Holo May KTE DAC

[nc42acc]

The mid priced DAC market is as volatile as ever. It seems like it is always a hopscotch game of who can market over last months model. My advice is whatever DAC you are looking for don’t buy it unless you can hear it in your system first. Reading reviews and forums is like searching through the Amazon rainforest for a single usb cable. I had the first Holo May Kitsune edition DAC and it sounded great and had impeccable build quality (thanks China) but there are so many others that are as good with maybe a slightly different “flavor” of sound. Buy what you LIKE the sound of and don’t get wrapped up in the hype.

 

[Mike]

Marty - was this Halo DAC neutral sounding? If so, there’s lots out there for sure.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[nc42acc]

Mike it has been several years and a completely different listening space so from what I can remember it was a pleasant sounding DAC. At the time I had a T&A DAC 8, Schiit Yggydrasil, etc. and ended up keeping an original Terminator. They all could have easily been the “one”.

The issue I see with “import” DACs that are only available by order is there is no home demo unless you have a local friend you could borrow it or at least go listen to their system. On the other hand the costs are lower and resell may not be as big of a financial hit if you happen to not like the sound.

Marty - was this Halo DAC neutral sounding? If so, there’s lots out there for sure.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[nc42acc]

Perfect example of what you get as you climb the DAC ladder.

Well, I just put the Holo May KTE back into the system. I'll start tracking hours on it in with an Elapsed time app and an Excel spreadsheet as it's my understanding that it needs 300-400 hours or more to fully come into it's own. I'd estimate this one has 30-40 hours of play on it. It's presently being "fed" by an Aurender N20, no slouch on the streamer/server end of things.

My impressions upon listening to it once again are consistent with my first experiences: is that it's a nice DAC. It's neutral, quiet, and nicely detailed with a nice, neutral and accurate tonal balance.

Compared to my Lampizator Baltic 3, though, it sounds "thin and 2-dimensional". The Lampi puts more "meat on the bone" in the presentation, it's notably more three-dimensional and more fully "fleshed out", as well as being much more open, expansive, with a much wider and deeper soundstage. The DAC the Holo May KTE reminds me most of is my old Schiit Gungnir Multibit with Gen 5 USB, actually.

At this point, at least for me, the Lampizator Baltic 3 is notably more "engaging and involving" to listen to; it draws me into the presentation. This is completely concordant with my first set of comparisons, back when I first got the Holo May in-house.

We'll see if the Holo May KTE will improve as it gets more and more hours on it toward its target burn-in requirements, so stay tuned.

 

[Mike]

Perfect example of what you get as you climb the DAC ladder.

Yup. Those who claim these here-today-gone-tomorrow DAC’s are giant killers have not truly experienced really great DAC’s.

Years ago, these DAC’s would come and go and folks desperate for something better than the nasties we had would buy, try and sell, but today, most people stick to the tried and true brands like Chord, MSB, DCS, Esoteric, NAIM, Berk, etc. Companies with Engineering “departments” and not “a guy”.

Meanwhile, over in weirdo NAIM land, I get my two 555 PSU’s today and my 500 amp tomorrow (an early Christmas present). For anyone interested, here is a white paper on my new NAIM DAC/streamer. I’ll be using its SPDIF input and an Aurender N20. It’s chip is so old, I wonder if it classifies as “vintage”. [emoji6]

https://www.naimaudio.com/sites/def...ownloads/files/ND 555 White Paper Final_0.pdf


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[nc42acc]

Congrats on your Christmas gift from Naim! The PCM1704 is a tried and true classic DAC chip. I think the implementation before and after the said DAC chip makes the difference between good and great. And when all those crazy Naim cables are connected and you can sit for hours and have enjoyed the music experience you made the right choice.

Yup. Those who claim these here-today-gone-tomorrow DAC’s are giant killers have not truly experienced really great DAC’s.

Years ago, these DAC’s would come and go and folks desperate for something better than the nasties we had would buy, try and sell, but today, most people stick to the tried and true brands like Chord, MSB, DCS, Esoteric, NAIM, Berk, etc. Companies with Engineering “departments” and not “a guy”.

Meanwhile, over in weirdo NAIM land, I get my two 555 PSU’s today and my 500 amp tomorrow (an early Christmas present). For anyone interested, here is a white paper on my new NAIM DAC/streamer. I’ll be using its SPDIF input and an Aurender N20. It’s chip is so old, I wonder if it classifies as “vintage”. [emoji6]

https://www.naimaudio.com/sites/def...ownloads/files/ND 555 White Paper Final_0.pdf


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Mike]

Congrats on your Christmas gift from Naim! The PCM1704 is a tried and true classic DAC chip. I think the implementation before and after the said DAC chip makes the difference between good and great. And when all those crazy Naim cables are connected and you can sit for hours and have enjoyed the music experience you made the right choice.

True. It’s a rare old bird. As for the crazy NAIM cables, you said it!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[nc42acc]

I wanted to comment on your engineering comment. I don’t think it is a lack of engineering prowess in some of these DACs but a different mindset of the end goals.

Yup. Those who claim these here-today-gone-tomorrow DAC’s are giant killers have not truly experienced really great DAC’s.

Years ago, these DAC’s would come and go and folks desperate for something better than the nasties we had would buy, try and sell, but today, most people stick to the tried and true brands like Chord, MSB, DCS, Esoteric, NAIM, Berk, etc. Companies with Engineering “departments” and not “a guy”.

