HOLO Audio MAY DAC

[87mpi]

14 hours ago, KenMoreira said:

Which is best for SQ.  spring 3  kte

DSD64X 
{filter Wide)  ( suggestions here would be great too}
with Sinc  L  and ASDM7EC 

or 
1.5 Mhz PCM with Sinc L and LNS15

my i5 cannot do higher than 64x without cut-outs. 

I'm a DSD fan too, in fact I built an i9 9900k PC just for that, but For me the best SQ on S3 KTE is definitely the PCM 1536 Sinc-M LNS15.  I like Sinc-s too. The sound is more palpable and ALIVE, more 3D. DSD in comparison is more 2D to me, even though it has more black. For the DSD my favorite SETTING is ASDM7EC 256 and  gauss long. I use the direct USB connection from the motherboard (asrock z390m-itx phantom) with Sablon 2020 cable.

I would like to upgrade to a jcat or pink faun usb pcie card with external linear power supply.

[87mpi]

4 hours ago, Ozan Bolat said:

DAC bits can (should ? it probably doesn't matter but) be left to default with SDM that is your sole output I understand

Dac bit only affects PCM 

[KenMoreira]

9 minutes ago, toddrhodes said:

For both DF and Holo DACs (and probably others, these are just the ones I'm familiar with), they will accept DSD at 48k rates, which I believe, in conjunction with "Adaptive Output Rate," makes for an easier load on HQPlayer to convert sample rates. I would be willing to bet that you'll see better performance if you check or gray Adaptive Output Rate and check 48k DSD, then set your DSD rate to 48k 256.

 

Basically what you're telling HQPlayer right now is that if you are playing 24/96, then it should resample to multiples of 44.1 (but in the DSD range, which is much higher but I'm lazy and don't feel like doing the conversion math right now) only. But really, it should be able to do 44.1 rate families in even multiples, and 48k families in even multiples (96, 192, 384 - but again in DSD rates). Checking Adaptive Output Rate allows for this "keep it in the family" feature. There is nothing to be gained by taking 88.2 and converting it to 96, or vice versa - just more work for the machine which might just add unnecessary noise.

 

This reduces the work your machine has to do to resample one rate family to another, which your current settings are forcing it to do :)

 

And without 48k DSD checked, I don't think it will even try to use that rate family for DSD conversion since not all DACs support it. But ours and yours do.

That might explain why some stuff doesn't play when adaptive is on..  You need both setting working together.. 

 

I appreciate the knowledge.  So I'll check that off, and check adaptive and grey out multi 

[KenMoreira]

7 minutes ago, 87mpi said:

I'm a DSD fan too, in fact I built an i9 9900k PC just for that, but For me the best SQ on S3 KTE is definitely the PCM 1536 Sinc-M LNS15.  The sound is more palpable and ALIVE, more 3D. DSD in comparison is more 2D to me, even though it has more black. For the DSD my favorite SETTING is ASDM7EC 256 and  gauss long. I use the direct USB connection from the motherboard (asrock z390m-itx phantom) with Sablon 2020 cable.

I would like to upgrade to a jcat or pink faun usb pcie card with external linear power supply.

Agreed. I find for some recordings like hotel California.  The blackness is preferred but for other albums pcm 

[toddrhodes]

16 minutes ago, 87mpi said:

I'm a DSD fan too, in fact I built an i9 9900k PC just for that, but For me the best SQ on S3 KTE is definitely the PCM 1536 Sinc-M LNS15.  I like Sinc-s too. The sound is more palpable and ALIVE, more 3D. DSD in comparison is more 2D to me, even though it has more black. For the DSD my favorite SETTING is ASDM7EC 256 and  gauss long. I use the direct USB connection from the motherboard (asrock z390m-itx phantom) with Sablon 2020 cable.

I would like to upgrade to a jcat or pink faun usb pcie card with external linear power supply.

Were you using DSD256 and 7EC modulator as well?

 

I was surprised how good PCM 1.5 sounded directly off my HQP motherboard - kinda makes me wonder how it might sound if using HQP Embedded without all the Windows stuff going on like I have now. But still, there was definitely some grain to it that I don't get from my Zen Stream. My hope is that iFi puts out a new streamer at some point (or someone, anyway) that can do PCM 1.5. I don't really see the point in DSD rates higher than 256 (or below that, for that matter), because I just don't feel like any sort of direct connection from a PC to a DAC can compete with a quiet, low-jitter streamer with even decent clocks in it like the iFi. Shame it only does PCM384 though.

