You Need This Awesome DAC! Holo Audio Spring 3 KTE Review

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[@keithbertschin1213]

Had Holo May for 6 months, beautiful beautiful

[@foblivio]

You are upping your game. Good review and background info.

[@juangarza9453]

Have you ever thought of reviewing albums? Your description of the albums and songs is very well spoken. Also it helps me find fresh new music/artists.

[@MODAC]

I’ve thought about it, but there are many many of channels on KZbin who do it. I will mention more about music in future videos. Thanks!

[@KenMoreira]

bought this blind via pre order to save money. immediately sold my topping D90 akm . Love it

[@riccitone]

This was such a well balanced review. I too fell in love with the D70s, still am using it. Now I'm concerned for my new desire the Holo KTE, since you're pretty well locked in with my listening tastes - only exception is that I primarily dig on modern jazz. Damn. Thank you also for reenforcing THE FACT that dacs differ greatly, as long as one knows how to use one's own ears 🙏

[@ericstefko4852]

I really love my Holo May KTE. If you get a chance try feeding it a USB cable from a computer running HQPlayer. For me the result was stunning

[@ulif.7593]

Thank you very much for your DAC test. Holo Audio is a cool company with good products. Did you here or test the Holo Audio DAC Cyan 2? It’s way cheaper and should also be a very good sounding one.

[@victormoreno2767]

Hopefully you have a chance to use a Gustard R26. I listened the holo KTE version many times at CAF and they are close, instrument separation is a bit better in the KTE but only when listening to classical or symphonic. Extension when listening to percussions instruments is really close.

[@robertm8518]

The Holo Spring 3 KTE is an amazing DAC! Very natural, holographic, layered and detailed. The ladder DAC is analog. Until now we’ve been limited in producing precision laser trimmed resistors.

[@AdamPotaznik]

Thanks for your review, I have a Topping D70 (non S - non MQA) so when you mentioned that, made me smile. Want the L3 KTE as my next...but crossing fingers one will pop up on the secondhand market......

[@gregorypatton360]

I sure love my denafrips terminator. It is a great piece of gear

[@heyguyslolGAMING]

I recently starting using HQP w/ my Spring 3 KTE and I found it to be quite transformative. Def give HQP a try if you have this or the May.

[@baronofgreymatter14]

I have this unit. Only thing im still concerned about is the Spring 3 XLR output is 5.8V. My integrated amp (Luxman L-507z) has a max of 6volts it will accept before issues will occur. Most DACS are 2volts.

[@joshuabrain9751]

I've had this DAC for about a year, recently I started using it with HQ Player, specifically the Sync M filter and 44.1 unsampled to 176.4. It has made the Spring sound SIGNIFICANTLY more three dimensional and detailed. Not quite as smooth, but still very natural sounding. For the most part I prefer this to NOS

[@MODAC]

I just got it back. It’s awesome!

[@tomu2858]

I ordered that dac not long after watching this review. it arrived abut a month later and I've lived with it for 9 days. I feel myself developing an unnatural, unhealthy, emotional attachment.

[@barrybrennan2135]

I think the trend in the immediate furture will be - competition for cheaper, better performing R2R with better feature set. The Gustard R26 has heralded the start of this era. Others will hahve to match the price/ performance offering. Feature set will be what increasingly sets DACs apart too - streaming, DSP, room correction etc.

[@jusjash]

Brennan...thats a excellent thumbs-up observation. Good crystal ball yu gat.

[@nespressoman]

If playing Playlists containing songs with different sample rates, does this latch on immediately without missing the first beat? My Qutest does but I know that some DACS don’t, like the one in my AVR. Thanks.

[@MODAC]

No delay. Thanks!

[@nespressoman]

@@MODAC Thank you.

[@canibiteyou8980]

Got May Level 2 aftermarket for 3k this week. Blown away by the thing. Some of the higher end headphones I own like Verite sound like completly new headphones with the thing. Never thought a dac can make this kind of difference.

[@edverbeek6292]

I feel so sorry for all those “science”-people who can not hear the difference between a flat 2 dimensional music reproduction and that holographic 3 D experience that I love so much.

[@tomb375]

What components are you using for that 3 D Holographic sound? Thank you. Are you using tunes or solid state?

[@markhanna7504]

​@@tomb375most important component is always going to be your speakers/headphones. My Magnepan speakers and Stax headphones are way more holographic than my Sennheiser HD650 and Klipsch bookshelves. That said, man was I impressed when I went from Matrix Audio XSabre Pro to the Holo Spring 3 KTE. It's like the last 20% of the effect on the sound, but that's still super noticable.

