Holo Audio May NOS DAC with oversampling on demand
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- čas přidán 31. 07. 2024
- It’s a DAC that can be operated without or with oversampling and does not only do PCM but also DSD in the fully discrete R2R type digital to analog converter. It looks like we can have our cake and eat it too….
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Thank you making this wonderful video to explain this quality DAC. Because of this video, the May joins the list of possible DACs to replace my 8yr old LKS DA002 and I am very lucky to chance upon a used May KTE at a reasonable price. This May DAC has exceeded my expectations and brought my listening experience few notches up.
Thank you Hans for this review. The Holo May is brand new and we barely had the time to listen to it. We had complete faith in it, but we also know how merciless you are if you don't like it. We are very content, that may be clear. Regards, Jos
I love this man - stellar review, detailed and informative as always.
Glad to hear it!
The info-graphics and explanations are clear. This may be your best video to date. (And I'm not planning on any DAC purchase!).
The data of the two (or more) channels in interlaced. So first bits for the left channel and the bits for the right channel.
Thanks for the hard work Hans, it's very hard to find good info on such niche kit finery.
Brilliant report! As always, cheers to you, Prof. Beekhuyzen!
Many thanks!
Prof. Beekhuyzen - I have recently received a HOLO May KTE DAC. In part, because of this review. It sounds a great as you say. Thank you for everything you do. Cheers!
Enjoy the music
Isn't the wildism level 2 version better?
@@Accuaro pretty random question... you think?
M Slaw Even though the KTE version cost more, wildism has a few better options than kitsune, for example using all audionote capacitors.
Unfortunately with kitsune much of the mods are just branding or so I have been told.
@@Accuaro So, you haven't actually heard either machine?
Thanks for finding that one The price looks to be good value considering an outboard power supply and ladder resistors. Excellent sound quality confirms the value!
Glad to help
Luv this r2r ladder dac and in the back ground r2r tape deck, old n new.
Such a beautiful DAC. I doubt I'll ever be able to splurge on such a high cost DAC but it looks beautiful.
I understand.
Nice review
Thanks!
At last a NOS dac. Great review. This is the way!!!
Calaf_72 My Denafrips Ares ll is a NOS DAC. They are out there.
@@donr62 I had Denafrips Ares II dac until recently. It is very very good indeed.
Calaf_72 what did you replace it with?
@@donr62 AudioGD R-1 NOS dac
Calaf_72 any reason you didn’t go for a higher end Denafrips?
Hans told a joke! I like it.
Don't get him started Gary.
I *think* the volume controls on the remote are for the optional preamp module, for the May?
Hi... one comment on burn-in. I bought a Holo May KTE and got it a few days before Christmas. It is my personal experience that 500 hours is not sufficient for burn-in. At least in my experience, it took 900-1000 hours before the soundstage, imaging, and tone really opened up started sounding truly beautiful and startlingly lifelike. Up until this point, I would get a day or two where it would seem to take a big improvement, and then there would be a regression in the soundstage, tone, and sound quality. There was a lot of ups and down for me, and then starting around 900 hours or so, everything really started gel in an incredible way. The transformation at this point has not been subtle. I can only say, whatever sound your hear and impressions you have of the Holo May KTE when listening at less than 900-1000 hours is only a facsimile of what it will sound like when it breaks in. You have to grind through the hours to get the payoff though. In my case, 39 days of 24x7 play. It seems insane to require that much, and YMMV, but this has been my experience with the KTE edition with all of the upgraded caps and fuses in them (can’t comment on non-KTE versions). When fully burned in, it is a truly magical and beautiful sounding source with realism/soundstage that is startling and a beautiful, natural tone. Also, don’t skimp on the USB cable if USB is the source. I’m running a Shunyata Sigma USB, and it is worth every penny.
Thanks for your comment Jeff, and thanks for being transparent about your own experience. However, at 900-1000 hours of listening experience on the May, how are you able to tell that it is indeed the electronics that have burned in and not your ears that have burned into your system (or rather, attuned into listening for the differences between the May and whatever dac you were using prior)?
This is a remark by Sonépouse that has never heard the effect of burning in. No offense by the way. I had several opportunities to compare fresh and burned-in versions of the same model amp and digital player and the effect then is very clear. It is even recognizable quite easy. I am convinced that I can hear whether a good piece of gear is fresh or burned-in.
I can only say, that extreme long burn in period is really the case with Holo DACs. My experience with Spring 3 KTE is exactly the same. I have never had any other audio device with such a long burn in time. And yes, even after 800 hours I did notice sound improvement. So yes, 900-1000 hours is in fact the true number, even if it is hard to believe.
Jeff:
Same experience here. I am well short of 1000, waiting. Tell me, do you use any of the oversampling options? And what configuration do you use for i2s? Thanks!
