HOLO AUDIO Serene, I Like It Like That!

[@wmszeto8095]

Thank you for your excellent review, Steve! I'm really impressed with the difference the Holo Audio Serene KTE has made in my audio setup. Originally, I had the Holo Audio Spring 3 KTE with its built-in pre-amp, which was great, but it didn't quite capture the magic I heard in the showroom. That all changed when I added the Serene to my system. The improvement is clear: the soundstage has opened up, the imaging is pinpoint accurate, and there's a level of detail that I just wasn't getting before. Whether I'm analyzing the intricacies of a new album or just relaxing with some old favorites, the Serene delivers on all fronts.

[@user-sm3ru1fm6g]

Does bass on Serene feel boast up a little?

[@wmszeto8095]

@@user-sm3ru1fm6gThe bass on the Serene is clear and controlled. Not only has the bass improved, but the overall sound quality has also been enhanced after adding the Serene to my system.

[@mikehuntington4440]

What amp are you using?

[@wmszeto8095]

@@mikehuntington4440 I'm using the active speakers PSI A14-M with the subwoofer PSI A125-M

[@riknos3289]

@@user-sm3ru1fm6g No. I've had a serene for almost a year and find it incredibly neutral. The powerful and low impedance output stage of the serene can give a stronger impression of bass depending on the input impedance of your power amp, but that's due to the interaction between the two components rather than either component having that as an intrinsic quality.

[@jhschmidMD4]

Super nice looking device! A high quality build, with great parts! I wish, however, that it had a record loop for us few remaining tape heads out here. Thanks for the review Steve!

[@jos5067]

Audirvana is so great for sound! I can’t imagine living without! Thanks 🙏 Steve!

[@royli3260]

I liked your video today - nothing new there (I've really enjoyed watching your KZbin videos for a very long time now), except to say your use of chapters is so much better for the viewer for navigation purpose - so much more user-friendly. Keep up the good work!

[@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac]

Thanks

[@denbo1064]

Hello Steve and thanks for another great review! As a proud owner of the KTE version of this preamp, I can wholeheartedly agree that it is one tremendous piece. Like you (and no doubt countless others in audio-dom) I have played, owned, borrowed and heard many, many preamps over the years - NONE has sounded better at “putting the whole package together” as this preamp. To me it takes ALL of the best attributes of tube and solid state, and craftily blends them into one. Kudos to HoloAudio, and thanks again for reviewing this!

[@barneyrubble9309]

managed to pick one up at a smidge over half price to run my headphones...it is sublime.

[@jamesberryman9893]

Very nice review! I love your calm demeanor!

[@albertcalderon3421]

Saludos Sr Steve, excelsos vídeos, gracias por compartirlos, siempre presentas verdaderos aparatos de verdadera Alta Fidelidad y no las mentiras actuales del mal llamado High End, siempre nos presentas cosas diferentes y de muy alta calidad a precios razonables, sigue adelante, tus comentarios y apreciaciones son muy valorados, abrazos desde Bogotá, Colombia

[@wanderbaldini2883]

The Serene has one of the best engineered layout ever seen, no matte the price. If it costed 5 times I wouldn't be surprised, but at that price... it's a real steal!

[@BobbyBass-x6i]

I have their Cyan 2 DAC. Sounds beautiful and very well built. Holo is making excellent equipment.

[@jasonpmcqueen]

I had the KTE version of this for a while and its a fantastic piece of kit, especially at the price. Linked with my Spring 3 KTE it offered a great sound for the money. I replaced them with a Classe Delta Pre just because I wanted to redunce the number of boxes in my rack and the Delta had dual sub control.

[@briancampbell7712]

I'm using an Aqua Formula DAC with my favorite sleeper Preamp of all time...Linn Klimax Kontrol w/ upgrades, connected to a Conrad Johnson Premier 11a tube amp using NOS GE 6550A tubes and NOS Sylvania 6550 tubes...all connected to Origunal Tannoy Arden Mk1 and it's very nice...🎶🍾 I'll send in the updated system for your channel to show😁🎶

[@xtctaz]

As always awesome video. Super excited about your upcoming perca review. Hope u get to pair it either the Makua or Tambaqui

[@dontcare563]

Using this preamp with my Holo May KTE DAC and Coda #8 amp. Love the combination.

[@artyfhartie2269]

When I use it with headphones, I can feel the hollowness in my head

[@TriAmpMyFi]

Consistently outstanding productions. Acid Jazz, Funk & Brass 🔈🔉🔊

[@marcgoldstein2957]

Great shirt!

