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

My Holo Audio Spring Version 3 arrived yesterday and is currently warming up and burning in :)

Finally a review, BUT!!!! it’s done by a computer/software geek, with more emphasis on what the source is, and not much in the way of how it sounds, especially nothing when being fed PCM, 16/44/24/96 or DXD pcm, which is where it should shine.

http://www.computeraudiophile.com/content/722-holo-audio-spring-level-3-kitsune-tuned-edition-r2r-dac-review/

Cheers George

bimmer100

Bimmer, your connected in some way to Holo, get them to give a review sample to Stereophile for a real review and if JA’s lab tests concur with what the reviewer hears, which "can sometimes" keep them honest.

Cheers George

I agree

Read the review by Ted on computeraudiophile.com. Very interesting indeed, especially since it has I2S.
Bimmer,
It a blu-ray player with HDMI out is connected to this DAC with a HDMI cable, will this DAC be able to process the DSD stream via I2S? Or is the I2S completely different than a regular HDMI?
This DAC looks like a competition for Bryston BDA-3, since it also has separate paths for PCM and DSD and the Bryston also has HDMI "in".

The HDMI input on the Holo Spring DAC is not compatible with a conventional HDMI output like that from a blu-ray or dvd player. It is wired according to the I2S connection standard which is used by PS Audio and some others like the Singer SU-1. Any standard HDMI cable can be used for the I2S connection but the pins for I2S are used differently than the conventional HDMI connection standard.

I’m very interested on this DAC, digital audio is very interesting, because the digital side advances too fast. Of course, the analog side is essential, but is very entertaining to see how digital products evolve.
Price/performance has nothing to do here.

I bought my Metrum Pavane because it sounds vastly better than: DCS Debussy with external clock, Bricasti M1, MSB Analog with power base and Playback Designs MPD-5. Yes, I’ve listened to all of them in my system, and the Metrum is 1/4 the price...why is better? Well, FPGA corrected bespoke R2R ladder chips and fully balanced, dual mono configuration :D

I want to try this Level 3 Holo Spring DAC and a Singxer SU-1 (to use the i2s connection, which is always the best) VS Pavane & Microrendu...maybe is worse than what I have but one never knows! :)

Now that would be interesting! 

pixelplay - Do you have any comments to share about the Holo DAC yet? TIA

bill_k,
Thank You for the information. I was not aware of that. So how would one get the DSD stream from a universal player's "HDMI out" to a DAC like the HOLO via I2S?

bimmer100,
Since you are the distributor of Kitsune DACs, have you thought of creating a "circle" on AudioCircle dot com? Once you have a good enough base, folks can use that site for Q&A, FAQs, interacting with other Kitsune products, etc.

milpai - I don't believe that is possible unless there is some converter I'm not aware of. PS Audio transports have an I2S output which could connect to the Holo DAC via HDMI for WAV files. Their newest model allows connection via I2S including DSD from SACD discs but only with an approved handshake outputting to their own DirectStream DACs. The Bryston BDA-3 supports DSD decoding from SACDs on universal players via conventional (non-I2S) HDMI connection. Hope this helps!

There are 2 Spring L3s at RMAF.

And, how do they sound at RMAF? TIA!

After comparing and owning many DACs, I find the playback design stuff to sound one of the best and reasonably priced. Saying that the coding in the R2R and FPGA dacs makes all the difference. Its not just about hardware only.

Thanks for your thoughts dragon_vibe, and very true!

The headphone Spring I didn't get a chance to hear, the one in the Linear Tube Audio room with Evoke Eddies sounded very nice replacing an Ayre Codex.

George, Since you called me a computer geek, I’ll call you a poor reader. :) Why would you say I had no 44k/96/192/DXD (i.e PCM) comments about how it sounds. Nearly all of my examples (Radiohead, Gillian Welch, Keith Richards, Bill Frisell, etc) were redbook or 24 bit PCM examples, played back in NOS mode (i.e same sample rate as music source). I explained the timbre and dynamics of the PCM playback, etc. What did you want?

