I literally just finished hooking up the Red a couple of hours ago. I ordered mine around the same time and it arrived today (NJ just outside of NYC). Yes, it’s not clear at all how to set it up. The manual is terrible. I’m upgrading from an iFi Zen Stream and I thought their manual was the worst until this one. @jackd advice above should get you started. My use case is a little different because I’m just using it as a Roon endpoint. The silver lining to the confusing setup is that it is a remarkably good streamer. I thought my Zen Stream was dialed in with an external LPS and really liked the sound. Then tonight I listened with the Red and everything was better. I was never a big believer in the importance of the streamer/transport in a digital system. I thought the DAC was 80% of it. I think I was wrong. Let us know what you think once you have it connected.
Holo Red Streamer
I placed my order and paid for it on February 22, 2023; it finally arrived today in my building in NYC. Apparently they are backlogged in a major way.
Their manual is not user friendly to walk through starting it up. Greek to me on their TFT card and finding the IP address and whether I have to do that first. I can connect my Ethernet cable from my router to the Holo Red and then to run an AES/EBU cable from the Holo Red to my PS Audio Mk I DAC, but what else must I do to get going? I now use MConnect for Tidal and use the streamer card I installed in the DAC.
If anyone has experience with the Holo Red streamer, I could use the advice to start up operating it so I don't grind my teeth and pull out my remaining hair. Thank you. Neal
- ...
- 25 posts total
Thank you to nymarty and oczed. This is why I ask clear instructions in advance of a digital or computer-related component with weak instructions so I do not bang my head against the wall. It would not have taken much more effort from Holo/Kitsune to make clear instructions, rather than "computerese." Neal
|
I'm also interested in the Holo Audio Red for my second system. I'm planning to use it with Denafrips Pontus II DAC. The fact that the Red has an IS2 output is a big plus in my book. However, based on my understanding, the Red cannot be used as a streamer AND a DDC simultaneously. To use it as a DDC, it must be connected (USB in) to another streamer or Roon core. Can someone validate if my understanding is correct? |
@arafiq yes, it’s either a streamer or a DDC. Once you connect (USB in) to use as DDC, you lose the network connection. I bought it to use as a streamer and very happy so far. I’m using it with a Pontus 2 via USB. I’m going to try i2s this weekend after I get a decent short HDMI cable to use. |
- 25 posts total