DAC (Re) Search

Mr Peabody said:
I also looked at, on paper, the Holo May & T+A DAC 200. The Boulder 812 is out there but I believe it's more of a preamp.
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I'd pass on the Holo May KTE; I had one here on-loan from a friend for about 18 months. It's a nice DAC, but nothing to "write home about", as it were. Reminded me a lot of my Schitt Gungnir MB. Not even in the same league as a Lampizator Baltic 3, in my experience.
 
Mechnutt said:
Bryan, you should really consider an Aqua La Scala with the Aqua LinQ. The DAC by itself is awesome but the linQ takes it to another level. It is a tube DAC but it only uses 2 common tubes that should last forever in a DAC. I heard one in a friend's system and in my system when he brought it over. Just smooth, musical and detailed. No fatigue whatsoever.

The Holo May KTE is another DAC to look at. I heard it in a friends system with a Pass XP22 pre and 250.8 amp. Just awesome. I am not a fan of the Holo Spring DAC though. Although I prefer the Aqua DAC with the LinQ.
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+1 on La Scala and LinQ combo. I have been running it for nearly a year and I am very satisfied. No upgraditis (yet)!
 
I'm not really sure why you would tell anybody to pass on the May KTE as my take from the discussion last year and your responses to questions the May KTE sat around you house for over a year and you never even bothered to break it in. The last response from you I remember which was after you had it for many months was that you had only put 150 hours on it. That was during the same time you were reviewing then buying the Baltic 3 which you have since sold. There are a few of us on this forum that own the May KTE and are happy with it's performance. So if you want to tell people to buy what you bought then that is one thing but the other characterization is not necessary. I've owned it for going on two years so I know how it sounds and stacks up. Like Larry it and the La Scala would be my choices in the under $10k but if MQA is a requirement then they aren't a consideration along with many other fine DAC's in that price range.
 
Larry

If you're talking about the original Spring DAC then no it's not in the same class. The current Spring 3 KTE is a different animal and based on my experience with both it and the May KTE it is about 90% of the performance of the May due the the separate power supply of the May. The sound however is so similar it is not likely you could pick out one from the other in a blind test without a long term listen. I've owned the La Voce S3 for over four years and if the La Scala is a better version of the Aqua house sound it's a solid choice.
 
Mike said:
Alpha USB and REF3 at the request of Berkeley. Gotta say, yeah, yeah, pretty freaking great.
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Been using the Berkeley Reference DAC since Version 1. They sound different from other DACs (in a good way IMO) and for me they hit the sweet spot ... not inexpensive but a reasonable price for true reference level sound. I just can't bring myself pull the trigger on a more expensive DAC given the speed at which digital continues to evolve. YMMV
 
The Sandman said:
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I just can't bring myself pull the trigger on a more expensive DAC given the speed at which digital continues to evolve. YMMV
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You are being smart in not wanting to spend big bucks on a DAC especially since you like what you already have. The technology behind a DAC is now much better understood than just a few years ago. For a fraction of the money you can now buy a DAC that rivals or betters the sound of DACs that sold for thousands of dollars not long ago.
 
Jack said:
I'm not really sure why you would tell anybody to pass on the May KTE as my take from the discussion last year and your responses to questions the May KTE sat around you house for over a year and you never even bothered to break it in. The last response from you I remember which was after you had it for many months was that you had only put 150 hours on it. That was during the same time you were reviewing then buying the Baltic 3 which you have since sold. There are a few of us on this forum that own the May KTE and are happy with it's performance. So if you want to tell people to buy what you bought then that is one thing but the other characterization is not necessary.
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I did break it in, i went back and put over 600 hours on it. I also said it was a nice-sounding DAC, which it is. I just didn't find it very involving. If you like it, great, that's all that matters.
 
Hopefully I'll get a chance to see/hear some of the DAC's at AXPONA, I know it's not like in my system but it gives some information plus I can talk to the reps.

I listen to a good amount of Rock so I tend to keep away from overly sweet or polite sounding gear. Nor, do I like strident. Thanks for the replies, even if civil disagreements can sometimes be productive.
 
Mike said:
Testing one now. Alpha USB and REF3 at the request of Berkeley. Gotta say, yeah, yeah, pretty freaking great.

N30SA is source.

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Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
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cool :congrats:
 
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