Congrats! you must hide your cables very well! It looks like its not even connected in the back!
2 Likes
Best deal when weighing value/quality. This is basically a KTE version. Not my listing but I’m very happy with my Spring 1 KTE.
2 Likes
It is Podium Reference Rack from www.hifiracks.co.uk
Zeos’ audience is the people who buy the highest quality stuff on Amazon or sometimes Mass Drop.
The guy absolutely has wooden ears, but is representative of much of the music listening public. His comments that “bit are bits and no DAC over $100 is worth it” says all someone needs to know. His reference headphone amp is THX 789.
His data source is a Raspberry Pi which produces a jittery USB signal carried over a printer grade USB cable. All that noise to pushed to the DAC to resolve. His position that no files over 16/44 are audible also says a lot.
He’s entertaining and speaks to a specific segment of the marketplace.
3 Likes
I’ve recently received my Holo Audio Spring 3 KTE and about 250 hours through the 500 hour recommended break-in period.
The sound has changed throughout this period and keeps improving. My 2 other DAC’s are PS Audio DirectStream and OPPO Sonica.
The Sonica is no slouch and a well regarded ESS Sabre implementation. The DSD is a significant upgrade and the Spring 3 KTE is pretty special. Holding judgment on the Spring 3 until fully broken in.
2 Likes
I’ve got subscriptions to most of the YouTube audio bloggers, but not Zeos - I don’t even look at his videos anymore - I just find him to be completely annoying. I don’t even get any entertainment value from him.
3 Likes
Has anyone tried one of these to feed the Holo May an I2S signal from the HDMI output of an Oppo SACD player?
HDMI/MHL Digital Interface Separate Extract Audio I2S/Optic Fiber/Coaxial HDMI To I2S/IIS Assembled
Product Description:
It is used to extract digital audio signals from HDMI signals, supports I2S, optic fiber and coaxial outputs. It connects to decoders to improve sound quality. HDMI also supports MHL dual-mode input, and can also connect to mobile phones with MHL output, supporting 4K, 3D, and CEC functions. When connecting to most devices, no external power supply is needed. When there is lack of electricity of you player, you can use an external power supply (DC 5V).
It seems it should work to extract the bitstream signal from the Oppo’s HDMI output, to I2S that I can feed the May with.
That’s ingenious. A SPDIF converter for hdmi inputs rather than USB.
However, it’s a relatively cheap box from China…it would be kind of miraculous if its I2S output actually sounded good. But at the price, WTH, worth a try.
As I understand it, it extracts the DSD bitstream from the HDMI output of the Oppo (or Sony, etc.) and routes it to I2S that the Holo can understand. In that mode I don’t think it changes the bits so I wouldn’t be surprised if the sound is good.
I ordered one. Shipping estimate is about 1 month. Will report back when I get it.
Here’s one review / explanation I found.
1 Like
I love that article! I never owned or even heard an SACD, but am aware that many audiophiles have collections of SACDs they treasure, but can barely play with any fidelity, for all the reasons you outline.
Had no idea there was solution. I seriously hope you have the same kind of good luck with this box that the author of the article did.
1 Like
Assuming the pinouts match between the Oppo and the May, if they dont this may not even work. Any details on what the I2S specs are on the Oppo, you can see if there is a matching option from the May.
IIRC you got 3 I2S pinouts to choose from on the May.
Thats the one problem with I2S, there’s no agreement on what goes to what and not all manufacturers specify what layout they use.
I’d be careful of cheap interface converters. Seriously once a person moved to all digital with rendering software like Roon, you’ll never go back. Almost everything an be ripped native lossless format to a hard drive.
The rich context and easy switching of content on something like Roon is terrific. Getting up to find and switch discs reminds me of changing TV channels and volume before remote controls. Who still uses a TV without a remote?
Right, there are 4 I2S pin configs to choose from on the May. It sounds like the one Oppo uses is the one that is the default for Denafrips. It stands to reason that Holo would have chosen one of the 4 to match that one. But we shall see.
Select from HOLO, ALT1, ALT2, ALT3. Reference I2S Port Pinout for an explanation and the I2S line sequence.
Worst case you could get two HDMI breakout boards and make the connections according to HOLO’s spec (above).
2 Likes
You would think there would be some universality to this. I also believe Holo and Denafrips are I2S compatible so it should work. Ive just had some experiences in the past looking for components where simply trying to find out the I2S configuration is like pulling teeth or the company claims ignorance. Props to Holo for allowing some flexibility.
Companies should really try and use the most popular layouts, makes no sense to have an I2S output that may not even work with certain components.
I have a component incoming that has an unknown I2S configuration (but does at least have AES) and Im hoping that one of the May options works for me. Its an output Id really like to try and use if possible as it is seems to almost always be considered the best one when these things are compared on the same device.
2 Likes
I2S was only ever really intended to be a protocol between components on a circuit board.
The original intent for most companies exposing it was to allow interfacing between their own components. It has the advantage if an independent clock so you don’t have to extract the clock from the SPDIF/AES protocol.
PS Audio was one of the first to offer I2S over a HDMI connector and thankfully a lot of companies just copied that. It’s complicated further because I2S itself just defines how to send data over a set of wires and their really isn’t a standard protocol for transmission, so 2 electrically compatible i2S connections might still not talk to each other.
There are a lot of companies where the implementation is still entirely proprietary, Aqua has what they call AQLink which is just I2S with an RJ45 connector, but it’s undocumented, so the only real way to use it is if you happen to have the $6K+ (depending on options) Aqua streamer.
4 Likes
Indeed - I got some MSB gear about 10 years ago, and there was a proprietary I2S cable (not HDMI) they had that ran from the disc transport to the DAC, so that the DAC’s clock would override that of the transport’s. I’d never heard of I2S before that…
Yeah, I was aware of that; however, marketing pitches rarely mention that outside of fine print. They say a component has an I2S output, as its seen as a positive, but do very little else to let the consumer know the ins and outs of what that might mean. People may be buying something where I2S is an important factor and could be faced with the dilemma of incompatibility.
It also doesnt help that I haven’t yet come across any reviewer that mentions this possible issue either when discussing how an I2S connection sounds relative to others - which muddies things further and may confuse people in to thinking I2S should work all around.
1 Like
Holo bliss is still coming per tim at Kitsune. Should be released end of q1 or q2 this year (so < 6 months). Some chassis and some supply chain related delays.
6 Likes
I have a Holo Spring 3 KTE. Freak-in amazing DAC as I’m crossing the 425 hr mark.
What’s a Holo Bliss? New headphone amp?
1 Like
Yes, sort of like the Serene but more headphone amp than preamp.