Meanwhile, over in weirdo NAIM land, I get my two 555 PSU’s today and my 500 amp tomorrow (an early Christmas present). For anyone interested, here is a white paper on my new NAIM DAC/streamer. I’ll be using its SPDIF input and an Aurender N20. It’s chip is so old, I wonder if it classifies as “vintage”. [emoji6]

https://www.naimaudio.com/sites/def...ownloads/files/ND 555 White Paper Final_0.pdf


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Mike]

I wanted to comment on your engineering comment. I don’t think it is a lack of engineering prowess in some of these DACs but a different mindset of the end goals.

Perhaps. Still, to me, a lot of these fly by nights seem like one step removed from DIY. Not to say, the blind squirrel doesn’t find a nut once in a while, but…the small DAC brand graveyard is a mighty big one. The big boys have staying power for many reasons, one of them being engineering teams, the other is no doubt marketing dollars!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[nc42acc]

So true on the one step away from a DIY project but I have seen uber expensive high end audio gear look like they just came out of someone’s basement. I will say the Holo DACs are designed well and the casework is impressive just like my Terminator Plus. There is a place for all this in the market with their own set of risks and downsides.

Perhaps. Still, to me, a lot of these fly by nights seem like one step removed from DIY. Not to say, the blind squirrel doesn’t find a nut once in a while, but…the small DAC brand graveyard is a mighty big one. The big boys have staying power for many reasons, one of them being engineering teams, the other is no doubt marketing dollars!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Mike]

So true on the one step away from a DIY project but I have seen uber expensive high end audio gear look like they just came out of someone’s basement. I will say the Holo DACs are designed well and the casework is impressive just like my Terminator Plus. There is a place for all this in the market with their own set of risks and downsides.

For sure.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Puma Cat]

You should really figure out a way to run it 24/7 (ok possibly powering down and back up every couple days, but generally run it) with the input and OS you plan to use (its USB NOS is outstanding).

Hey Evan,

I'm already doing that...just configured it last night to run continually and send signal to the amazing Constellation Inspiration integrated amp (which has the speaker cables disconnected), so it can burn in, too.

I'm tracking hours on both in Excel.

Not my first rodeo...

Cheers, mate.

 

[Puma Cat]

Yup. Those who claim these here-today-gone-tomorrow DAC’s are giant killers have not truly experienced really great DAC’s.

Years ago, these DAC’s would come and go and folks desperate for something better than the nasties we had would buy, try and sell, but today, most people stick to the tried and true brands like Chord, MSB, DCS, Esoteric, NAIM, Berk, etc. Companies with Engineering “departments” and not “a guy”.

Just to level set here, First Watt doesn't have an "engineering department", but they have "a guy".

Same applies to Shunyata Research and DarTZeel, now that I think about it.

 

[Mike]

Just to level set here, First Watt doesn't have an "engineering department", but they have "a guy".

Same applies to Shunyata Research and DarTZeel, now that I think about it.

First Watt has the gang from Pass: Nelson, Desmond and Wayne and others all able to lend ideas.

Shunyata also have techs.

Dart, don’t know, but can’t imagine Herve is doing everything himself.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[dznutz]

Companies/products that pop up overnight, especially from China, can disappear even faster. What is your product worth then? and where is your support?

 

[divertiti]

Perfect example of what you get as you climb the DAC ladder.

I wouldn't describe the Lampi Baltic as climbing the ladder from the Holo May KTE. It really depends on one's music preference and sonic taste. One person's "full bodied" is another person's "smeared and vague". I have auditioned the Lampizator Pacific against the previous MSB flagship Diamond DAC V. Lots of people swear by the Pacific but to me it lacks the bottom end control and grip of a good R2R DAC, even with the PX25 tube. Of course this depends on the music, for acoustic music and small ensemble jazz, Pacific is absolutely amazing. However when you put in modern music like electronic or hiphop, it's just too loose on the bottom with a lot of loss in articulation and nuance. It doesn't have that instant start and stop ability which makes sense for tubes.

I have also auditioned the MSB Select II in a SOTA system, and the Holo May KTE reminds me quite a bit of the MSB family sound. Of course it's not close to the Select, but some of the same sonic attributes are there, such as the amazing amount of micro-dynamic detail that really translates into texture of the music, as well as a sense of timbrel rightness. Carefully designed R2R DACs with separate power supplies have all impressed so far. At $5.5K it's an absolute steal. I have owned Denafrips Terminator, Rockna Wavelight and Mojo Mystique Evo and the Holo May KTE is better than them by a material amount (for my taste).

So true on the one step away from a DIY project but I have seen uber expensive high end audio gear look like they just came out of someone’s basement. I will say the Holo DACs are designed well and the casework is impressive just like my Terminator Plus. There is a place for all this in the market with their own set of risks and downsides.

+1, both the Holo and Denafrips DACs are impeccably made. Holo doesn't have $5K worth of CNC labor into a fancy chassis, but the KTE version has premium parts in the most crucial areas, maybe they can up the game on a more premium version with better vibration control, dual mono power supply and better RFI/EMI shielding.

Companies/products that pop up overnight, especially from China, can disappear even faster. What is your product worth then? and where is your support?

I would venture there are actually more defunct American audio brands than there are Chinese ones. A good product will still be a good product. Both Denafrips and Holo Audio have been in business for many years and both have US Service Centers. Yes it's true for other brands if service needs to be done internationally that could be a pain, however I suppose that's the price of admission to sample the different design talents and philosophies the world has to offer.