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Holo Audio May DAC

Just read a very nice review of this in Stereophile this month and after doing some research it looks like this one could be a very nice option for me.  
https://kitsunehifi.com/product/holo-audio-may-dac/
  
It's made in China I think (or could be Taiwan?, and yes, I am very well aware that these are two very different countries. ;)), and employs a direct to consumer model to keep the price as low as possible.  This does not worry me after purchasing a Jay's Audio transport from Vinshine Audio and having zero issues.  

Just curious if anyone here has heard one or purchased?  I'm very intrigued.  I know the Denafrips Terminator is another highly regarded DAC with a similar ordering model, but costs a couple grand more than this one.  Considering that one as well.

Thanks
128x128snackeyp
in_shore's avatar
in_shore
596 posts
 
I have a Holo May KTE dac though my experience is what’s up stream of the dac will certainly make a difference and I’m not the only one .
Just in the past four years I’ve had PS Audio Direct Stream senior, Denafrips Terminator, Rockna Wave Dream , AudioByte Hydra Vox and now the Holo May KTE being fed by a 432 Evo Aeon server , this is by a large margin the best playback of well recorded music I have ever experienced in my home so far .
mofojo
2,304 posts
 
“It's made in China I think (or could be Taiwan?, and yes, I am very well aware that these are two very different countries. ;))”

The very different countries statement would be answered very differently depending on if you asked a Chinese or Taiwanese person. ;-)
jcarcopo's avatar
jcarcopo
504 posts
 
 @jjss49 I’ve heard one person say the Terminator+ is a bit brighter. I think it was a person who owned both, but it may have been a reviewer. It was a while ago

Ron at New Record Day on YouTube definitely preferred the Holo May KTE over the Terminator and it’s his new reference DAC. He did both reviews back to back. One of the best reviews he's ever done.
https://youtu.be/HPtsWvhjLxA

As an aside, John Lavorgna added the May DAC KTE to his favorite DACS list. https://twitteringmachines.com/twittering-machines-favorite-dacs/

HoloAudio KTE May DAC ($4999.99)

The two-chassis KTE May DAC from HoloAudio was built to be a statement DAC and what a statement it makes. From my review — With the Holo Audio KTE May DAC we have a digital to analog converter that pulls off that rare feat of turning data into music without imposing the fingerprints of the process, which is all too commonly found with most DACs. That it does so at this level of sophistication at its price is remarkable.



jjss49's avatar
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jjss49
6,612 posts
 
@jcarcopo

thank you for your post

when i had the denafrips dacs (ares thru term, still kept a pontus for fun), i also felt the treble is a little too forward for my personal tastes, even though the overall musicality was very nice

it is good to know that the may is less forward than the denafrips voicing, i will look to try one at some point

as for ron at record day, i know he tries hard, produces quite good videos and they are complete and thoughtful, but i find his videos hard to watch from start to end... reminds me a bit of some ex colleagues and friends who were randomly way too chatty and far slow to come to the point... (i know this is as much a comment on my sensibilities as his...)
jcarcopo's avatar
jcarcopo
504 posts
 
@jjss49 I think he’s improved a bit. 😁 He catches himself when says something dorky or goes off script and makes light of it. I only brought him up because I know he reviewed both DACS in question back to back, so I thought it was relevant. Since I own the May, my bias may be coming into play here since he was rather blunt about the May’s DAC incredible instrumental positioning, decay, depth, and soundstage advantage over the Terminator (or any DAC for that matter) assuming your speakers aren’t against a wall and poorly setup.  I do agree with his assertions. 


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