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HoloAudio STREAMER is out now

I've read lots of discussions about streamers, especially about how to get value for less than several thousand $$'s. The typical responses include Bluesound, Innuous, iFi, Raspberry Pi, Cambridge, and probably a couple others I'm missing. 

People LOVE the Holo Audio DAC's -- the May, the Spring, e.g. 

Now they have a streamer. It's less than $1k. I wonder if anyone has it or has compared it?

 

hilde45
fuzztone's avatar
fuzztone
5,651 posts
 

@tvad

Pretty useless as there are few to no B to B, B to C, B to Micro B to connect a hard drive. I:be never seen. B flash drive.

XLR output? Fancy not.

No Qobuz, not ready for prime time.

Post removed 
tk21
238 posts
 

Interesting DDC capabilities along with the streaming. I think this is the first streamer I've seen with I2S out. A future software/firmware UG supposedly will support DSD1024 and PCM1536K.  I doubt it includes an HQ Player license for that price, but even if it has the embedded software (including an NAA implementation), this could be a very useful device for people who want to tinker with upsampling and filtering.  It appears to compete not only with the likes of the Bluesound Node (which does not support HQ Player), but also with the Sonore Rendu products.  Sonore's ultraRendu AFAIK does not support Airplay 2, has only a single digital output (USB), requires an external power supply ... and is more expensive.  The Matrix X-SPDIF would be another alternative for some users, but it's really only a filtering DDC (with no embedded computer or streaming capabilities).

All these features considered, this looks to me like a unique product (at least for the price and especially for HQ Player users.)

lalitk's avatar
lalitk
6,183 posts
 

@hilde45

Thanks for your posting. The ‘Red’ appears to be a very versatile streamer/DDC converter with amazing array of hardware connections and software options. I believe the I²S connection is superior than USB or SPDIF in conveying digital bits and ‘Red’ should shine once connected through its I²S (HDMI) output to a compatible DAC like Holo May or any of the Denafrips DAC’s with I²S (HDMI) input. At its asking price, it is certainly one of those devices that tempts you for a test drive :-)

carlsbad's avatar
carlsbad
1,551 posts
 

This is a combo DAC streamer and for this price I'd be skeptical of the DAC which I've heard described as "flagship".  (not that i don't believe value can be found at a low price at times).  Reviews make it clear people love the screen, which of course has nothing to do with the sound but seems to greatly contribute to the popularity.

I'd say this is a candidate for upgrade from a Bluesound Node but a buyer may be misguided if he/she doesn't just go with seperates. 

Jerry

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