[@martinLim-oj2tn]

Helium gas tweeters can do that, but I prefer dome tweeters

[@carminedesanto6746]

Hi traveling through KZbin…this video was very informative and helpful. Currently using a. Topping E50 DAC with an IFI power supply 🥳 The May KTE is 😳

[@colanitower]

Good explanations of how DACs work, and digital reproduction and streaming in general, is done by the Hans Beekhuyzen Channel

[@One-Two_swift-kickbox]

Wasn't he fooled by MQA?

[@donaldchisholm9931]

A bit off the topic of DACs, but I noticed you are using a Bryston 4B ST. I use one as well. Are you aware of Bryston's back to the future program? You can send ur amp back to Bryston and have them rebuild it. Any thoughts on this?

[@MODAC]

Yes, but the service is rather pricey. Mine has been serviced my a tech. Cold solder joints fixed and partially recapped….works great. It’s a bit scuffed up though. I think I would prefer to put those kind of funds towards other component upgrades. Thanks.

[@donaldchisholm9931]

@@MODAC Thanks for your response.

[@redrockdejan2507]

Hello, have you had a chance to listen to the Exogal DAC?

[@jamesbush2720]

Great review!!!

[@colindoyle9876]

Thanks for video. Mac Mini needs to be on "feet" so air can flow all around bottom, otherwise runs hot.

[@danielsamson9505]

Holo Spring 3 ❤❤❤👌👍

[@Peace_Guard]

Hello David, I guess your next point of interest should be Holo Bliss amp, check out the head-fi thread on it.

[@MODAC]

Thanks

[@fizywig]

a comparison between this dac and the dcs bartok is what would be most informative

[@MODAC]

Sure, send me one!

[@courtneyswaby3178]

Awesome review

[@MODAC]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@crazyprayingmantis5596]

Is it worth spending the $ on a dac like this if you're only using a CD player as a source? Running a coaxial from CD player to dac, and only playing redbook CD's

[@MODAC]

Sure. That’s the resolution I was using on a computer via usb. “Hi res” is overrated from my experience.

[@yantrussart6584]

If you're only playing cds, you should maybe go with the level 2, as the usb board is the main reason to shell out 500$ more for the KTE. I have the level 2 with a Lumin d2 streamer connected via coax and am very pleased with the results.

[@colanitower]

If the KTE model can replace that bridge, even upgrade the sound further, that could be a reason to go for the KTE version. Still, how the hell to afford buying one indeed 😊

[@leoz6338]

I like the acoustic panels on your wall. May I ask where you got them?

[@MODAC]

Watch my video: GIK Acoustics Room Treatment Rescued My Room! kzbin.info/www/bejne/iH6sdHRvebKYh7M

[@leoz6338]

@@MODAC excellent video. Thanks for the knowledge.

[@Jack96993]

I bought the Exogal Comet plus that was designed by the pervious designers Waldi DAC's back in the day It's interesting because it doesn't use a DAC chip in the conventional way It has every connection you can thing of and can be used a preamp I like that l can control everything through a phone amp including volume It also has a separate power supply Total cost was $3,500 Good product, good price for what you get, but as far as l know Exogal is out of business Go figure!!

[@audiovalhalla]

Got a Exogal and wouldn't trade it in for nothing else. Swapped the power supply for a Ferrum Hypsos and takes it to another level. The phone app still works on my Blackberry Key2. IPhone, your shit outta luck. Cheers!

[@redrockdejan2507]

@@audiovalhalla Hello, I bought Exogal half a year ago, can you tell me your experience compared to other daks? Thank you !

[@redrockdejan2507]

Hello, I bought Exogal half a year ago, can you tell me your experience compared to other daks? Thank you !

[@audiovalhalla]

@@redrockdejan2507 I've had more expensive dacs like luxman, bryston, chord etc., and the exogal has a smooth musical sound that the others didn't have. I remember the chord was kinda sharp sounding and the luxman being too layer back. The exogal has great imaging also but swapping out the power supply for the ferrum hypsos added punch and speed to the bass and a vivid 3D soundstage. You"'ll have to send 5 times the money to replace the one you have. Enjoy it! Cheers

[@redrockdejan2507]

@@audiovalhalla I bought a SBOOSTER power supply and it sounds good. I thought about replacing it with a more expensive DAC, now I'm in a dilemma....

