Think Holo equivalent to Volot, Soloist 3gt, and Oor + Hypsos
You got any link to it or a MSRP?
The Bliss is not released yet
Blissfully waiting for it to drop… then I’ll have to make some decisions
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Only day two of using the May KTE but here’s how I feel atm against the TT2 (no HMS)
So the TT2 and May are definitely on the same level, imo. Both are solid. More side grades and preference imo.
I don’t find the TT2 too bright and I don’t find the May too warm.
The May offers a larger stage. Larger image of everything as well. Vocals could seem closer on the May but I think it’s more of the image being bigger.
The TT2 seems to hide the details more. The May brings them forward or more noticeable (this is a small difference tho, nothing here is drastic). For example, fingers sliding across strings. It’s more noticeable on the May. It’s still there on the TT2, just recessed some. Some could see the TT2 as being more natural in that area, probably a preference thing.
Could be a volume thing, could be poor memory but the TT2 seems to hit just a little harder in the bass. Could depend on the recording too. Hard to A/B and tell. Both do bass well. The May’s bass seems larger (that’s the presentation thing). Things just seem bigger off the May.
Transients probably go to the May due to the stage. Reverb seems to just carry throughout the large stage. And depth in the stage would go to the May as well, just a little better.
May has a little more weight. Not a ton, but more.
I don’t know if I’d say one is more natural than the other. Maybe leans towards the May? It’s close.
I honestly could keept either. Maybe I’m deaf? Lol
All of this is really being analytical. When I say something is better it’s still small. Though, the biggest difference between these two, in my chain seems to be the stage and image presentation (size). Dacs definitely play a role but these are both good imo. Wouldn’t be upset about having either.
Chain: PC>Holo May KTE or TT2>WA33
All music is via Roon. Some Flac, some Qobuz.
No HQplayer yet.
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Thoughts on the tt2 as a hp amp? Is the amp section on the same level as the Dac ?
I think it’s a decent amp. I think it’s as good as it is due to it being an aio option (meaning since it’s built in you don’t have to worry about synergy, it’s already done via chord). Imo the Dac is better. If the TT2 cost $6k, which it does now (don’t pay 6k though), I’d say the amp is $1.5 - 2k (maybe a little more) performance and the dac is the rest. It’s not a bad amp, but I don’t know if I’d buy the tt2 for the amp as my main focus. To me it’s an extra bonus. It has solid power, clean, but at this level people are typically pairing the tt2 with something else.
Now if you want something to build on, want a nice desktop size aio option, then I think it’s excellent. You can always add the hms, and it’s still fairly small as a stack. Could even add a smaller tube amp and you have your tube flavor and your ss covered with the aio in the tt2.
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I’m likely going Aqua La Voce S3 for my Dac upgrade path and will wait a bit for a hp amp upgrade. I’d prefer separates.
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Hear it’s a pretty good dac. Especially for the price on the used market. What amp you plan to pair with it? I hear it can be a softer dac.
Looking at Soloist GT, Hypsos + Oor, or Holo bliss when it comes out hence the wait. a soloist gt was on headfi the other day for a good price I almost bit.
Watching this for a price drop
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That’s a good price! Hope you get it and enjoy!
I’m selling my Spring KTE if anyone is interested…
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Review: Holo May (L2) DAC and the Musetec Audio (LKS Audio) MH-DA005 DAC Compaired
Possible contender to the Holo May?
I’ve been shopping for a dac to go with my ZMF VO’s and my Pendant SE. I was seriously considering getting the Sonnet Morpheus based upon reviews and people’s experiences in this forum. However, with further research, I was leaning in the direction of the Holo May L2 or the Holo Spring 3 KTE. Because, I wanted to utilize the USB input in the Holo’s as opposed to the I2S in the Morpheus.
Upon further research, I came across the above comparison. I then read two threads regarding the Musetec DA005 (this and this), both containing compelling experiences and comparisons which have all but convinced me to purchase the Musetec DA005 rather than either the Morpheus or the Holo’s.
I post this hoping to get some feedback on this subject and perhaps offer another option for a dac in this price range.
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So which one had to go?
Holo Audio Spring 3 KTE and the May take 500 hours to break-in. That’s not hyperbole. They sound absolutely wonderful and clean with an honesty that comes from not filtering the music through all of these crazy convoluted filters of many other deck products.
Always surprising to hear about one that is better than the spring 3 KTE that is a difficult task.
My May KTE must have been a quick learner - it was ready to go after about 300 hours burn-in! 
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You can always go to the used market and find a plethora of dacs that will outperform the spring (synergy and preferences aside) around the same price.
Like what? I’m in DAC research mode for an upgrade from a Bifrost 2 and could use a few pointers. Spring 3 is definitely on my list.
There’s a lot to list so I’m gonna cheat and link a helpful article comparing a lot of dacs. Just keep in mind that this article ignores specific synergy and is just a very general comparison, which is stated on there. A handful of those dacs can be found used for around 3k (around 5k new); you just have to be patient in finding some (ie. usaudiomart, tmr, forums, etc). This is what I should’ve done myself but lesson learned.
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The holo DAC’s are well liked and discussed commonly at certain popular sites that tends to mean they get overvalued used.
They are good DAC’s with IMO price appropriate performance when comparing retail prices, but you’ll pay very close to retail for a used Spring3 or May, you’ll get about 40% off retail for used DAC’s that aren’t currently flavor of the month on head-fi.
If your not interested in buying used, not worth worrying about, even a positive given you’ll be able to move on without much of a loss. If your willing to look used, there are a lot of high performing relative bargains in the less popular brands used.
FWIW Chord has much the same issue, they just hold way too much of their price used because there is high demand for them. Again that can be an advantage, I owned a Dave at one point, and it basically cost me nothing to own, because the price I paid was good and I sold it for what I paid for it.
But demand doesn’t necessarily = quality in this case.
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