HOLOAUDIO SPRING 3 KTE | A Holy Trinity Of a DAC 

Welcome to the fam 🐅

Welcome to the fam 🐅

Nothing in life that is worth anything, comes very easily. I think the sacrifice might be worth it LOL. This DAC will last you the next five years I absolutely loved it. And welcome to the fam 🐅

Welcome to the fam

@@ConvinceMeAudio cheers man.... I'm binge watching the lot now 👌🏻

When it arrives, and you play with it give us your opinion it’s fantastic 🐅

Fricking awesome 🐅🐅🐅

I’ve had mine 2 days, my face is aching. Can’t stop smiling.

Awesome, I always check the comments for these direct to consumer components to see if anyone NOT reviewing it has left their impressions. Would be good to hear yours once you’ve had time with it.

@@Benvos will be happy to revert on. Have a similar setup ie. Susvara, D90 with the Burson Sololist xp. I am hoping the KTE will be a marked Improvement on the D90.

It will utterly annihilate it completely different experience

@@nunoferraz5426 I have Burson Soloist also and I think I have decided I want the spring 3 to pair it with.

This review was the final confirmation, I ordered the Spring 3 KTE myself, it's still breaking in, so I am waiting to see how good it can sound. It's impressive after an hour, but I believe that it needs a long breaking to show its full potential.

Hey bud, thank you so much welcome to the fam 🐅 May kte has already been filmed it’s awaiting editing

@@ConvinceMeAudio awesome that’s great to hear can’t wait

The D90SE review is actually coming very soon, but the difference between it and spring three is on another level Nice set up, drop by again with impressions very curious have not had the opportunity to demo or review the LCD5 yet

i using d2 also ， just ordered a spring 3 kte. what cable do you use between lumin and may？

Sweet 🐅

I bought the Auralic Aries G2.1 6 weeks ago, I’ve been loving it but it goes into the dac of the Hegel H390. A dac is next on the list and the Holo May was on my shortlist but the direct to consumer products always worry me! Be great to hear your experience with the G2.1 and the Holo May. From my short experience, Lightning DS is great, native Tidal and Qobuz so everything you do in the app saves in each app as well, it’s a great piece of kit and software.

I’m curious. I’m using a Lumin X1 and I’m curious to getting the may kte and a separate streamer.

Can you comment on D2 vs May?

I think AutoCorrect might’ve messed up if you meant byFrost then yes significantly specially on a GSX mini I don’t think you will need to upgrade after this for a very long time

Now auditioning Spring 3 L2 with GS-X Mini and sounds bombastic. But you also need very special feet under the both of them, I use Midi for GS-X and Maxi under Spring3 from Authentic Audio Image and they truly transformed my experience with this combo. Need to try it yourself to believe, as I did. Now cannot (nor want to) go back :)

I have heard this too many times and the first experience I had with it was awful, so that could be the case, but until I bring it in for review, and see, I can’t really tell. I can tell you now though the holloaudio DAC definitely does need 24 hours otherwise it sounds like aSS in the morning when you just switch it on, so I just leave it on LOL mine has been on for like five actually nine months

Welcome to the fam 🐅

Hi Thank you for the kind words it’s very much appreciated, welcome to the fam 🐅 In your current setup, you do not need a pre-, The chain starts like this : Pc-streamer-Mac which ever sauce you have. This will connect to your DAC, then your DAC, connect to your headphone amplifier - euphoria, et cetera You need to integrate a pre-like this for a separate chain Your source your DAC, your pre-, finally, your power amplifier Currently, this is not your chain, you do not need to buy a pre-

@ConvinceMeAudio Thank you for your help koji I appreciate it very much so I do not need a preamp I that's good save me some money il invest in a streamer instead I just heard the running a pre with a tube amp leads to better results ? So the amp on the Euphoria is just fine then ? Thanks again koji I will join your patriot feel bad getting free advise lol great work koji you have been a great help .