[@dilbyjones]

Mola mola, love the Macy gray !

[@septembersurprise5178]

The Traveling Wilburys ? Yes please !

[@billlarkin-b5f]

Thank you it looks super nice just love it😊

[@stevewoods8624]

Hi I’m a Holo fan, I have a Spring DAC Kitsune Tuned Edition. Wonderfull R2R goodness. Great company with great products.

[@tabl10s]

I have my modified KTE going into a Dartzeel '108A. I've thought about selling it for a Joule LA-300ME or VAC Renaissance Mk V, want to hold out til I get the matching preamp.

[@chrisc405]

I’m excited to finally receive my long-awaited Holo May, Serene, and Red Streamer! However, I’m experiencing some issues with the Serene preamplifier. After setting it up with my Holo May DAC, I’ve noticed that the mute function doesn’t completely silence the sound. When the mute button is engaged, sound can still be heard from my speakers at a lower volume. This behavior is odd, as I’ve never encountered it with other preamps. I’ve tested different inputs (XLR 1 and XLR 2), and the result is the same-the mute function only reduces the volume without fully muting it. Additionally, when switching between inputs (e.g., RCA to XLR), music still plays at a reduced level, even though the cables are only connected to the XLR inputs. Is this normal, or could this indicate a defect in the unit? For reference, my setup is as follows: Streamer: Holo Red AES cable to Holo May DAC XLR cable to Holo Serene XLR cable to Merrill Audio Veritas 400 amp Speaker cable to Elac speakers

[@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac]

You really should contact the distributor

[@jasonhinton2424]

I have the kte serene with a pair of schiit tyr mono blocks. My Klipsch fortes sound so great with this set up

[@SergeySedlovsky]

Kitsune is pronounced Kit-Soon-Eh and it means Fox in Japanese, hence the Fox logo

[@TheRealJanKafka]

I was going to suggest that he listen to the song "Megitsune" from the BABYMETAL album to learn the proper pronunciation.

[@ivanmelkner7704]

Hello, how it is compare to your PassLab preamp? Thank you

[@b00m3rh4nd_sol]

I agree with the Macy Gray album comments. My only issue is the way the bass is mic'd can be little overwhelming.

[@mikrophonie5633]

The instrumentals on Music for Films and Heroes bears resemblance to the music of Cluster which came out 3 years earlier on albums like Zuckerzeit, which was an influence on Eno, and if you actually liked music more than you like equipment you would know that.

[@martinscase3904]

And of course, Cluster collaborated with Eno on two lps. Zuckerzeit is a really wonderfully unique lp though!

[@LuckyX2]

I have the Holo Audio Bliss which is basically the same price and quality as Serene but works as a preamp AND high power headphone amp. I use it all the time, it's great.

[@LuckyX2]

They also just released a new DAC that's pretty exciting, the Cyan 2. 1024 DSD, 1.5MHz PCM with 127dB dynamic range (excellent for R2R) for only $1300.

[@SergeySedlovsky]

Same, with the May KTE :) Great system.

[@SergeySedlovsky]

Same, with the May KTE :) Great system.

[@martinvegas1327]

I like the Ladder Schumann R2R👍

[@dilbyjones]

Me 2

[@isaacestep3321]

Sounds like a good preamp, but the chassis ain't chonky enough for my taste. At this point I'm only upgrading the pieces that don't look cool enough.

[@Waitaminutesilly]

Can you review Holo May KTE DAC which Herb has been using, Steve?

[@PoulBBjerregaard]

Hi Steve, Excellent review! I have the Serene KTE in my system. When do you plan to release the ModWright LS99 review? BR Poul

[@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac]

Hey, thanks for watching. The LS 99 review will post Monday or Tuesday.

[@PoulBBjerregaard]

@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac Awesome! Thanks, Steve 👍

[@johngalt9652]

So Steve, the Holo Audio Serene or the Schiit Audio Freya+? We're shopping. Thanks!

[@manojcooray2870]

They sound completely different. The Serene is similar to the Benchmark LA4 preamp (neutral). The Freya+ is a fun preamp but it is noisy and not exactly a clean sound. I owned it and sold it. A much better Schitt preamp for me is the new Mjolnir (late 2023). I love that preamp, not as good as the Serene or the LA4, but it sounds rather good with the Schitt Aegir amp.

[@rapier5]

Like many my system has a streamer/DAC, with the analog output straight to my amp. In other words, no preamp. So logically that is the purest signal path. That said I suppose most or at least many high dollar systems, let's say $10K plus, have a preamp. Why? Well presumably the sound is more pleasant with a preamp. All well and good but it pretty much blows the ideal of a pure signal is best out of the water. I'm almost happy I don't have to decide if or which preamp in my charitably called HiFi system. It makes my head hurt. Anyway perhaps an episode about your preference for preamps would be good.

[@richardw.b.feigen8700]

Good Afternoon Steve, Would you be interested in comparing this preamp with the Adcom GFP 750 Blue Board edition? I live here in Nyc and will be happy to loan you mine. Interestingly, this particular unit was originally part of Bob Carver's personal office system.

[@stoicar]

Tray to enjoy audiogd he1 ( or he2 ) vacuum xlr preamp . It is wonderful preamp tube preamp

[@johnpischedda6951]

Hi Steve what’s the best email address to submit a viewer system of the day entry ? Thanks!

[@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac]

[e-mail]

[@johnpischedda6951]

Thankyou ! @@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac

[@mrpmj00]

...Apple Music sounds so good.

[@lok777]

What is the point of a pre-amp? Dac XLRs output at 4.2V so why bother putting it through another box?

[@ChrisStoneinator]

Sure, listen at -0dB if you like

[@s.daniel9224]

Cleans up the noise. Mostly, just by separating the amp/pre power.

[@parlimage5050]

Hey Steve, thanks for your reviews. Would it be possible to put in categories, Low-fi, Mid-Fi, Hi-fi and Reference the product that you are reviewing so we can get a more accurate perception of, on your comments. Thanks for considering.

[@bob7501]

I didn't hear you mention the price. How much does this unit cost?

[@rlc949]

2:40

[@OldTooly]

Hey Ronnie, love your system. We use such similar design ideas but I could only dream of having those gorgeous open baffle speakers, much less your sweet amplification choices. The 300b amp on the full range is excellent. Once I went to a digital, PC driven source, all the pros outweigh the cons and as I improved my file quality I dare say it surpassed my other sources. Bigass speaker cables too. I just love your system.

[@saint6563]

"Piper At The Gates of Dawn" 2007 release had too much Modern Mastering [crunchy] for me. Great mono & stereo mixes tho.

[@frasersimpson2185]

I think I may be able to put to rest the argument of analogue over digital. To me, digital is like standing outside a record shop on record store day and listening to a favourite band performing. Analogue is like being in the shop with the band playing. I rarely comment but I love your videos so thank you. Feel free to make them longer, I could spend hours watching.

[@BobGeogeo]

I don't think that argument will ever be put to rest.

[@PersonaNonGrata-uz4of]

Analogue is like listening to music in a forest with a forest fire in the background.

[@razisn]

For you. Not for very many others, including me. So no you didn't put to rest anything, the only thing you did was re-iterating the bs of the 'analogue' crowd. Boy, you didn't learn anything from the Mobile Fidelity fiasco.

[@frasersimpson2185]

@@razisn Thanks for putting me right, even if it was condescending, patronising 'bs'

[@razisn]

@@frasersimpson2185 You're welcome. Next time you come with such an arrogant comment you'll get more of the same.

[@guystpierrecomposer]

This Pink Floyd album have a lot of bass??? Not at all on Apple Music or Qobuz… strange

[@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac]

I was referring to the quality, not quantity of the bass sound

[@albertfigueroa189]

Mumbo Jumbo

[@Random-kq4pz]

More Herb! (and cowbell) 😀

[@frankr8271]

The gold looks tacky imho

[@dmgmail7021]

It's actually copper and far more subtle in person. On yt they do side shots with alot of lite and vibrant settings. It really doesn't look that contrasting. It's actually gorgeous in person I've seen it. And gold would be tacky. But if you see gold maybe your settings in device is set too vibrant. Your the first person I've ever heard that didn't love the look but also the first to say gold so... who knows lol

[@muralidharan06]

First

[@Harrisongrey19]

But still a loser

[@Pete.across.the.street]

Cool story bro

[@erics.4113]

What? I'm the First What, and that is the most important whatt

[@Pete.across.the.street]

Really adding a lot to the conversation 😂

[@chrislj2890]

Your parents must be so proud.

[@garganega]

My system works for a living so it isn't beautiful nor do I have a nice camera so I won't send it in.

[@ChrisStoneinator]

Okay?

[@auggysimcity]

made in china...