Holo Audio May DAC


Just read a very nice review of this in Stereophile this month and after doing some research it looks like this one could be a very nice option for me.  
https://kitsunehifi.com/product/holo-audio-may-dac/
  
It's made in China I think (or could be Taiwan?, and yes, I am very well aware that these are two very different countries. ;)), and employs a direct to consumer model to keep the price as low as possible.  This does not worry me after purchasing a Jay's Audio transport from Vinshine Audio and having zero issues.  

Just curious if anyone here has heard one or purchased?  I'm very intrigued.  I know the Denafrips Terminator is another highly regarded DAC with a similar ordering model, but costs a couple grand more than this one.  Considering that one as well.

Thanks
128x128snackeyp

Showing 9 responses by luisma31

does the may have remote controlled output volume adjustment capability? i thought it was a straight dac (fixed output) only
 
To my knowledge it doesn't but there are other ways of implementing volume control upstream (or even downstream)

Hey @cal3713 seems you and I follow all the same threads...
congrats on the DAC, I haven't heard this one but I think it is similar to another DAC I'm familiar with. Try PCM in NOS mode
Someone already compared these briefly, neither was necessarily better, based on the person who commented the May IIRC was more detailed and the Termy more "musical" relaxed? I might be wrong with the adjectives I did not pay too much attention whatever that meant... look on this thread or the Denafrips one
LOL Jeff you came to the wrong place to ask for help

I don't own the May but I wish I could, Chord would not be an option for me. The only alternative would be Terminator+

The May is enticing because of the low Impedance output buffer which allows you to go into an amplifier directly.

If you have the means I think just my opinion you should consider strongly the May
not all of the filters are better than pure NOS


@nquery did you tried the EC modulators as well? do you still like the pure NOS over EC mods with HQPlayer?
I ask because per your post I noticed you are using PCM not SDMI'm just curious that's all
Thanks @nquery for reporting back, yeah I agree, better to establish a firm known baseline with PCM first before venturing into different other options.
I do have an intel NAA today and I will be testing a Pi endpoint, don't know if 1.536 will be possible with the Pi
Got it, so the Pi is limited as the AMD USB chipset, I can use the Intel NAAIs there anything on the works to fix the issues with other chipsets? or is this something out of the hands of the firmware developer and more on the capabilities of these chipsets?
R2R is not the most important spec for a dac, I have found out.
Agree, SD DACs can be very good as well

but it can’t match a well designed tube output stage
This could be if you don’t have any other tube equipment in your chain, I personally think a tube has no business whatsoever within a DAC but that’s just my personal non professional opinion (tubes are a source of incoming RFI / EMI something you would like to avoid if possible inside a DAC)
My specific chain has a tube preamp and tube amps, I don’t really need a tube DAC but a good well implemented DAC
Many designers I respect have build these tube DACs, I know if fulfills a need but I don’t personally like it.
but I totally respect your opinion @redwoodaudio

EDIT: R2R's can be good as well and even tube DACs, it is all about the implementation



@redwoodaudio

I don't see in my post any comment of tube flavor or inferior electrically to transistors

My system currently have 54 tubes and I don't think these are inferior 

You are entitled to any opinion of course, I just stated mine