 

Anyway, reason I ask is that in 265/7EC with gauss long or sinc-s or sinc-mx, there is no shortage of dynamics, sharpness where needed, "excitement," and so forth. It's startling on many tracks I listen to.

[MichaelHiFi]

I go between AMSD7EC 512+fs and ASDM7EC. System has been playing really well lately except for dropouts. I'm getting 3 to 4 second dropouts (silence) maybe 1 or 2 times per song. I've got an i9/10900 server. Hadn't had time to troubleshoot server but changing settings in HQP hasn't solved the dropout problem.

[87mpi]

56 minutes ago, toddrhodes said:

Were you using DSD256 and 7EC modulator as well?

 

I was surprised how good PCM 1.5 sounded directly off my HQP motherboard - kinda makes me wonder how it might sound if using HQP Embedded without all the Windows stuff going on like I have now. But still, there was definitely some grain to it that I don't get from my Zen Stream. My hope is that iFi puts out a new streamer at some point (or someone, anyway) that can do PCM 1.5. I don't really see the point in DSD rates higher than 256 (or below that, for that matter), because I just don't feel like any sort of direct connection from a PC to a DAC can compete with a quiet, low-jitter streamer with even decent clocks in it like the iFi. Shame it only does PCM384 though.

 

Anyway, reason I ask is that in 265/7EC with gauss long or sinc-s or sinc-mx, there is no shortage of dynamics, sharpness where needed, "excitement," and so forth. It's startling on many tracks I listen to.

Yes, 256 and 7EC modulator. 

 

I come from an older 3 Pc networked system, a nuc i5 for roon server, i9 9900k for HQP, nuc i3 fanless as endpoint NAA with LPS Keces P8, another LPSs on router and switch. 

 

I removed everything when I heard the difference compared to the PC i9 9900k plugged directly into USB in the Dac. 

Sounds noticeably better.

 

I decided to give up Roon's spectacular interface and Qobuz for SQ.

 

May/Spring 3 KTE USB input is truly works wonders! 

 

Now I use GentooPlayer OS (Linux OS with a myriad of options and customizations.  You can simply activate or deactivate different servers like HQP desktop or Embedded, LMS, Roon, mpd, different players, kernels, ram system etc .. You can really do whatever you want, the.  All with a spectacular and simple web interface, unlike Audiolinux for example) and only HQP embedded  and olny local files, zero streaming service. I use the network only to control the player from the tablet with the HQPcontrol v4 app.  Once in play you can also unplug the network cable, so finally zero network influence! 

 

I will not go back for sure! 

[toddrhodes]

22 minutes ago, 87mpi said:

Yes, 256 and 7EC modulator. 

 

I come from an older 3 Pc networked system, a nuc i5 for roon server, i9 9900k for HQP, nuc i3 fanless as endpoint NAA with LPS Keces P8, another LPSs on router and switch. 

 

I removed everything when I heard the difference compared to the PC i9 9900k plugged directly into USB in the Dac. 

Sounds noticeably better.

 

May/Spring 3 KTE USB input is truly works wonders! 

 

Now I use GentooPlayer OS (Linux OS with a myriad of options and customizations.  You can simply activate or deactivate different servers like HQP desktop or Embedded, LMS, Roon, mpd, different players, kernels, ram system etc .. You can really do whatever you want, the.  All with a spectacular and simple web interface, unlike Audiolinux for example) and only HQP embedded  and olny local files, zero streaming service. I use the network only to control the player from the tablet with the HQPcontrol v4 app.  Once in play you can also unplug the network cable, so finally zero network influence! 

 

I will not go back for sure! 

 

Sounds like a really neat setup! As a roon user and a Qobuz user, it's not for me, but I do have a GentooPlayer license floating around here somewhere, it was really powerful and I was only using it for an NAA at the time. 

 

Glad you found your sweet spot!

[KenMoreira]

1 hour ago, toddrhodes said:

For both DF and Holo DACs (and probably others, these are just the ones I'm familiar with), they will accept DSD at 48k rates, which I believe, in conjunction with "Adaptive Output Rate," makes for an easier load on HQPlayer to convert sample rates. I would be willing to bet that you'll see better performance if you check or gray Adaptive Output Rate and check 48k DSD, then set your DSD rate to 48k 256.

 

Basically what you're telling HQPlayer right now is that if you are playing 24/96, then it should resample to multiples of 44.1 (but in the DSD range, which is much higher but I'm lazy and don't feel like doing the conversion math right now) only. But really, it should be able to do 44.1 rate families in even multiples, and 48k families in even multiples (96, 192, 384 - but again in DSD rates). Checking Adaptive Output Rate allows for this "keep it in the family" feature. There is nothing to be gained by taking 88.2 and converting it to 96, or vice versa - just more work for the machine which might just add unnecessary noise.

