and Pasithea from the table… mark my words
I would like to see a review on this Dac. I’m going to a audio show in a few weeks and have a list of gear I’m hoping to hear. I’ll have to put this on my list
I wouldn’t even review it, if that’s how it came. Loose connections, come on. Send it back. Saying that, I won’t watch the review. I do like your channel though.
Lots of words for something that could easily be imagined with zero measurements. Incredible the lengths people go to justify juggling $5k electronics
Sorry, your comment got a little lengthy and I stopped reading at “Lots”.
All these electronics do is add more electronics in the signal path and embellish the sound electronically. It's not what the artist intended. Digital audio does not follow the concept of less is more and straight wire with gain like in a simple analog system.