@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.
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
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
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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 |
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. |
R2R is not the most important spec for a dac, I have found out.Agree, SD DACs can be very good as well but it can’t match a well designed tube output stageThis could be if you don’t have any other tube equipment in your chain, I personally think a tube has no business whatsoever within a DAC but that’s just my personal non professional opinion (tubes are a source of incoming RFI / EMI something you would like to avoid if possible inside a DAC) My specific chain has a tube preamp and tube amps, I don’t really need a tube DAC but a good well implemented DAC Many designers I respect have build these tube DACs, I know if fulfills a need but I don’t personally like it. but I totally respect your opinion @redwoodaudio EDIT: R2R's can be good as well and even tube DACs, it is all about the implementation |
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