HOLO Audio Spring DAC: Affordable discrete R2R Multibit Dac, could be a winner.


Many manufacturers are going back to R2R Multibit d/a conversion, a good portion of audiophiles are saying it sounds better than the cheaper d/a conversion of Delta Sigma, (1 bit), Bitstream, Saber. etc.
And it says it uses dual R2R’s Multibits to support DSD natively!!? 

Product Description:This new DAC.”Spring” is the first design of a new era, a milestone for HOLO Audio’s own Jeff Zhu. It’s a full discrete R2R type of audio decoder and does not have off the shelf-DAC chip! This is a bespoke custom-designed core DAC module and truly a breakthrough with technology for any DAC chip today. The Spring is here to achieve new heights, new dynamics and simply a full spectrum of audio to please the aural senses. This Dac has been called the poor mans Total Dac / MSB / Wavedream / Chord Dave Etc. It plays with the big boys.

https://kitsunehifi.com/product/springdacbase/

Looks amazing inside for $1,700. Schiit Yaggi better watch out!!!!



Cheers George
128x128georgehifi

Showing 8 responses by bill_k

I haven't seen anything specified regarding the type of I/V conversion circuitry used in the Holo Spring DAC, if that's what Charles is asking about.
Charles,
It would be extremely helpful to hear how both of those comparisons go, especially against the Bricasti SE since that's a more widely known product. I look forward to your further thoughts on the Holo DAC.
Enjoy the tunes!
- Bill

The HDMI input on the Holo Spring DAC is not compatible with a conventional HDMI output like that from a blu-ray or dvd player. It is wired according to the I2S connection standard which is used by PS Audio and some others like the Singer SU-1. Any standard HDMI cable can be used for the I2S connection but the pins for I2S are used differently than the conventional HDMI connection standard.
milpai - I don't believe that is possible unless there is some converter I'm not aware of. PS Audio transports have an I2S output which could connect to the Holo DAC via HDMI for WAV files. Their newest model allows connection via I2S including DSD from SACD discs but only with an approved handshake outputting to their own DirectStream DACs. The Bryston BDA-3 supports DSD decoding from SACDs on universal players via conventional (non-I2S) HDMI connection. Hope this helps!
True that the AD DACs themselves are 20 bit, but the way they implemented the design with two DACs per channel gives them a claimed 21 bits of resolution.