And I have also stated that I am getting the Yiggy in Wednesday (shipped today from a generous CA member).

Hey! it wasn't just me that said it was a poor review, regarding how it sounded. Over on the SNA forums they are saying the same.

Cheers George

 

I have had my Kitsune level 3 DAC burning in for 3 weeks.

Relaxed,detailed and full come to mind. The most important attribute in my system is TONE and not to the expense of detail.
the Holo spring delivers this in spades with a huge soundstage. The highs have a really nice analog liquid quality which allows the music to be layer out in front of you. Everything is palpable without being forced or fatiguing. Bass is full and enveloping. Dynamics are riveting.

One can say that all described above are traits of R2R which is true when well implemented. I just want to listen to more music as it sounds like music!

I will have a chance to compare it with an MSB diamond which would be interesting and I may have a chance of comparing it to a T&A DAC 8, however this is not confirmed.

I took a punt on this DAC as an early adopter and I held my breath on first listen as you can emagine..... all I can say is that I am very very pleased that I have. Tim at Kitsune has been a pleasure to deal with and I can't reccomend him highly enough.

I have absolutely no involvement with Holo or Kitsune and the DAC was purchased with my own hard earned money.

pixelplay

Good review of the sound got with this dac in just 2 paragraphs.
I take it with PCM, 16/44 or 24/96 or DXD?.
Later one doing DSD would be nice as well if you have any?

Cheers George   

Thanks George,
PCM 16/44, I have tried upsampling via HQplayer to both 352.8 pcm with very good results. My current computer is just not powerful enough to do high res Dsd. 

I must add add to my thoughts above that I am feeding the DAC with a uRendu via USB. I will be adding a Singxer Su-1 just to see what it will add via i2s 

Cheers
greg
 

My current computer is just not powerful enough to do high res Dsd.

Have you tried DSD64 and -2 poly filters?  I am fairly sure if your pc can handle upsampling to 352 you can do at least DSD64.

Hey where did gary9413's post go?

The Schiit Yaggs is much more technically advanced in its actual 21 net bits.
Read the white paper . DVD to me is only worth it when they start kicking out 1,00s of labels, same goes for the new  potential   hardware.as Mike Moffett said 
It is all BS and he is not going to pay royalties and other fees per unit 
For DzsD or the new breeds just evolving.
With Warner Bros and Sony start getting serious and opening the vault
Decoded hirez said without decoder . When all these libraries become available only then will Schiit  start implementing this .in thd meantime their fully module 
Build construction and patented AD -Bruz technology is class leading in inner detail and musicality especially at anything $5-6k and under.these others usING
S ton of resistors most certainly does not gain detail. The more expensive Lampzador with dual tubes is a statement product if you have around z $10k
To spend .

It's difficult to say that one DAC is unquestionably superior to another competitor. No doubt the Schiit is very good but better than the Holo Spring DAC level 3? Also consider the Lampizator Atlantic,  excellent according to those who have heard it. 

The Schiit Yaggs is much more technically advanced in its actual 21 net bits... patented AD -Bruz technology

Huh? Not sure where you're getting 21 net bits from since the Analog Devices AD5791BRUZ DAC they use is a precision 20 bit DAC. Feed it 24 bits of data and the last four are rounded off. If anything, the Spring DAC is closer to 21 bit, given their claimed SNR of 126 dB. I also think you're confusing Schiit's oversampling digital filter (which is proprietary, not patented) with the DAC chip itself. 

True that the AD DACs themselves are 20 bit, but the way they implemented the design with two DACs per channel gives them a claimed 21 bits of resolution.

I see - dual differential. Still, I don't think it makes much sense to claim that. The input register doesn't even accept more than 20 bits for data. But what do I know? I'm just a regular schmoe... And not that it matters all that much anyway since we're talking about deafness at this amount of dynamic range.

