2. digital
  3. 159610-3674

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
philippe0
15 posts
 
You’re very welcome, cudfoo, and thank you.
nquery
103 posts
 
@luisma31 Pi's are their own architecture/hardware. As far as Holo firmware vs chipset drivers, I think it's a mix of effort on both sides of the equation. Right now, the only combination that really works is 3.12 Holo firmware + intel USB chipset.
pengun
79 posts
 
This guy has good measuring equipment: He like the May a lot and shows you around inside. There is this one and a second.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wa3sOSRa-U0&t=703s&ab_channel=GoldenSound
redwoodaudio
414 posts
 
@cudfoo - if your usb cable does not have the standard 5v line going through it, the may dac will not see it. I had to pass up a fancy usb cable that was designed without it (because it does not help sound quality).
redwoodaudio
414 posts
 
Hi all, 
I posted in this thread a while ago after purchasing my level 2 may.  It was a good step up from the qutest and I enjoyed it for awhile.  But it really is not the greatest dac out there, even at its price.  I went to a wells audio cipher tube dac (much more realistic sounding - you could say analog or natural too).  $5k retail, made in California.  Now I’m running a lampizator Atlantic trp, also a tube dac, about $8k with volume control made in Poland.  Takes everything up several notches.  Holo May is a great and flexible dac, but it can’t match a well designed tube output stage.  R2R is not the most important spec for a dac, I have found out.
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