@@nick62876 it’s my pleasure, welcome to join the public chat which is free as well, No, you don’t really need it with that specific amplifier I might have recommended it with some of the Cayin unit, Look at the red from holo audio it’s a fantastic streamer and DDC

@ConvinceMeAudio Thank you the holo red is on my list as soon as funds allow lol glad to be part of the fam Most people I know friends and family do not know what I'm going on about half the time they think I'm crazy lol . Thanks again koji

So, I recently got to play with the cutest again with the utopia elite HEDDphone and Mysphear ear speakers. The spring three is in a league of its own, it’s not even in the same ballpark, the upgrade from the cutest would be exponential. Staging imaging layering impact of base region actual power delivery from the output stage, Texture the cutest sounds overall soft and less dynamic I love the cutest, it’s an excellent DAC, but it’s not in the same league Whole different ball game mate

@@ConvinceMeAudio Thanks a lot. In your experience, what are some of the most analog sounding DACs you've heard?

Hugo to, which basically is the cutest, in that price point But to be honest Delta Sigma has never really sounded analogue to me, they’ve all sounded pretty excellent or fantastic but not quite there, it’s only been since the ladder DAC reviews that I’ve truly felt like the conversion is beginning to sound like analogue

@@ConvinceMeAudio appreciate the feedback!

🐅❤️ heartfelt, thank you for the support

@@ConvinceMeAudio just came across your channel today, you’ve got very pertinent reviews. Actually selling my empyreans & TT2 for the May but keeping hold of M Scaler as I’ve heard it’s still great for third party dacs. Just not the headphone guy any more

@@keithbertschin1213 😎 thanks bud, welcome to the fam 🐅 Definitely works well, yes

I don’t see it being a problem if you have balanced input or even RCA input This looks like a pretty decent amplifier, I will dive in to its specifications in a few hours

@@ConvinceMeAudio Wow... thx!

Genuinely being honest with you, there is not a genre where I found any weak spots It is fast, powerful attack, superb presentation and separation, excellent tonal balance and wonderful texture It is kind of captivating to be fair

@@ConvinceMeAudio Thanks i think I'd get lvl 2

@@peterwood2633 I recommend getting the L3, for the USB board, it’s like the one in the May and I think if I’m not mistaken is the only one with PLL This is very important

Unfortunately I have not had hands on with that. But looking at the specifications and some over views, this Hollo is in a different league mate in a different class But you will also need to provide your own amplifier this is just a DAC The second thing I will say is if you’re happy, no need to upgrade only upgrade if you feel the money is there and you want a better performance, But the answer to your question, take it with a pinch of salt, educated guess, yes

It’s perfectly fine, Specially SUS, sounds exceptional on speakers

With pre you get 13 V additional headroom from memory, I think it’s been awhile since I had this unit here, at this point, I don’t think you will have any problems

My May kte is just with my friend Mimic at the moment, should be here pretty shortly and we will use the serene

Honestly, the PLL is phenomenally good I don’t think it’s necessary

I've thought of this question too. I currently have an Auralic Altair G1 DAC/streamer, and it certainly sounds great. This DAC will probably be my next purchase. From what I've read, different DAC-less streamers do make a difference....and I have a feeling it won't just come down to one thing. I'm sure the Springs PLL will help but, it won't fix everything. But....it would be a good way to gradually upgrade, get a better streamer later.

So here’s the deal, The pre-inside this DAC is very good that’s fine, the pre-is useful if you have active monitors, One The second one would be is going to a power amp it’s the way to control the volume on the power amp because there normally would not be a volume control But you do not need a pre-for a headphone amplifier that has its own pot unless the pot is extremely bad and you want to bypass it

@@ConvinceMeAudio excellent! Thanks for the response. PS: gave me a heart attack when you were palming the unit 🤣

@@Maver1ck911 😄

Irrelevant of course not, the spring free will just transport the source to the speakers, in the most organic natural way possible I have Genelec Studio monitors here too, they are a work tool,, they are extremely resolving and very reference, so with this spring I think it would make a magical combo

@@ConvinceMeAudio Thank you, definitely a DAC to consider then! Bit of a step up from the minidsp SHD that I'm currently using! :)

@@ConvinceMeAudio Try 2 Neumann 310 / 2 KH 750 (Mono Array) / With 3 KTE ./preamp . Convincing.

Yes

@@ConvinceMeAudio in that case should I stick with sigma delta dacs for dsd upsampling? I have had the Ares II and was addicted to the analog sound and only felt it lacked a tighter low end so I love r2r dacs from my limited experience but I listen to less music these days and more "sounds" and background ambience. Pleasant Ambient retrieval is what I enjoy most and dsd upsampling with my Accuphase's DAC option board, I get all of that.

