Holo Audio Spring Dac, At last a Stereophile review and tests

@jwm  I agree 100% with your assessment.

I also had a L3 but I could not get it sound engaging and exciting in my system. Sold it a couple of weeks after getting it (it was already burned in, btw).

That being said, I only tried it with the USB input from my MacBook Pro, whereas using another input via a DDC like the Singxer SU-1 seems like the prevalent recommendation.

Yes it needs a Singer or other jitter cleaning device according to people I know who use it. This is not uncommon for all but the best DACs. 

I used it with the Singxer SU-1 and still didn't warm up to it.

Hmmm, I have the Level 3 Spring with the Singxer fed by an Aurender N100H and it rivals my CD transport for quality of sound.  I have been very happy with it. I have to admit that I am curious about the Denafrips Terminator although it is at a much higher price point.

I really enjoyed reading that review. It was very insightful and had a nice and honest tone about it. And I love that he compared it to other similar competitors, which makes a review so much more useful and informative -- at least to me. I didn’t know anything about the Holo DAC going in, and now I’m very interested. Wonder how it would compare to something like a Metrum Hex or Pavane?

By the way, it bugs the crap out of me when some rags fail to bother to compare a review component to anything else at all, and some sometimes don’t even bother to disclose the equipment used in the review system! What is that??? All but useless to me. ARGH!!! I suppose it does promote firing off "reviews" much more quickly while also effectively removing almost all potential accountability. How wonderful it must be for those "reviewers." (Yes I’m referring to you TAS and Hi-Fi+). Anyway, thanks for the link to the review.