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HOLO Audio Spring DAC: Affordable discrete R2R Multibit Dac, could be a winner.

Many manufacturers are going back to R2R Multibit d/a conversion, a good portion of audiophiles are saying it sounds better than the cheaper d/a conversion of Delta Sigma, (1 bit), Bitstream, Saber. etc.
And it says it uses dual R2R’s Multibits to support DSD natively!!? 

Product Description:This new DAC.”Spring” is the first design of a new era, a milestone for HOLO Audio’s own Jeff Zhu. It’s a full discrete R2R type of audio decoder and does not have off the shelf-DAC chip! This is a bespoke custom-designed core DAC module and truly a breakthrough with technology for any DAC chip today. The Spring is here to achieve new heights, new dynamics and simply a full spectrum of audio to please the aural senses. This Dac has been called the poor mans Total Dac / MSB / Wavedream / Chord Dave Etc. It plays with the big boys.

https://kitsunehifi.com/product/springdacbase/

Looks amazing inside for $1,700. Schiit Yaggi better watch out!!!!



Cheers George
128x128georgehifi
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
Hello gary9413 ,
You have assembled a very nice and well thought out system.  I believe choosing the Spring DAC level 3(upgrade capacitors and transformer)  was a good decision.  I sincerely believe that opting for the highest quality transformer/caps offered  are the type of choices that make a true difference in sound quality. Your system  IMO will be capable of resolving the improvement these better parts provide. I'm confident that you'll have no regrets. I like the fact that the transformer is a robust 100 VA. Most DACS use the smaller 15-30 MA size.
Charles, 


charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
Gary,
What is the I/V  conversion method?
gary9413
8 posts
 
The player is aurender n100s , in between n100s and spring , there is a bryston buc-1 usb converter , i am using AES in , 
bill_k
912 posts
 
I haven't seen anything specified regarding the type of I/V conversion circuitry used in the Holo Spring DAC, if that's what Charles is asking about.
almarg's avatar
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almarg
9,670 posts
 
Regarding I/V conversion, I have no specific knowledge of the HOLO DAC’s design beyond what has been posted and linked to here, but it seems to me to be possible that it doesn’t need any. A ladder-type D/A converter circuit, including "segmented" ladder types such as the HOLO appears to be, can be designed to provide either a voltage output or a current output from the ladder itself.

Of course in either case an analog output stage of some sort would most likely still be required. Although if I recall correctly one of the very expensive upper echelon TotalDAC designs manages to do without even that, and by using a multitude of D/A converter circuits in parallel can apparently provide adequately low impedance for many applications without having any active devices between the ladder and its output.

Regards,
-- Al

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