A good friend of mine received the Holo Spring DAC a few weeks ago and has accumulated just over 300 hours in his bedroom system. He invited me over today to hear it in his primary system. Which is comprised of computer-Bricasti SE DAC-Absolare Altus Line Stage-Krell FPB 600 mono blocks-Rockport Altair speakers, he uses Echole cable loom. Needless to say that he has a fabulous sounding home audio system.

We listened to several very familiar recordings all 16/44.1 with the Bricasti SE we then listened to the same music with the replacement Spring DAC level 3. Well I’ll say this, the Holo Spring DAC is very good sounding. Natural character with good tonality and sense of musical ease. Dynamics,bass weight and impact as well as sound stage presentation and perceived dimensions were near equal to the Bricasti, this is a compliment.

Where th Bricasti SE is superior is refinement, nuance and inner/micro details or information. Bass texture, vibraphone, piano and guitar harmonics, overtones and timbre are superb as they’re more completely fleshed out and distinct. The Holo does these sonic things very well to be perfectly clear. The Bricasti raises the bar higher yet. In no way or manner is the Holo embarrassed in direct comparison, not at all. You are made aware of differences between components when heard back to back.

When cost is factored into the mix you have to acknowledge that the Holo Spring DAC level 3 represents very substantial value. Without question this is an exceptionally good sounding DAC. Three points to clarify.
1 The Distributor strongly recommended the Audio Horizon Platinum fuse upgrade based on his personal experimentation. I’d trust him on this. We replaced the stock fuse with a Synergistic Research Black fuse and there was genuine improvement. Take that as you like.

2 The sound was also improved with the use of an Intona high speed USB isolator between computer and the DAC.

3 The Distributor is sending my friend a Singxer SU-1 USB digital converter which he insists is very beneficial. We’ll see if that is the case once it arrives.

Initial impression, This DAC is very well built, solid and reflects high quality workmanship. Best ofall It sounds like music if you know what I mean. It held its own in an exceptionally fine and highly resolving (yet superbly musical) audio system. It is a legitimate high end product.
Charles,

Thanks Charlies, very nice review of A/B comparison with Bricasti SE. 
Do you think this 3rd level Spring DAC has improved \ exceed in every areas than the Yamamoto DAC ? Thanks!
-philip 

Charles, I was enjoying this review up until this statement.

We replaced the stock fuse with a Synergistic Research Black fuse and there was genuine improvement. Take that as you like.

Then I’m afraid you lost me, take that as you like, but an incoming mains fuse on especially a well regulated power supply as any dacs have, will not make one iota of difference. What you and your friend most probably heard is what Ralph (Atmasphere) coyly calls "expectation bias" with regards to fuse swapping.

But I still like very much what Holo have done circuitry wise and especially price wise, so I’ll wait for more informed reviews to come along as well to point potential buyers and customers of mine to.

As for them the retailer/distributer (not the designer) having these fuses advertised on their website, they are a retail/wholesale outlet with many audio products and are also there to make a buck as well.

Cheers George

Hi George,
Regarding the fuse comment, I write what I hear, thus my "take it as you like " for the skeptical.   We’ve gone over this before on another thread and I just say that we will continue to "respectfully" disagree and leave it there. If you find my impressions less informed as a result, so be it. My opinion of this DAC is very favorable after hearing it today. As always I simply post honestly my listening observations and people can take them as they wish.
Charles,

Thanks charles review,  as i said before holo spring sound really good and close to my ex metrum panave performance, but after i replace the ddc from bryston buc-1 to singxer su-1 via i2s hdmi, it make a huge improvement, more detail and better 3d soundstage, more silent background and also sound more clear than using Aes in , i feel this combo ready to outperform metrum, i am using aurender n100 for source, vitus ss010 and volent vl-3 as amp,speaker

And one more thing , I only use a >$150 HDMI, as i2s cable , but use xlo limited mk2 for aes, then I sold it immediately and get $400 inside my pocket

Many thanks,  Charles, for the update.
I have auditioned the Bricasti in my home system and going by your description of the Holo's sound next to the Bricasti's, this is high praise indeed.