[@Foxrock321]

I can buy 4 Schiit Bifrost 2/64 s for that kind of money. Or Demetrius Aeres 2 or…and I’m one of the new ones ..and I’ll have to look at the Topping 70

[@saltech3444]

ASR loved this DAC, so I don't know what you mean.

[@kleemusic546]

My three favourite reviewers are yourself, John Darko and Simon Price.

[@MODAC]

Wow! Thanks for that. Please spread the word.

[@JoseFerreira-zb7wh]

Why is it amazing value?

[@VintageStereoCollectorChannel]

Nice vid and good luck financing that DAC! I bought a Mytek Brooklyn DAC+ back in 2020 for about $2100. I too like you have become a ROON 2.0 convert. Have you tried to see if any of your headphones have an EQ setting built into ROON? If yes, maybe you can try with with both of your DACS. I have an Audeze LCD-X (2021) that has an EQ preset in ROON.

[@TheDanEdwards]

The camera analogy is not a very good one. An R2R DAC still is implemented with sophisticated processing up front (sometimes extensively so in products that offer oversampling). Delta-sigma is more natural than you may at first think.

[@johngordon1175]

That’s you being able to afford it not the rest of us!

[@mondoenterprises6710]

I guess I am crazy b/c I use the dac in my Sony ES avr.

[@alm5693]

Mellencamp stole his album's title from the great Austrailian artist Paul Kelly. Kelly's "Words and Music" is a tremendous US release from 1988 and if you like Mellencamp you'll probably like Kelly too.

[@MODAC]

I just did a google search. The title, “Words and Music” has been used dozens of times, and for decades. It’s a generic title that can’t be stolen. Thanks.

[@alm5693]

@@MODAC It's been looted by hoards of artists!! The scamps. I just wanted to "steal" the opportunity to mention Paul Kelly. He's very good.

[@crazyprayingmantis5596]

Paul Kelly is really good at making gravy too 😉

[@BuzzardSalve]

Beats paying 50k for a machined billet of aluminium from msb.

[@Foxrock321]

I’m pretty close to you in age, and with that I can say my “ears” can’t hear more than a $2000 DAC…which means I can’t hear above 16K anymore.😢

[@MODAC]

I’m pretty sure that you could hear the difference.

[@mat.b.]

I wish someone would do a comparison between the base and "KTE" version. $1000 for $50 in parts seems excessive, but if its noticeably better that's just the way the audio game goes.

[@MODAC]

I believe there’s a bit more involved than just “$50 in parts”. Kitsune would have to send all three to a reviewer. Not sure they have enough loaners to do that. Probably not going to happen. Thanks.

[@mat.b.]

​@@MODAC The difference between L1 and L2 is $300 for a remote, rebranded capacitors, and a $2 fuse; the remote is $100 msrp. The $600 upcharge from L2 to KTE provides a "nano fuse," flatwire transformer ($130 msrp from them), usb module ($100 msrp from them), and some silver wiring on the IEC inlet. Beyond the MSRP stuff that's been pre-marked up, by my math they're charing $570 for capacitors, a magic fuse, and a few inches of wire. $1000 for $50 in parts was exaggerating, but charging 600 for $50 in parts isn't too far off. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@johnratcliffe6438]

£3K is a joke for a DAC. Try £6K for May KTE, or £10K for DAVE or Tambacqui...

[@markmcminn5100]

No thanks. A to A is for me. Yup, I'm a sub.

[@mondoenterprises6710]

I don't feel I need this much tech to listen to mostly poorly recorded in the first place rock and roll, jazz etc.

[@LarcR]

A $3000 DAC is worth the price if it sounds 10x better than a $300 DAC.

[@yantrussart6584]

Sorry tu burst you bubble but that's not the way things work, not in hi-fi, nor in any other product markets I can think of.

[@Edward135i]

DAC's are one of the most overrated Hi-Fi components in a stack in my opinion, you could have the cleanest DAC in the world -140db SINAD, but if your amp only measures -95db SINAD it doesn't matter. one of the most over looked and cheapest ways to acquire better dynamic range is to lower the noise floor of your room through treatments, if your room is sitting at 50db it doesn't matter if you have a super quite AMP and DAC combo you won't benefit from it getting it down to 20db would give you a massive boost in fidelity.

[@papapapaw]

Reason being is its not about the sinad. Its about how real its sounds. ASR lied to you.

[@trevorbye6965]

found the ASR cultist

[@robertm8518]

The dac makes as much difference as a cartridge on a turntable does

[@Jules-kv2sf]

Nobody needs anything apart from food water clothing and shelter

[@photohum]

Great review!! 👍👍