Holo Red Streamer
I placed my order and paid for it on February 22, 2023; it finally arrived today in my building in NYC. Apparently they are backlogged in a major way.
Their manual is not user friendly to walk through starting it up. Greek to me on their TFT card and finding the IP address and whether I have to do that first. I can connect my Ethernet cable from my router to the Holo Red and then to run an AES/EBU cable from the Holo Red to my PS Audio Mk I DAC, but what else must I do to get going? I now use MConnect for Tidal and use the streamer card I installed in the DAC.
If anyone has experience with the Holo Red streamer, I could use the advice to start up operating it so I don't grind my teeth and pull out my remaining hair. Thank you. Neal
I'm also interested in the Holo Audio Red for my second system. I'm planning to use it with Denafrips Pontus II DAC. The fact that the Red has an IS2 output is a big plus in my book. However, based on my understanding, the Red cannot be used as a streamer AND a DDC simultaneously. To use it as a DDC, it must be connected (USB in) to another streamer or Roon core. Can someone validate if my understanding is correct? |
@nymarty Thank you for validating my understanding. I was kinda hoping that the Red could do both, both oh well! I need to do more research on how much better the streamer only function is compared to cheaper alternatives like Bluesound Node or ifi Zen Stream. For DDC, if I'm only going to use the Red as a DDC then I think I'm better served by using a DDC by Denafrips for better synergy with the Pontus II DAC. |
@nymarty Thanks. I understand that it can do both, but I was kinda hoping to kill two birds with one stone and use both functions simultaneously. A few questions if you don't mind answering ... How are you connecting the Red (while functioning as a streamer only) to the Pontus? USB or another method? You say it's better than Zen and BS Node. How much of an improvement do you think it provides? And specifically which areas did you see the improvement in? Thanks in advance! |
@jackd That's really good info! When you say "connect the Red to a Denafrips streamer ...", I'm assuming you mean Denafrips DAC, right? So basically the configuration looks like this: Ethernet IN >> Holo Red: HDMI cable >> Pontus2: i2S port If there's an improvement in SQ via Pontus2's I2S input then definitely the Red is worth purchasing. Thanks. |
@nymarty Thanks for the info. Right now, I'm connecting my Roon core server (SMG sonicTransporter5 with LPS) to Pontus II via USB and it's actually sounding so good that I'm wondering if it makes sense to even add a streamer at all. By the way, this is my second system in the home office. In my main system, I use Aavik S-280 as a streamer which is in a completely different league. |