J. :)

Thanks guys,
My post was no attempt to write a  formal review but rather an impression of its performance relative to a know highly regarded reference such as the Bricasti SE.  If the additionof the Singxer SU-1 provides even modest improvement then we have a DAC of enormous performance/cost  value. This is excellent news for those shopping for terrific sound quality at very reasonable cost.
Charles 

charles1dad, it is always a good thing to post "as you hear it". There will always be skeptics. I could clearly hear "changes" with power cords. So one can understand why a fuse change might affect.
Anyways, I am now interested in 2 DACs - The Kitsune Spring Level 3 and the Bryston BDA-3. The advantage I see for Bryston is the DSD over HDMI. If there is a simple way to route a DSD to the Kitsune over IS2 via a HDMI cable, I am all ears.

Milpal,
According to my friend the Singxer SU-1 will allow the use of IS2 connection, he is awaiting his. I don’the mind the inevitable skeptics. They come with the territory of open discussion forums., I’m confident in what I hear and am comfortable reporting it. Depending on the circumstances I’ve heard a fuse or power cable make more of a difference than a tube or capacitor swap (sometimes). It varies from one situation to another.
Charles

Thanks for your feedback Charles. I too am in George's bad books for mentioning the fuse! I look forward to your findings with the addition of the singxer.

Cheers Greg

Hi Jon,
Well said. I make the assumption we here are all mature adults who happily share information and perspectives and are capable of determining what sounds good to us.

Jon despite hearing these fine DACs and numerous others as well, the Yamamoto YDA-01  remains with me. That Japanese gem just goes straight to my soul.
Charles

hi Charles,  
does this means Yamamoto DAC have that special X-factor where Halo Spring still unable to touch or close in ?? Thanks!
-phil

Hi Phillip,
No I wouldn't necessarily say that, I'm impressed with it and it may further improved via IS2. The Bricasti SE is excellent in my friend's system, it replaced his Asthetix Pandora Signature. I don't believe in an absolute best when it comes to audio components. There exist too many factors and circumstances involved including the listeners themselves. I do believe however there are definitely superb products available to choose among.

The Yamamoto isn't perfect obviously and certainly has limited flexibility. Its appeal to me is a simple and pure organic nature and terrific tone/timbre qualities. It just pulls me right into the music with a strong emotional communication. I haven't heard any other DAC that does this any "better" (although others do this as well). So far I've not found another DAC compelling enough to lead me to decide it's time to replace the Yamamoto.
Charles

For those here that have some digital technical and diy ability and who know at least some Ohms/Kirchoff’s laws, you can put together your own discrete R2R Multibit dac with volume very cheaply designed by Soekris, for around a couple of hundred bucks, and sorry they don’t come with "voodoo" fuses.

https://hifiduino.wordpress.com/2015/03/16/soekris-dam-1021-r-2r-dac-users-guide/

http://soekris.eu/shop/dac_modules_diyline_dam1021_en/

Cheers George

..... I make the assumption we here are all mature adults who happily share information and perspectives and are capable of determining what sounds good to us.......
Charles

+1, Charles.
Good to know your Yamamoto DAC is still holding up very well. Enjoy!
J. :)

Thanks Charles! 
i understand your description and preference in sound, hence " no absolute best when it comes to audio components. There exist too many factors and circumstances involved including the listeners themselves" 

-phil 

Those of us who firmly believe that R2R Multibit is the best type of conversion for PCM, even though DS shows to have "some better" measurements
Here for those interested in it, is one of our Aussie digital guru’s opinions of the measured performance of this Holo dac, screen shot measurements are on the page before.

http://www.stereo.net.au/forums/topic/110550-new-holo-audio-spring-dac-r2r-and-dsd/?do=findComment&comment=1727285

Cheers George

I could puke. All this talk about specs and nothing about how it sounds.