I literally just finished hooking up the Red a couple of hours ago. I ordered mine around the same time and it arrived today (NJ just outside of NYC). Yes, it’s not clear at all how to set it up. The manual is terrible. I’m upgrading from an iFi Zen Stream and I thought their manual was the worst until this one. @jackd advice above should get you started. My use case is a little different because I’m just using it as a Roon endpoint. The silver lining to the confusing setup is that it is a remarkably good streamer. I thought my Zen Stream was dialed in with an external LPS and really liked the sound. Then tonight I listened with the Red and everything was better. I was never a big believer in the importance of the streamer/transport in a digital system. I thought the DAC was 80% of it. I think I was wrong. Let us know what you think once you have it connected.
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
Showing 4 responses by nymarty
@arafiq yes, it’s either a streamer or a DDC. Once you connect (USB in) to use as DDC, you lose the network connection. I bought it to use as a streamer and very happy so far. I’m using it with a Pontus 2 via USB. I’m going to try i2s this weekend after I get a decent short HDMI cable to use. |
@arafiq it can do both just not at the same time. ;-) It’s excellent as a Roon streamer and sounds better than my iFi Zen Stream and my Bluesound Node N130. For me it was a worthwhile upgrade without having to spend a lot more with Lumin or Auralic or Innuous. I’m also using a Pontus 2. You really don’t need a DDC if your source is good to begin with. |
@arafiq I’m currently switching back and forth between USB and i2s and they’re pretty close. I think the Red gives me a little more detail, better imaging and a better defined soundstage than the Zen Stream setup. It’s also just cleaner — like the quiet parts are more quiet. Really enjoying it. |