HoloAudio Cyan 2 non oversampling ladder converter 

I'm 75 and I entirely agree

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Very well said, 1000% agree

Most Sensible comment I’ve read in audio for YEARS 🤩🤩🤩

Yup, same here & it's very true. Loving building my new chain these days!.

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At least not for this money. Thanks for sharing.

Have you tried the R1 with regular Redbook audio? How does it sound with regular audio CDs?

I would certainly do that.

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Hans U R DA MAN‼️ Thanks for a great review‼️ This sounds like a better choice over the Denafrips Pontus II

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My pleasure!

PS I keep meaning to say how much I love the theme music you use on your channel - it’s so comforting.

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😄Enjoy the music

Thanks for sharing!

Me too

Thank you kindly!

It really is! I bought it ….

I assume that Cyan 2 will have permanent place in your setup 2a, thus replacing Denafrips Ares.

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I'll see

@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel thanks Hans much appreciated

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Enjoy the music 😊

May I ask what quality Streamer you use?

@@klausfreis7202 matrix element S streamer (+Cayin SC6-LS mkII tube preamp) for USB the combination works 100% for I2s it works, but if you change from DSD format there's a very, very little 'click' everytime you switch between songs. Also you have to switch I2s port definition A to D if you want to switch between PCM and DSD. This has to do with the streamer, not with the DAC

I could not do a direct comparison so I can't say for sure. When I reviewed the Holo May, my reference setup was different.

I don't use HQ player.

perhaps the biggest ever

That is correct. See ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-eteBdwChp5g.html for more on my reference setups. You find this link in the description of every video. I make. Just clock more....

I have not reviewed the Gustard so I can't say.

I don't know the Hegel since Hegel don't want me to review their equipment. But I think you will be pleasantly surprised by this DAC. I bought one immediately.

I could not do a direct comparison so I can't say for sure. When I reviewed the Holo May, my reference setup was different.

I could not do a direct comparison so I can't say for sure. When I reviewed the Holo May, my reference setup was different.

I have not reviewed the iFi Phantom so I can’t say

Thanks for your support

@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel - I thank you because your honesty and guidance gave me the knowledge I needed to buy a Mytek Brooklyn DAC+, S-Booster linear power supply, Bluesound Node and last but not least, a Holo Cyan 2. Thank you Hans! No need to reply!

No, haven’t. I did review the Denafrips Arce.

Thanks for the very quick reply. I will look up the Arce review.

Perhaps (no promise)

I could not get a definite answer as to whether using Holo Red as DDC and IIS output into Cyan 2 would better the sound experience than using the USB from my Mac Mini M2 & Android tablet. In your opinion, is this a good idea (with the option of using Red in future for streaming) to invest in a DDC like the Holo Red?

I could not do a direct comparison so I can't say for sure. When I reviewed the Holo May, my reference setup was different.

Yes, watch and compare my two reviews.

Absolutely!

My personal preference is the HoloAudio. I bought it. But you might think different. Seed my reviews.

I have not reviewed the Spring 3 so I can't say.

It doesn’t sound old though

I replaced the Brooklyn/ Hypsos combo with the Cyan 2.

Please report back...

Why not use SPDIF. Ik the cd player isn’t top bad, you’ll be surprised

I agree. You should have no problem getting good sound using a 75 ohm SP/DIF connection. Some of the best DAC/Transport combo's ever made use it. However, I can think of 1 option, but its a long shot. Audio Alchemy used to make a CD transport that had an I2S output. If you can find one. The only problem is that its DIN, not HDMI. I assume that you should be able to get an adaptor. If you contact PS Audio or The Cable Company in the US, they could definitely tell you what type of adaptors are available. I believe the EAD T1000 also has a DIN I2S as well, but I know for a fact the AA definitely has it. The upside is that both of the units I just mentioned use the Pioneer stable platter transports. If you've never seen one, the build quality is just unbelievable. If you are going to buy a vintage CD player/Transport, that's the one to get. I also believe that some current production DACs have an AT&T ST type fiber optic connection. Both of the transports I mention above have that option, as well. Its much better than Toslink.

Well, you have enjoyed that for some time now and that’s worth something too

That’s a question for HoloAudio.

I always burn in equipment I review, even when they are not new, I have them playing for 24/7 for several days.

@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel thanks, appreciate the response and will follow that approach.

