Holo May KTE DAC

[ACHiPo]

I have a Holo Audio May KTE. I ordered it in Feb, received it in April. My experience pretty much echos the reviews. It takes several WEEKS of running to stabilize/burn-in, and over that time the sound signature definitely changes. By about 400 hours (2 weeks) there were no more bad trends as there were early in the burn in cycle, instead it continued to get better little by little. By 1000 hours I no longer heard any changes, and the changes were pretty subtle improvements between 400 hrs and 1000 hrs.

It is an outstanding DAC. I can't see replacing it until it dies. I've tried different inputs, but USB through Intona cables and galvanic isolator is how I listen mostly. I bought a D.BOB box that allows me to stream SACD from my Oppo 105 to the DAC via HDMI cable to the D.BOB and then a coax to the DAC and there is a BIG difference in the sound through the DAC than native Oppo analog out (and I always thought the Oppo was pretty decent).

 

[Puma Cat]

I have a Holo Audio May KTE. I ordered it in Feb, received it in April. My experience pretty much echos the reviews. It takes several WEEKS of running to stabilize/burn-in, and over that time the sound signature definitely changes. By about 400 hours (2 weeks) there were no more bad trends as there were early in the burn in cycle, instead it continued to get better little by little. By 1000 hours I no longer heard any changes, and the changes were pretty subtle improvements between 400 hrs and 1000 hrs.

It is an outstanding DAC. I can't see replacing it until it dies. I've tried different inputs, but USB through Intona cables and galvanic isolator is how I listen mostly. I bought a D.BOB box that allows me to stream SACD from my Oppo 105 to the DAC via HDMI cable to the D.BOB and then a coax to the DAC and there is a BIG difference in the sound through the DAC than native Oppo analog out (and I always thought the Oppo was pretty decent).

Thanks, Evan. Cheers, mate.

 

[ACHiPo]

Thanks, Evan. Cheers, mate.

Stephen,
I didn't see your response when I posted mine, but it will be interesting to track your progress. I should have had a friend burn in my new amps for me! Are you running the May 24/7?

Let me know if you want to stop by sometime for a listening session.
Evan

 

[Puma Cat]

Stephen,
I didn't see your response when I posted mine, but it will be interesting to track your progress. I should have had a friend burn in my new amps for me! Are you running the May 24/7?

Let me know if you want to stop by sometime for a listening session.
Evan

No...not yet. I've just re-connected it again to get some more hours on it. I went back to my Lampi B3 for a bit.

 

[Devg]

Take a look at the Aqua La Scala. My fave under $10k


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Mike, Aqua La Scala Optologic MKII ?

Anyone knows how it compares to Lampi sound ?

 

[Devg]

Hey Larry

I my system the Holo May KTE has succeeded in replacing the La Voce S3 in the Main system. The difference is not huge but it was there even early on but even more so after the 21 days of 24/7 in the office system using and old OPPO DVD player. The May still has that same neutral to slightly warm feel of the Aqua but just a bit more on each end of the frequency extremes. I would suspect that the separate 20+ power supply has a lot to do with it. You really can't go wrong with either one and I could happily live with either. I just moved the Aqua to the main system in Greenville pair with the Don Sachs and the SET 400.

The May KTE has been swept with accolades all over the place. Seems like a great R2R DAC, especially if you are using the NOS mode and up-sampling in HQP. Most folks seems to prefer it on PCM than DSD and up-sampling to 1536k.

 

[Devg]

I have a Holo May KTE on loan from a friend; been using it to burn it in for him. It's quite a nice-sounding DAC. It's presently what I would classify it as cooler and brighter-sounding than my Lampizator Baltic-3 DAC. Presently, the Lampi is more three-dimensional and more organic-sounding. I'd say they're equally quiet and transparent. We'll see how the Holo May evolves as it gets more hours on it. My understanding is it needs 500 hours, minimally to burn in.

Curious to know what you think compared to the B3 after the May has completely run in for 500hrs. Is there a way you can feed upsampled stream to May ? From what read, the DAC seems to sound best in NOS and upsampled HQP 1536k pcm.

 

[Puma Cat]

Curious to know what you think compared to the B3 after the May has completely run in for 500hrs. Is there a way you can feed upsampled stream to May ? From what read, the DAC seems to sound best in NOS and upsampled HQP 1536k pcm.

