$150 DAC, you got to be kidding?No, he's not.
Holo Audio Spring DAC LEVEL 3 Vs. iFi Audio Pro iDSD DAC and Music Streamer
I want to up grade my DAC's and I'm looking at Holo Audio Spring DAC
LEVEL 3 and the iFi Audio Pro iDSD DAC and Music Streamer . Both are the
same price ($2499),both can be tube or SS I believe. Both have received
stunning reviews. Which one would be better with tube amps, which one
better with solid state? Has anyone heard one or both. Is one more
analytical then the other? Image, sound stage and depth, which should
sound better with Martin Logan's electrostatics? Am I missing something,
are there other DAC / Streamer's under $2500 I should know about?
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I'm looking for dacs also.Members here have pointed me towards MHDT Labs (Linear Tube Audio site),Denafrip,Audio Mirror.There are plenty of user impressions on this site and professional reviews to be Googled and perused.They all seem like they possess a beautiful analog like quality of sound; vinyl like. |
The iFi Pro iDSD puts a very large amount of features (wi-fi, streamer, MQA, DAC, preamp, TUBE stage) into a very small chassis (less than half the size of the Holo Spring). It’s literally an all-in-one swiss army type of solution. To make it a small box, it has to use an external switching power supply adapter. This is not good. However, I do see that it uses Elna Silmic capacitors internally which will give it a more laid-back type of sound. I suspect that this unit would really shine if you replace that power adapter with a linear power supply, such as something like this: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Top-level-100W-Ultra-low-noise-Linear-Power-supply-DC5V-DC32V-for-choose-L9-26/123381292300?hash=item1cba191d0c:m:mz576e3U8GDk2Y3GJ0euxdg Just make sure you have them include the right size DC connector. I suspect that the Holo Spring Level 3 would be more bright/clinical sounding because of the amount of silver wire they have in the unit (the transformer is all silver wire along with input/output leads being silver). I have not actually heard a Holo Spring, I’m only giving my gut feeling based on my experiences with different components. Also, the Holo Spring is only a DAC. You still need a streamer/player/transport as well as a preamp with volume control. If you want to look at alternative solid-state DACs that would probably not be as clinical, try looking at L.K.S. MH-D004, any Denafrips DAC, Audio-GD dacs. The iFi Pro iDSD with an external linear power supply might end up being the most "analog" sounding. |
Huh? HOLO Spring L3 has silver wire and therefore probably bright/clinical? And you've never heard a HOLO? I've never read such a ridiculous statement. Or have I? Actually I have...and sadly, lots of times...always on this Forum. Too many people assuming they know everything. Advice for the OP: look elsewhere on the web for better opinions especially on Digital, lots of advice out there from knowledgeable people who actually listen to equipment. |
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