I ended up purchasing the Holo Audio Spring KTE dac and will have the May on my future upgrade list. It will be a significant incremental investment so may need to wait 1-2 years until some hit the used market.
Makes sense
What’s your opinion of the KTE (especially USB connection) by now?
This is my endgame😍😍😍😍 give me like 5 years and ill get it no problem but r2r with a remote and an external power supply damnnn😍
👍🏼
Of course, but many DACs will truncate a 32bit signal to 24 bits on the digital input with resulting harmonic distortion. I believe that is different than the thermal issues with resolving low level detail limits of the DACs?
Hey Hans, if you would compair it to Denafrips Terminator plus. Are they a matter of taste or is one better then the other. I have for my ears to bright sound in my setup that can be a problem in high volymes. Is one of them better in that way?
Very much appreciate your videos. Keep doing what you do.
Please watch czcams.com/video/BzLmC4n2DX4/video.html
Is the USB card/interface powered internally from the DAC itself, or externally via USB cable from the laptop?
I don't recall. Sorry.
@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel Thank you for your reply. It needs +5V from the laptop just for the handshake. The USB card has its own low noise regulators to power up the IC's / rest of electronic components.
Hans ..i just bought on the KTE one .. 5 more weeks ..til it arrives it is now 11/17 /21
It will be paired with
NimitraS (RooN Core )
Aurilac Aries G2.1
Holo MAY KTE (replacing a Hugo 2 )
Modright KWH225i Integrated Hybrid Amp
Boenicke W8se+
👍🏼
This is off this subject, but have you tried the Project RS 2T CD Transport or is streaming mostly what you do?
I mainly do streaming
Another incredible video Hans; you are SO good at this ! Stupid question: at 13:08 you show a table entry for DSD modes via USB. Do I understand correctly that when connected via USB (playing from Roon on a computer for example), one can choose a "Native Mode" and obtain native DSD decoding anywhere from DSD64 to DSD1024, or a "DoP" mode and obtain DSD64 to DSD512 decoding ? The reason I'm confused is why would anyone PICK DoP mode when they could simply choose to decode "natively" ? Thanks !
You only choose DoP if your source doesn’t do native.
I read and hear that the jitter rejection of the USB implementation on the May is amazing: does it mean that just using a Raspberry Pi 4's USB would do the trick, without having to use hats etc?
I haven’t tried but I would be surprised if the RPi would suffice.
already done that and the result sounds horrible, i even give the Raspberry Pi 4B a very high quality liner power supply.
Great review !! how does the sound quality sound compared to the Mola Mola Tambaqui ?
You find my review of the Tambaqui here: czcams.com/video/DRNAsfjnH50/video.html
Great review!
I am choosing between the Holo May (KTE Version) and the Denafrips Terminator --- not too sure which one sounds better, more nature and balanced?
Sorry but I can't do one-on-one advise. Too many requests, too little time.
Is there no XLR Left and Right inputs on the DAC?
Digital inputs on XLR and SPDIF are stereo. There is only one connector needed for both channels.
Hi Hans, I like you review of the Chord Dave and was hoping to upgrade to it some time in the future as I am using Qutest now (still very impressed with it) After viewing this review, how do you compare them? I don't think I will have the chance to home audition any of them which is really risky for me to spend such amount of money.
It’s like comparing a BMW 3 series to a Mercedes S class
@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel Thanks Hans. I assume the Holo is the BMW.
@@darylfong9335 My test drive - BMW is far batter than Mercedes - they are not in the same league.
No volume control? Pre amp required?
yep
Hans have you ever tried the Musician Pegasus R2R dac and if so what is your opinion ? Thanks a lot
I haven’t
@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel i wish to try it sometime to tell us your opinion Hans .
An audio dealer suggested i look into adding a master clock into a digital system to improve the sound quality. i'm not sure if a reclocker is the same as a master clock, but i am hoping to purchase a holo may level 3. I also have the MSB discrete dac in mind. The dealer knows nothing about what my system will consist of. He was simply giving me pointers. i didn't buy anything from him. the brand he mentioned was Mutec. Mutec has a 10mhz clock generator as their flagship product (approx $6000). Is this an example of when a clock has no effect on the dac due to the dac already performing very well? since the may is non oversampling, does this mean a clock generator is pointless?
It's the kind of blind advise I try to stay away from.
Hi Hans, what player are you using to get the most of the I2S input ?
Currently the Magna Manor MK III Farad
I had heard that both HDMI I2S ports were individually configurable on the May DAC, accepting any protocol. Is this not true?
The May knows four different pinout configurations. I think they will cover all pinout configurations available on the market. So it's not the protocol but the way the HDMI is wired.
@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel Thanks Hans, my wording could have been better. The pin configuration is to what I was referring.