Not that I know of, Dev. All my content is either Redbook, 24/96, 24/192 or DSD.

I stream from Roon, so not sure how I would upsample to the May DAC.

It's sounding quite nice, but is still in the throes of being burned in, as it sounds better some days than others. It was fairly bright and zingy when it was first fired up, straight out of the box.

Still prefer my Lampizator Baltic-3 DAC, if I were to compare....at least at this point, as the May DAC probably only has 100 hours or so on it.

Cheers.

 

[ACHiPo]

May DAC probably only has 100 hours or so on it.

Just keep burning it in. Post an update after 500 hours. I predict there will be a change in your opinion, but then I haven't heard the Lampizator only rave reviews of its performance.

 

[ICUToo]

Not that I know of, Dev. All my content is either Redbook, 24/96, 24/192 or DSD.

I stream from Roon, so not sure how I would upsample to the May DAC.

It's sounding quite nice, but is still in the throes of being burned in, as it sounds better some days than others. It was fairly bright and zingy when it was first fired up, straight out of the box.

Still prefer my Lampizator Baltic-3 DAC, if I were to compare....at least at this point, as the May DAC probably only has 100 hours or so on it.

Cheers.

I have lifetime Roon, but it wasn't totally amazing.
Now I use Audirvana Studio, upsampled to 1.5MHz in the Mac Mini, then to the May KTE in NOS mode. This thing is the real deal- an astonishing DAC for the price, sounds SOOOO lovely, and often frighteningly real. This is a DAC that, IMHO, must be heard, must be heard burned-in, and must be heard in NOS.
Enjoy

 

[Puma Cat]

I have lifetime Roon, but it wasn't totally amazing.
Now I use Audirvana Studio, upsampled to 1.5MHz in the Mac Mini, then to the May KTE in NOS mode. This thing is the real deal- an astonishing DAC for the price, sounds SOOOO lovely, and often frighteningly real. This is a DAC that, IMHO, must be heard, must be heard burned-in, and must be heard in NOS.
Enjoy

Good to know. I'll have to put it back into the system again, soon. Been listening to the Lampizator Baltic 3 of late.

 

[Jack]

If you've got an old CD/DVD player laying around along with anything with analog inputs ( I used an old preamp unplugged) put in a disc on repeat and just let it build up hours.
After listening to mine out of the box for a couple of days I put it in a spare room with that setup and just let it play for 21 days. While it while never sound like the all tube Lampi it will smooth out. I also own the all tube Musical Paradise DAC and they are just different so for you it will come down to your personal preference. I enjoy both for different reasons.

 

[tino27]

Now I use Audirvana Studio, upsampled to 1.5MHz in the Mac Mini, then to the May KTE in NOS mode. This thing is the real deal- an astonishing DAC for the price, sounds SOOOO lovely, and often frighteningly real. This is a DAC that, IMHO, must be heard, must be heard burned-in, and must be heard in NOS.
Enjoy

Can you tell me a bit more about your Mac mini setup? RAM? Disk space? M1 or Intel-based? I'm considering this very combo for myself (+Holo May KTE) and was more curious as to the hardware side of things. Any problems or irritations using the Audirvana remote app to control the mini?

Thanks!

 

[ICUToo]

Can you tell me a bit more about your Mac mini setup? RAM? Disk space? M1 or Intel-based? I'm considering this very combo for myself (+Holo May KTE) and was more curious as to the hardware side of things. Any problems or irritations using the Audirvana remote app to control the mini? Thanks!

Hi, tino27.
My Mac is an Intel one, from 2019. Only has limited RAM (16Gb) but nothing on the internal hard disk except a few apps- music is streamed or on an external 1Tb hard drive.
Audirvana is a buggy program, occasionally slow or clunky, but the sound is fabulous.
Strangely, it actually works BETTER when I control it from my iPhone using their remote app
Even on my older Mac, processing power doesn't appear to be the living factor- seems to upsample to 1.5MHz for PCM with no trouble at all- the Audirvana app indicates it's only using 10-15% of the CPU ability.
So I am pretty happy.
I'm afraid I haven't tried any other streaming solutions (eg Auralia, etc) so can't compare for you.
I'm really enjoying the music- it has a new quality I've never experienced from digital before- it's very relaxing!
Have a great time deciding on your stuff, and then playing
all the best

 

[OgOgilby]

So the Holo came about 2 weeks ago and the Rockna Wavedream Balanced came today. Further impressions incoming. I have been listening to the Holo in my desktop system (Luxman LX-550A2 and Harbeth P3ESR) and just moved it to my main system today (BAT VK-655Se, BAT VK-52Se, Revel Salon2) after a couple weeks break in. My intention was to put the Rockna in the main system and Holo May in the desktop system. I am also planning to order the Rockna Wavedream NET for the main system but have not yet. So far, The Holo May is the best thing I have ever heard.

Any updates Clint? I've been using a Luxman DA-06 DAC for a few years and just ordered the KTE May DAC last week. Love to hear a comparison now that your May should be broken in. Only 5-6 weeks to wait (not including shipping time), ouch!

-Greg

 

[joeinid]

Welcome to the forum Greg!

 

[OgOgilby]

Welcome to the forum Greg!

Thanks Joe!

-Greg

 

[Puma Cat]

I'm going to put the Holo May KTE I have here back into the system tomorrow, and get some more hours racked up on it. Been listening to the Lampi B3 recently as I was finishing up a review.

 

[Puma Cat]

Well, I just put the Holo May KTE back into the system. I'll start tracking hours on it in with an Elapsed time app and an Excel spreadsheet as it's my understanding that it needs 300-400 hours or more to fully come into it's own. I'd estimate this one has 30-40 hours of play on it. It's presently being "fed" by an Aurender N20, no slouch on the streamer/server end of things.

My impressions upon listening to it once again are consistent with my first experiences: is that it's a nice DAC. It's neutral, quiet, and nicely detailed with a nice, neutral and accurate tonal balance.

Compared to my Lampizator Baltic 3, though, it sounds "thin and 2-dimensional". The Lampi puts more "meat on the bone" in the presentation, it's notably more three-dimensional and more fully "fleshed out", as well as being much more open, expansive, with a much wider and deeper soundstage. The DAC the Holo May KTE reminds me most of is my old Schiit Gungnir Multibit with Gen 5 USB, actually.

At this point, at least for me, the Lampizator Baltic 3 is notably more "engaging and involving" to listen to; it draws me into the presentation. This is completely concordant with my first set of comparisons, back when I first got the Holo May in-house.

We'll see if the Holo May KTE will improve as it gets more and more hours on it toward its target burn-in requirements, so stay tuned.

 

[ACHiPo]

Well, I just put the Holo May KTE back into the system. I'll start tracking hours on it in with an Elapsed time app and an Excel spreadsheet as it's my understanding that it needs 300-400 hours or more to fully come into it's own. I'd estimate this one has 30-40 hours of play on it. It's presently being "fed" by an Aurender N20, no slouch on the streamer/server end of things.

My impressions upon listening to it once again are consistent with my first experiences: is that it's a nice DAC. It's neutral, quiet, and nicely detailed with a nice, neutral and accurate tonal balance.

Compared to my Lampizator Baltic 3, though, it sounds "thin and 2-dimensional". The Lampi puts more "meat on the bone" in the presentation, it's notably more three-dimensional and more fully "fleshed out", as well as being much more open, expansive, with a much wider and deeper soundstage. The DAC the Holo May KTE reminds me most of is my old Schiit Gungnir Multibit with Gen 5 USB, actually.

At this point, at least for me, the Lampizator Baltic 3 is notably more "engaging and involving" to listen to; it draws me into the presentation. This is completely concordant with my first set of comparisons, back when I first got the Holo May in-house.

We'll see if the Holo May KTE will improve as it gets more and more hours on it toward its target burn-in requirements, so stay tuned.

Wow 50 hours is nothing on that DAC. The first 100 hours are all over the place (and much of the time not a good place). You should really figure out a way to run it 24/7 (ok possibly powering down and back up every couple days, but generally run it) with the input and OS you plan to use (its USB NOS is outstanding). At 300 hours it starts to consistently get better. I didn't notice much improvement over 500 hours, but it did seem to get a little better linearly from 300 to 500 hours.