@@HailKingCeezer here is the thing, the in-house chip that deals with DSD sounds pretty fucking good inside the spring three, so you literally can have three in one at holy Trinity in this DAC DSD, NOS, up sampling,

@@ConvinceMeAudio Yeah that is very convincing. I can always just set certain PCM to upsample to dsd since my library is majority redbook-i can let that get the NOS analog feel and the rest upsample to the highest dsd. Great review and thanks. I got to sell off 3 amps i'm no longer using and then Spring 3 KTE is in the lead to be my new DAC, followed by Pontus II, 3rd place new Accuphase Dac-60 option board, 4th buy Ares II again. Dividing Funds between DAC and Power amp is tough, but i think the DAC will win.

PLL on, pie4/pie2AES Roon - qobuz local Library consisting of dsd flac

I should get hands on with the Dave and the TT to next Thursday or Friday

And Hugo 2 as well :)

I owned that specific amp DAC, but a very long time ago but they will have it there I’m sure

@@ConvinceMeAudio Nice, im very interested.

Of course, but I need to look through the video again, also remember this was very early last year or the year before, they’re much better amplifiers on the market HoloAudio bliss Zahl hm1 Purifi Benchmark ahb2 Ferrum OOR HYPSOS

@@ConvinceMeAudio I'm seeking the best soundstage / image amp to pair with the Holo Spring 3 DAC. Budget for amp $3k max

@@DJdavefromlondon holo Bliss Review is nearly completed, buy it leave the hobby and don’t look back LOL

May review should be coming shortly, Separate power supply, so it’s two units on top of each other slightly different in the tonality bigger stage performs better obviously but not by a large amount I would say the difference is like 20% absolute tops

Slow, no, little laid-back, yes, slightly rounded it has punch, but in a different way For the characteristics you’re looking for you looking at chord They are a bit more incisive edge of attack and punchy for electronic music for regular music, spring three more organic more realistic

@@ConvinceMeAudio I’ve tried the chord DACs and the mojo2 lately. It’s good. Timbre is a touch off and the weight of the instruments isn’t the best. Meat on the bone so to speak. I’m trying to find a DAC to beat my Marantz HD DAC1 and I haven’t yet. Been through a lot. And I’m 53. I’m not a little kid who has some silly crush on my gear. I could care less. I just want to find something a bit more modern than my DAC to sound better and I haven’t yet. Been through the benchmark DAC3. Which was the best ESS DAC I’ve currently tried , to the Venus II from Denafrips which had an overdone huge soundstage and was too pipe and slippers. Very little dynamics and attack and punch. My search continues. Great channel btw.

@@Nightjar726 I am very glad to hear that, because the equipment means nothing. It’s just a tool at the end of the day. I highly recommend testing out the Dave and M Scaler or TT2 and M scaler If you have, and to those, but for organic nature realism, it’s very difficult to beat May at that price point To be honest, it just depends how much you wanna spend

@@ConvinceMeAudio I actually use HQplayer which is more powerful than the Mscaler and does the same thing but offers a ton of options on filters , modulators and DSD as well as PCM. They do make a difference and why I bought it. Unfortunately the Dave is out of my budget. You should try and get your hands on a used Marantz HD DAC1. I’m sure you will be quite surprised.

@@Nightjar726 I use HQ player on a regular basis on the main reference system here too. It’s awesome for the price point, but M scaler sounds far more organic and realistic

Congratulations it’s fucking awesome I will bring them in for review soon and we will see if How much of a difference there is going to their flagship

That’s actually a good value price we pay $3600 here for this. I think even get in the spring 2 l3 or L2 thought about probably where you are $1400-$1600, might be a good way to go, and you will still get a fantastic upgrade

​@@ConvinceMeAudio It is much cheaper here even for the May KTE about 5150USD here. It just that I tried a few different DACs with the latest DAC chips, to me, I just cannot tell that much of a difference between them. Not sure if I upgrade to the Spring 3 KTE will give me that WOW factor for 4x the price of the K9 pro which I think sounds really good with its AK4499 implementation and tuning.

@@Fenom60 is it at all possible to go somewhere to audition it before putting down the money? That is what I would actually advise

@@ConvinceMeAudio theres only one dealer for Holo in the whole city, probably there is demo but I only contacted through whatsap about availability and price. I can see the Holo Spring 3 is very popular on their China Taobao main store with many customers with great feedbacks but most of them use it with a speaker setup not with headphones.