@@Laland17 how did it go? I'm sensitive to treble harshness.

How come people think you can compare a € 1,400 DAC against a €13,000 DAC and make sense. Can you compare a Honda Civic against a BMW 7 series? The Cyan 2 is a very, very good DAC for the money but where resolution, refinement, stereo image and so on are concerned it's nowhere near a DAVE.

@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel : Thanks, Hans for your reply! Such questions give a feeling how much difference is between the two dacs. Could you also describe the difference between Cyan 2 an Terminator plus? Thank you!

@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel money in audio doesn't mean sound quality. Hence there is nothing against comparing those two. Hope it will help with your bias

Don't loose your sleep over the linearity, time integrity is far more important. Did you watch the conclusions in the video??

@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannelI certainly did, but I have some perfectionist traits and want it all. I also read some user forum comments lately that they prefer the bass slam of good chip Dacs versus many/most R2R dacs. This also came up on A-B dac demo's posted by the hifi reviewer Tharbamar.

I do

@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel thank you!

what oversampling????

Thanks again!

Watch ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-AWM8fOCCVW4.html

I bought the Cyan 2...

I can answer that: got the Hegel h190 connected to this dac and it's clearly a step up. Sold my denafrips Ares 12

I agree.

@@wesselkampen2644 i thank you. I really appreciate the input

@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel thank you. Keep up the great work work !

I am using the Cyan 2 with my h190 and DMP-A6 as the streamer and its epic!

I have bought the Holo Audio

It's no silly question! DAC's precision depends largely on how precise the internal clock crystal is. And that depend - amongst other things - on its temperature. For the sound quality it therefore is better to leave the DAC powered on.

I haven’t reviewed it so I can’t say.

What do you think.

@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel Mh, I dont know, sry 😬. You showed that insane time residual distribution for the Cyan 2 but then again it is "only" NOS and half the price of the Wandler, which is "a very good value" (Hans Beekhuyzen) already. I have the Hipsos already for the Ferrum Oor.

they are both amazing products…the holo audio seems to offer more for the money but i do prefer the look of the Wandla…sometimes that matters :-)

And so you see why it’s impossible for me to give personal advice

@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel Sure. I was not asking for advice, but your opinion.

Just do it ulif.74593!!! My Cyan2 arrived at 8.3.2024 from Magna Hifi. It is the best DAC I have ever heard for 1390 Euros and I heard a lot DACs. Mostly costed 3-5 times more. Burn in 250 -300 hours and you will be very, very satisfied!!!

Next week I will test the WiiM players with this DAC.

I am looking forward to this comparison as my digital source setup needs an upgrade.

Looking forward with notification turned on!

Phase is usually a switch that reverses the polarity of the music. This is identical to reversing the polarity on both your speakers. Reconfiguring the I²S pinout is another. It makes non the standard I²S HDMI of RJ45 connection work with equipment with a different pinout. As long as there is sound coming from the DAC, this is redundant.

I don't know and I don't care. It sounds great so they must have good clock practice and a good clock oscillator. Don't make conclusions based on components. The way they are used is far more important.

@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel thank you.

I don't have any experience with the Doug Audio, so I can't say.

@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel How about in general circumstances, do you think using a DDC to convert a USB signal to I2S as input to the Cyan 2 would have a positive effect on the sound output?

Yes, it is

There is no upsampling

Basically yes.

It has no oversampling

Did you watch the video? I give answers there. It switches to the input that sees a digital signal coming in. Priority is USB, I²S, AES3. You just switch of the sources that are not used. If you buy a good SPDIF cable from a known manufacturer, RCA might be better than when you modify to BNC.

@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel My apologies sir, I did watch your video on friday, then briefly skipped through today to double-check that I wasn't asking redundant or answered questions, and must've overshot the section where you explain the input switching. Thank you for your advice.

No

I have not reviewed the Red so I can’t say

Most of my music is 44.1 kHz, 16 bit. so, indeed, I did. Unless you mean having a cd-player digitally connected for I don't own a cd-player anymore.

I use the standard fuse. Haven’t tried the purple one.

It has an analogue reconstruction filter

I don’t always advise linear power supplies. See my review of the Volumio Motivo.

Did you use a device that wasn’t manufactured in China to type this comment?

I am a tech journalist and judge the quality of audio equipment. For Geopolitics you have to be elsewhere.

@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannelexcellent response