Holo Spring Dac (level2) review.

[georgehifi]

Well I've finally had a chance to listen at length to this Holo Spring Dac (in level2 form) and to say I was impressed is an understatement, a non digital sound just like the $30k Linn CD12 projects, huge presence, dynamics and detail, with a bounce to the music you just don't get from other none R2R dacs, it just sounds right with old or new recordings, call it "vinyl" without the flaws eg: (noise, tracking, channel separation, dynamics ect)

  

From the moment it went on in "PCM OS" mode with my Linn CD12 as the transport using spdif, I wasn't let down, it sounded very close to the Linn CD12, so close I don't think I could pick in a blind A/B, but I did have a preference for the Linn CD12 still.

When I put the Holo in "PCM NOS" mode then I just preferred the Holo, again in a blind A/B don't think I could pick it. This is one hell of a dac for the money, with old or new PCM (redbook) recordings, I would love to hear the (level 3) and with I2S as the connection.

Oh did I mention, it does Native DSD (ho-hum)

And it should do, not that I've got any, the best PCM there is, DXD!!!

 

The only thing wrong with it in my books, NO REMOTE VOLUME CONTROL to go direct into your amp with, bad over site in my opinion Holo.

 

Thanks to Ozzie (Ghostman) for sending it to me to measure and listen, Scotty will bring it back to you next time he's down, but I don't care if you go awol or mia and I'm stuck with it.

 

   BTW the measurements, I did confirm also a little more noise in the left than the right as JA Stereophile found in his measurement summation, so small it's not even worth mentioning. (just a L v R layout difference) The figures 9 and 10 are probably the best -90db wave forms I've ever seen from a dac.  

https://www.stereophile.com/content/holoaudio-spring-kitsuné-tuned-edition-level-3-da-processor-measurements

 

 

Cheers George  

[Steve M]

Agree George, Holo is a very nice sounding DAC ...it doesn't get much better in my book.

 

Steve.

[ghost4man]

As the owner of said DAC I was extremely happy that George and Scott Campbell - @Audionutz-had the opportunity to audition the Holo.

 

As I said to George in private I think the real benefit in the Holo is using the I2S way of connection. 

 

I've found that coupling the Oppo 203 with the Holo via a very good oppomod I2S board to be perfect for this. 

[rocky500]

Its also the first Dac where I thoroughly enjoyed listening to DSD tracks.

In the past Dacs I had that could do DSD sounded a bit soft sounding( not as good as the PCM), like it was an afterthought to tack on DSD playback.

[georgehifi]

51 minutes ago, rocky500 said:

In the past Dacs I had that could do DSD sounded a bit soft sounding

Same here no matter how many times I listen to it, smooth enough, but no boogie factor (excitement), just like sacd, which is the same only it's been flagged.

 

Cheers George

[gonefishing999]

@Max Headroom This the dac I purchased from you for @ghost4man

I don't think you gave it enough time to burn in.

I found mine took about 800 hrs. With I2s from Sonore Rendu Signature the results

are stunning so life like.

The Rendu is for sale as I'm now using modded Oppo 203 with I2s output to stream

[Max Headroom]

20 minutes ago, gonefishing999 said:

@Max Headroom This the dac I purchased from you for @ghost4man

I don't think you gave it enough time to burn in.

I found mine took about 800 hrs. With I2s from Sonore Rendu Signature the results

are stunning so life like.

The Rendu is for sale as I'm now using modded Oppo 203 with I2s output to stream

Can I come over and have a listen? I'd be interested in the Rendu SIgnature and to hear the Holo Spring again now that youve burnt it in as it didnt grab me

[Replicant2049]

Thanks for the review. This DAC has consistently had great reviews across many websites. Seems to hit well above it's price tag. I actually have never heard an RDR dac. The Denafrips dac's (particularly the terminator) which are RDR are also getting very big praise.

[Max Headroom]

Have to say the finest sounds I have heard in my system is with this DAC yesterday morning. @gonefishing999 came over on Saturday morning with his Holo DAC and Sonore Signature Rendu connected via i2s, and the sound was comparable to the Hugo TT2 and M Scaler combination I had on loan last week. It was absolutely glorious what the Holo DAC and Sonore did together.

[gonefishing999]

@ghost4man

[gonefishing999]

@Max Headroom  Jason I will bring over the Oppo 203 I2s modded and Holo dac.

This is a much better again. The Oppo has extend highs better bass control, punch.

 

Peter

[Max Headroom]

Mmmm would love to hear that

[Replicant2049]

On ‎12‎/‎11‎/‎2018 at 1:03 AM, Max Headroom said:

Have to say the finest sounds I have heard in my system is with this DAC yesterday morning. @gonefishing999 came over on Saturday morning with his Holo DAC and Sonore Signature Rendu connected via i2s, and the sound was comparable to the Hugo TT2 and M Scaler combination I had on loan last week. It was absolutely glorious what the Holo DAC and Sonore did together.

Wow, that is pretty amazing at like a quarter of the cost of the TT2 and M Scaler combo. I have a black M Scaler on order, playing the waiting game.

[georgehifi]

On 12/11/2018 at 1:03 AM, Max Headroom said:

Have to say the finest sounds I have heard in my system is with this DAC yesterday morning. @gonefishing999 came over on Saturday morning with his Holo DAC and Sonore Signature Rendu connected via i2s

I was talk to Terry Demol the other day, he seemed to think that the usb to usb would be even better than the I2S.????

 

Cheers George

[Max Headroom]

Yes its probably more like a third or more of the cost of the TT2 and M Scaler together, but still amazing value.

 

The TT2 and M Scaler are a glorious combination, and if you can afford it, go for it... but if you had the Holo DAC and the Sonore Signature Rendu, you wouldnt miss the Chord combination it's so close. Its a bit like one combination is slightly better in one area, and the other in another area...

[Max Headroom]

3 minutes ago, georgehifi said:

I was talk to Terry Demol the other day, he seemed to think that the usb to usb would be even better than the I2S.????

 

Cheers George

If you're talking about the Holo DAC definitely not. It's one area the Holo DAC is weak... use SPDIF, or ultimately HDMI/i2s

[ghost4man]

And Holo acknowledge that by virtue of the fact that you can upgrade the USB board. 

 

Ozzie 

[gonefishing999]

This should clarify how superior I2s is over Usb. I think Blizzard is right.

I am an I2s convert

https://www.computeraudiophile.com/forums/topic/24822-i2s-vs-usb/

 

Edited November 15, 2018 by gonefishing999

[eltech]

On 06/11/2018 at 11:36 AM, georgehifi said:

When I put the Holo in "PCM NOS" mode then I just preferred the Holo, again in a blind A/B don't think I could pick it.

The reason I don't like NOS is because when listening to orchestral music the midrange often sounds congested due to the aliasing. I don't notice too much difference on rock /pop.

 

Did you try listening to orchestral music in NOS? 

[georgehifi]

6 hours ago, eltech said:

Did you try listening to orchestral music in NOS? 

No, must admit I didn't, it was more listening to my go to albums for a/b comparisons, of Rickie Lee Jones (self titled 1986 uncompressed first cd release ) and Hall & Oats Abandoned Luncheonette  (a killer album) and so not what you think they are all about, starts off very light and then hints of the Beatles and ends up pretty dark, all with probably harmonizing that rival the Beach Boys. (Atlantic 7567-81537-2 1990 Germany, for the best uncompressed version, first recorded 1973.)

 

Cheers George 

[gonefishing999]

9 hours ago, eltech said:

The reason I don't like NOS is because when listening to orchestral music the midrange often sounds congested due to the aliasing. I don't notice too much difference on rock /pop.

What dacs have you tried to make this comment?

Have you tried the Holo?

Peter

[davewantsmoore]

On 15/11/2018 at 5:03 PM, gonefishing999 said:

superior I2s is over Usb.

Pretty massive generalisation....   USB has some known issues, sure... but I2S isn't at all trivial either.

 

To me it just seems wrong to be sending signals like that through twisted pairs over such a distance, with such little control.     Even over short coaxial cables seem 'unnecessary'.

[Max Headroom]

10 hours ago, eltech said:

The reason I don't like NOS is because when listening to orchestral music the midrange often sounds congested due to the aliasing. I don't notice too much difference on rock /pop.

 

Did you try listening to orchestral music in NOS? 

Can you list the associated equipment and music you were playing, and the actual version of the recordings. I’ve found that often the source components and downstream components such as speakers and cabling have a big influence on sound quality. When you start getting to a level where the system becomes revealing of the quality of all the components in the replay chain then you can start making comments about a ‘type’ of component. And that assumes you’ve heard quite a few NOS DACs. Otherwise it’s just your experience. Just saying you can’t tar all NOS DACs because of an experience you’ve had. I’ve had recordings (on records, streaming, cds) that sounded hard or congested and then realized later it was just my system. I wasn’t a fan of NOS DACs until recently when I heard the Holo Dac and Signature Rendu combination. Totally changed my opinion. 

[sir sanders zingmore]

22 minutes ago, Max Headroom said:

Just saying you can’t tar all NOS DACs because of an experience you’ve had. 

Same goes for Sabre DACs of course?

[Max Headroom]

26 minutes ago, Sir Sanders Zingmore said:

Same goes for Sabre DACs of course?

Yes absolutely. I’ve read that Sabre DACs are hard to implement in a DAC and work with, but when implemented well are amazing. Again that’s what Ive read but I’ve had no experience with them.