Are all R2R dacs slow and soft?

I may be late to the party, but I own a Holo Audio May KTE paired with the Holo Audio Serene, and in my system they’re staying put for the long haul.

The May is extremely detailed without ever sounding harsh, and it’s certainly not soft or dull. I’m feeding it via a Holo Audio Red over I²S, which is clearly its intended signal path, and the synergy is outstanding.

Previously, I ran a PS Audio DirectStream DAC fed by an Eversolo DMP-A6. While I genuinely enjoyed that combination, my current setup is clearly on another level and has become my reference.

It’s all relative.
 

And yes I agree with you that r2r DACs, especially reasonably priced ones, are softer and warmer and often lacking in dynamics.  Almost every Denafrips DAC I’ve heard has bloated mid bass that makes it sound soft. But people on forums seem to love that sound. I think it depends on your music selection. Many on these forums seem to only listen to mid range centric music. For that kind of music, r2r DACs and tube gear is great. If you listen to a lot of music with fast transients annd bass, most r2r DACs can’t keep up IMO. It’s a technically inferior technology.  Even the Holo Audio May, a great DAC, sounds soft and rolled off compared to something like a Mola Mola Tambaqui. The Rockna DAC is one of the only r2r DACs I’ve heard that isn’t soft or warm. 

Most audiophiles prefer warm gear.

@traudio , did the LTA Aero solve the problem?  I have had 2, both with excellent NOS tubes, which make a big difference, 1 in each of my main systems and i loved them.  I would not described them as slow or soft at all.  

The new Mojo Mystique Z Quantum is a clear step up, however, in detail and 3 dimensional presentation, with no loss of musicality or timbre; so i am selling at least one of the Aeros.  (The other involves a longer story that probably merits its own thread.)

Which Mojo had you tried?

@kirkwallace
I haven't changed DAC's yet, and I'm not sure I remember which Mojo I tried. Their naming scheme is a little hard to decode 
Actually I have been distracted auditioning new speakers instead. The Maggies finally sold and I now own Dynaudio Contour 30 i speakers.