 

This reduces the work your machine has to do to resample one rate family to another, which your current settings are forcing it to do :)

 

And without 48k DSD checked, I don't think it will even try to use that rate family for DSD conversion since not all DACs support it. But ours and yours do.

That might explain why some stuff doesn't play when adaptive is on..  You need both setting working together.. 

 

I appreciate the knowledge.  So I'll check that off, and check adaptive and grey out multi 

[Zauurx]

50 minutes ago, toddrhodes said:

... But still, there was definitely some grain to it that I don't get from my Zen Stream. My hope is that iFi puts out a new streamer at some point (or someone, anyway) that can do PCM 1.5. I don't really see the point in DSD rates higher than 256 (or below that, for that matter), because I just don't feel like any sort of direct connection from a PC to a DAC can compete with a quiet, low-jitter streamer with even decent clocks in it like the iFi. Shame it only does PCM384 though.

...

 

I am taking the opportunity of this post to... do a little disgression.
I don't have a May but a Pegasus... no Zen Stream but an Allo USBRidge SIG with which I can switch from PCM 1.5
However I am interested in this Zen Stream to know if it could be better than the Allo (+ Shanti).
What power supply do you use it with?
The USBridge with GentooPlayer is excellent but this is true for many equipment until you compare them.
I use 100% HQP for DSD 256 / sync.gauss.long (or xla) and ASDM7EC (core i5 8400 / Win10 LTSC).

[KenMoreira]

I have the same, but I haven't used it since I got the spring 3 kte

[toddrhodes]

3 minutes ago, Zauurx said:

 

I am taking the opportunity of this post to... do a little disgression.
I don't have a May but a Pegasus... no Zen Stream but an Allo USBRidge SIG with which I can switch from PCM 1.5
However I am interested in this Zen Stream to know if it could be better than the Allo (+ Shanti).
What power supply do you use it with?
The USBridge with GentooPlayer is excellent but this is true for many equipment until you compare them.
I use 100% HQP for DSD 256 / sync.gauss.long (or xla) and ASDM7EC (core i5 8400 / Win10 LTSC).

 

Funny enough I just use the included iPower SMPS that comes with the Zen Stream. @GoldenOnetested it and it measured extremely well for low noise and very low jitter, so I took a shot on it. I had previously used a Pi4, Jussi's NAA image, and LifePO4 batteries. I did power the Zen Stream with LifePO4 5V for one night, but it can really suck those things down so I didn't stick with it. But to me, I don't recall hearing anything better about batteries than I heard from the PSU it comes with.

 

And the increase in SQ from the battery-powered Pi + DDC (Ian Canada DDC) to the Zen Stream with iPower PSU was substantial - remarkable even. So I got rid of all the Pis and crazy battery power supplies and DDCs and have been very satisfied since :)

[KenMoreira]

9 hours ago, toddrhodes said:

For both DF and Holo DACs (and probably others, these are just the ones I'm familiar with), they will accept DSD at 48k rates, which I believe, in conjunction with "Adaptive Output Rate," makes for an easier load on HQPlayer to convert sample rates. I would be willing to bet that you'll see better performance if you check or gray Adaptive Output Rate and check 48k DSD, then set your DSD rate to 48k 256.

 

Basically what you're telling HQPlayer right now is that if you are playing 24/96, then it should resample to multiples of 44.1 (but in the DSD range, which is much higher but I'm lazy and don't feel like doing the conversion math right now) only. But really, it should be able to do 44.1 rate families in even multiples, and 48k families in even multiples (96, 192, 384 - but again in DSD rates). Checking Adaptive Output Rate allows for this "keep it in the family" feature. There is nothing to be gained by taking 88.2 and converting it to 96, or vice versa - just more work for the machine which might just add unnecessary noise.

 

This reduces the work your machine has to do to resample one rate family to another, which your current settings are forcing it to do :)

 

And without 48k DSD checked, I don't think it will even try to use that rate family for DSD conversion since not all DACs support it. But ours and yours do.

well my cpu load dropped to mid 60s in usage. but i still get drop outs at 256x so i guess ill drop to 128

[KenMoreira]

Any one here use dolby atmos for headphones? 

