Holo Audio May DAC

@in_shore Re: your comment that the Holo May KTE in combination with the 432 Evo Aeon have produced  "by a large margin the best playback of well recorded music I have ever experienced in my home so far" - I was wondering how much of that improved sound is due to the KTE vs the Aeon. The reason I ask is that  I have a 432 Evo Aeon coming for an in-home evaluation  this week (currently have a Innuos Zen Mk III). I just stumbled across this thread about the Holo May KTE and now I am very intrigued about it.  I'm not surprised to hear about the great playback you are getting, given the wonderful things I'm hearing about both products. I currently have a Lampizator Big 7 (about 6 years old) with DSD 256, and curious about improvements that could be gained with the May KTE. And wondering which component to prioritize for upgrading, the streamer or the DAC (Of course, in reality if I like the Aeon I'll get it and then have to consider how much more improvement I could expect with a new DAC). 

Also curious on anyone's experiences or thoughts about the KTE vs Lampizator. I'm actually very happy with the sound I'm getting with my current set up but the question is "What am I missing?". I would have been blissful in my ignorance, but hard to ignore what I'm hearing about the KTE now that I've discovered it. 

@in_shore @jriggy @cal3713 THanks for the responses about the KTE being more of a lateral move from the Lampizator. The Big 7 is from 2015 so I only have DSD 128 running right now and not the latest PCM. But still sounds great. But not sure if having all the latest bells and whistles that are on the May KTE would matter especially if most of my music is with PCM, although having the option to upsample to DSD 512 or higher might be useful. I guess at some point I could try the KTE to compare and sell one of them. 

Seems like the 432 Evo might have a bigger impact on sound quality than changing the DAC right now. 

I am not sure about sound quality impact but you can adjust volume using Roon. I’ve experimented with it briefly but not critically since I have a preamp and my Lampizator also has volume control. Seemed ok for minor volume changes but I'm not sure I would want to rely on Roon as my primary volume control.

I have a Big 7 that is about 6 years old. I really think it very nice especially with good tubes. I have KR Audio’s RK 300b tubes with an RK rectifier, which really help to bring it alive. I’m always curious about something else but it is hard to imagine something markedly better, but I haven’t tried. I am streaming with an Innuos Zen Mk III and have been very happy with it, especially running in experimental model using Squeezelite. I am interested in a 432 Evo Aeon, which I’ve heard great things about and I also find that what is upstream of the daC is very important.