Holo audio Cyan DAC+Headamp Impressions thread

[pkane2001]

1 hour ago, semente said:

For someone with a music library consisting mainly of Redbook files (classical music), is there a technical advantage in choosing the DSD version over the PCM one?

I'd be upsampling with HQPlayer.

 

In my experience, the main reason is sound preference. If you like the sound of upsampled DSD512 sound (many do) you'll want the DSD version. PCM DAC has a number of additional features, such as volume control and headphone output that make it a more feature-rich version.

 

With Holo Spring DAC (as well as with other DACs I've tried), I prefer upscaling to DSD512 for vocals and with smaller jazz groups. There's just a little bit of quality to the sound that makes voices sound more natural to me, more authentic. OTOH, I prefer PCM for large-scale classical orchestral music. Bass has more impact, the sound is fuller, it's... I don't know of a good way to explain this... PCM is not as subtly brittle as the sound I get with DSD. Mind you, this difference is very minor, but when I listen for it, I hear it. Perhaps it's my choice of HQP filters, or maybe it's my imagination (measuring frequency response, I don't see any differences between upscaled DSD and PCM).

 

If someone was to ask me to choose between keeping just DSD or just PCM (all else being equal), I'd probably keep DSD. But  sometimes I do find recordings where PCM sounds better, so I think I'll keep my Holo Spring DAC. Although, a volume control and HP output might almost be enough to convince me to go the other way! 

 

 

[pkane2001]

1 hour ago, semente said:

Apparently it is possible to have both boards (minus the headphone amp?) at extra cost - "Joy" version:

 

https://www.magnahifi.com/en/webshop/product/holo-cyan

 

May not be a bad option, but Holo Spring might be a better way to get the support for both, DSD and PCM in one box, and at about the same price.

[pkane2001]

3 hours ago, Miska said:

Today I did some measurements on the Cyan DSD. DSD256 and DSD128 seem to be the sweet spot... At both DSD64 and DSD512 the performance begins to suffer a bit compared to those "middle" rates.

 

 

Don't keep us in suspense, Jussi! Please share your measurements.

 

 

[pkane2001]

29 minutes ago, Miska said:

OK...

 

Here's THD for 1k at DSD256:

 

IMD for DSD256:

 

Jtest-24 for DSD256:

 

 

And here's THD for 1k at DSD128:

 

IMD for DSD128:

 

Jtest-24 for DSD128:

 

 

These are all with data from HQPlayer, using poly-sinc-xtr-2s filter and ASDM7 modulator.

 

I will personally stick to setting HQPlayer output to DSD256 with Cyan.

 

 

Looks pretty good, Jussi. Very clean overall. Can you also share the DSD512 measurements?

[pkane2001]

3 minutes ago, Miska said:

 

I didn't make Jtest measurement for DSD512, but here's THD and IMD...

 

 

Thanks again, Jussi! An obvious increase in the level of harmonic content with DSD512, but still low enough not to be a problem in real listening.