My point was that you had stated, "and then even you have to make sure it uses the same de facto standard as defined by PS Audio, for there are other variants too." So was your initial statement in the video incorrect? Or am I wrong and missing a subtlety here? Is there something other than the HDMI pin configuration/usage that determines the PS Audio standard?
my TV (Sony OLED HDR ) has HDMI port. Can I listen CZcams 192K music with HDMI?
Hans: do you use any of the oversampling options? And what configuration do you prefer for I2s? I'm using a PS Audio Perfectwave spinner.
Thanks!
Hans: ignore the first question 😀
Finally (sorry), do you employ PLL?
PLL is almost always an integral part of digital equipment. so there is no choice nt to use it. You just need it.
Thanks much Hans, I concur. What about i2s configuration?
Hello from Romania Hans...you need to try a R2R Rockna Wavelight DAC...made with pride in România, you will forget about the Holo...keep doing this great job !!! 😁
Agreed - moved from the Spring 2 KTE to the base Rockna model. Both DACs are great but the Rockna is something special
Alexander Gourlay Hi Alezander how do you compare the Rockna to the KTE, thanks Sean
Hello Hans ,can I know your private opinion? Which DAC you think is the best( I mean audio quality in overall) from these examples? "Chord Dave" , "Denafrips Terminator plus" or maybe "Holo May lv2" ? Thanks
Do you think I chose a reference that was more expensive and yet less in performance?
@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel which on you mean? (I probably missed something) :)
@Enovak czcams.com/video/QZ2JAAqvjUQ/video.html
Hello Hans. I am a huge fan and subscriber to your channel. I am considering getting a new DAC as an upgrade verses using the DAC in my Arcam AVR 850. The AVR850 is great for TV, and Movies and is ok for music audio but seems to be 'not as all I am expecting" per CD. I own a Oppo 203 which I am using the optical cable out bypassing the DAC of the Oppo for CD listening. Streaming is from a Roku player for both Tidal and Sirius XM radio. The DAC processing of the Arcam seems a bit 'Digital dry sounding". I have strong interest in this DAC as well as the Denafrips Terminator. Curious if you have comments you can share from your experience of the two DAC's?
I have not (yet?) reviewed the Terminator, so I can't say. Sorry.
@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel I hope you review the Denafrips Terminator. I would love to hear you what you find.
You video was very informative regarding Halo audio ADC. Where it is made. What is the cost in Euros. Please reply 🙏
I want to buy this DAC I am using both Parasound power amplifier , Pre amplifier. Will this DAC match with Parasound. Please let me know ok. Fantastic presentation.
I always mention manufacturer and supplier below the video in CZcams. Just hit "More..." and you would have found this link to the supplier "www.magnahifi.com/en/".
is it actually better than Chord DAVE as some reviewers claim?
Not to my ears.
You mentioned the Dac is 32bit. I am curious to know if all the bits of a 32 bit file make it through the conversion without truncation? Thanks for all you do Hans!
Of course not. No DAC goes beyond 20 bit equivalent analog resolution
Did you keep it?
No
How does the Holo compare to your Mola Mola_
See my review. They have a different character. I prefer the Mola Mola.
Sad there's no HDMI. Is Bryston the only one who does this?
Very few DAC's offer HDMI in, even fewer offer HDMI switching like Bryston do. Mostly AV receivers are used for HDMI switching.
Can you or can you not use a Gaia with this DAC and have you heard the KTE version? Pressing for the highest quality can be frustrating. I prefer R2R DACs to Delta Sigma. There is something for most tastes. Nowadays, expressing any opinion brings trolls out. And the hits just keep on coming. You do a fine job of explaining a difficult subject. It isn’t easy given the present lack of civility in some people. Please keep up your delivery as it works well for you.
You can use the I²S setting for the PS Audio standard on both the Gaia and the May. So the answer is yes.
@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel , Bingo Hans and thank you for that! Bravo!
Would you consider another shirt?
More? I already have five of them.
Seems unusual there is no power button on the remote.
I never switch off my DACs. That keeps the clock oscillators stable.
@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel I will likely do the same whether I get this Halo or the denafrips Pontus. But I see there is a little device called a Switchbot that can be attached to a piece of gear to remotely push the power button using Bluetooth.
Am I right in thinking that SPDIF RCA gives superior output than TOSLINK, if you only had those two options besides phono output on a DAC
Excellent and informative channel by the way.
In an ideal world you are right. SPDIF has more bandwidth and thus is the better one. But TOSlink offers galvanic separation which in some cases is more needed than bandwidth.
@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel Much appreciated for taking the time to reply Mr HB. I've just spent months converting my 1000+ CD collection to a NAS drive. Thus wanted to make sure I was getting the best possible sound output. Stay safe and well. Love your channel extremely informative.