@@Fenom60 it is absolutely superb, it can be your final DAC

You do not need the sereen the pre-already is absolutely exceptional in the spring three and it’s only a $500 upgrade Save yourself $2000

What is benefit of pre if I have an Integrated amp? Cheers

@@peterwood2633 The active pre-inside of the spring, is beneficial for somebody who wants to control the volume at the end of the chain, This could be the following, active studio monitors, speaker amplifiers, or bypassing a very bad P.O.T. But if you have a decent headphone amplifier such as a GSX mini with a integrated stepped attenuator you don’t need to buy the pre-, the pre-inside the spring will most likely outperform it for transparency and performance, but it’s not necessary You only go for the pre-option if you need some way of controlling the music at the end of the chain

@@ConvinceMeAudio I have the Yamaha A-S1100 ?

@@peterwood2633 honestly mate I’m not too familiar with that one I will have to look it up and see

Oh no, I mean you can, but I wouldn’t recommend it, mostly a good source, such as a DDC, or a streamer

Welcome to the channel, yes exactly It will work perfectly but it does not decode MQA and you want to stay away from mqa anyway In my opinion it sounds like ASS

@@ConvinceMeAudio so if Im not to use Tidal’s MQA what should I use to stream The best music quality possible?

@@maximeleblanc7828 it comes down to what type of music you listen to, Qobuz definitely sounds the best of all the streaming services in my testing, but the catalogue is very genre specific, jazz, classical, et cetera they’re getting better though This is what I use at the desk, or my own library. For on the go, Apple Music, because I am heavily invested in Apple, and it sounds fricking good for on the go Waiting for Spotify to release the lossless streaming service Their native player sounds the best of all the others on a desktop system Qobuz that is, also if you are using third-party players like Roon or Audirvāna you are limited to tidal or Qobuz anyways, and I will choose the latter

No mate but it does take 24 hours to truly sound it’s best it needs to warm up. After this period it’s stabilises and it’s completely fine

May kte is my daily driver

@@ConvinceMeAudio I mean a video Comparison

@@MrBoomtheroom it’s definitely coming, a little bit swamped I want to do the video properly Dave will be in the mix and most likely rockna to

Lights hurt my eyes mate, pretty much blind 😄

And yes, you are getting your reviews from somebody who uses his ears as his eyes, 😜 Permanent blind testing over here LOL

It is a very important part of the chain

Heres a comparison with r26 i copied and pasted from a forum thread I have a little more compares bitwin spring3 kte and r26. R26 is more extendet in highs - similar too delta sigma. As holo is more midrange centric with more mellow overall signature. With electronic/metal/rock music i prefer definetelly r26. R26 is faster and better slamming. Just as Sandu said great technical sounding. Where is spring3 kte is too mellow for that kind of music IMO. But with jazz, acoustics i prefer holo as it have more textures...if i got too choode one dac for all genre of music i choose r26...peace They are very similar. But i think holo spring 3 KTE is better. More textures in midrange, better positioning in soundstage, more full sound, more emotions in voclas, more "wet" sound. R26 is more technically sound signature(but not technically overall - still analog signature close to vinyl), little faster but thiner - specially in bass region. But they are pretty close in overall terms. Maybe r26 is little better in hard rock/metal music. So Holo is more connection to the music(emotions) but r26 is very good at that department too(much better then delta sigma in the same price category). I like them both !!! But i need to pick it up then Holo (more engaging)- it has much better parts and caps/wiring/trafo inside i think here is the reason of better sound

I think I might have to revisit this DAC, if it comes across the desk My last play with it was back in 2017

Nearly 2 weeks for the Analog 2. It may be listenable at a week, I don't remember, but I wasn't really impressed until it was on for about 12 days. I leave it on 24 x 7 now too. YMMV I am planning on replacing it with the Holo Audio Spring 3.

Unfortunately mate, this is the DAC only with active pre-, you will need to supply an amplifier with this for your system at your desk, Unless you’re running active monitors But it’s fricking sublime

@@ConvinceMeAudio Sorry, I really want this DAC. That is what I meant. I have to find things to sell to get it.

@@rogerhuston8287 no need to apologise mate I just wanted you to be aware It depends what your current system is, and what headphones you have, in regards to how much of a large role it will play in your chain

Same !