[mrwiggles]

Just took delivery on a MAY KTE and plan to use HQP to power upsampling to the DAC. I have two questions that I hope those who have come before me can answer:

 

1. Is burn-in really a thing with this DAC? I read posts where people say that you really need 400+ hours of continuous playing (often unattended playlists just for this purpose) to really get the most out of the MAY. I am still waiting on my Pass Labs amp being delivered in a few weeks so have the time to just hook up the MAY to burn-in if that’s really required. But this feels like one of those audiophile myths that so often get debated.

 

2. I have the choice between a small form factor i9900k PC or an M1 Mac Mini for running HQP. My NAA will be an Intel NUC running the NAA OS image provided by HQP team. Plan is to experiment between 1.5 PCM upsampling vs DSD 256. Seems some people prefer one or the other with 1.5 PCM being the favorite. I think both systems can easily handle the PCM side. I’m leaning towards the M1 due to its small size, and virtually silent operation even though it would be running some distance from the NAA NUC. Any reason to choose one over the other? M1 is MUCH more power efficient as well.

 

Thanks for the input.

[toddrhodes]

3 hours ago, mrwiggles said:

Just took delivery on a MAY KTE and plan to use HQP to power upsampling to the DAC. I have two questions that I hope those who have come before me can answer:

 

1. Is burn-in really a thing with this DAC? I read posts where people say that you really need 400+ hours of continuous playing (often unattended playlists just for this purpose) to really get the most out of the MAY. I am still waiting on my Pass Labs amp being delivered in a few weeks so have the time to just hook up the MAY to burn-in if that’s really required. But this feels like one of those audiophile myths that so often get debated.

 

2. I have the choice between a small form factor i9900k PC or an M1 Mac Mini for running HQP. My NAA will be an Intel NUC running the NAA OS image provided by HQP team. Plan is to experiment between 1.5 PCM upsampling vs DSD 256. Seems some people prefer one or the other with 1.5 PCM being the favorite. I think both systems can easily handle the PCM side. I’m leaning towards the M1 due to its small size, and virtually silent operation even though it would be running some distance from the NAA NUC. Any reason to choose one over the other? M1 is MUCH more power efficient as well.

 

Thanks for the input.

 

 

My May is about 4 weeks old now I think, and I've got probably 400+ hours of play on it, 100 hours of listening or thereabouts (totally guessing here as that seems real high now that I type it out) - IMO, it does get better with age. Better bass and improvements in imaging precision, meaning room cues and spatial cues, are what stand out to me. I've only used mine in NOS mode with HQP providing DSD256 to it. I've tried 32x PCM but just haven't locked into it yet. More on that in a sec. But to me, I didn't want to believe it and it DOES sound excellent out of the box. But whether it's acclimation or it "burns in," I have no idea, I just know I appreciate it now - I'm going to say "far more" - than right away. And that's saying a lot because right out of the box it presented an improved experience over my Denafrips Venus II it replaces.

 

More on that last point - I've fought this urge real hard, but I've come to the conclusion that going straight out of my USB port on my i9900KF HQ Player PC... is just as good as what I've become accustomed to using my Zen Stream as an NAA. I still intend to make the PC USB output "better" and try an even better USB cable than I have, but I'm simplifying my setup and now I'm just getting rid of the NAA entirely. I might go HQP Embedded and run Linux on this machine eventually, I'm not sure. But I can say the Titanis USB input is legit. I've tried it a few times and thought "Nah, it just can't be as good" and I'd convince myself it wasn't. But really, it is. And this is the same thing being said for Spring 3 L3 with the same input as well. My May does have the "enhanced" USB input but I'm using an Intel chip so it technically shouldn't matter in my setup.

 

I now have a Curious Evolved USB cable coming to try out, and have moved May KTE back out of my room and it sits right next to the HQ Player PC. In terms of preferring DSD over PCM - I do get what others say about PCM being more "exciting" but I prefer the timbre and tone density of 256DSD upsampled with the ASDM7EC modulator - gauss-long fitter. 

 

In fact I like this whole combo so much, I'm going to sell off the rest of my vinyl that isn't like an heirloom treasure to me, as I honestly can't see playing it anytime soon. No need.

[John Hughes]

3 hours ago, mrwiggles said:

Is burn-in really a thing with this DAC? I read posts where people say that you really need 400+ hours of continuous playing (often unattended playlists just for this purpose) to really get the most out of the MAY. I am still waiting on my Pass Labs amp being delivered in a few weeks so have the time to just hook up the MAY to burn-in if that’s really required. But this feels like one of those audiophile myths that so often get debated.

 

For me the May is one of the few digital components that sounded great out of the box, and just got better with time. It didn't go through an unlistenable period like other components have. 

 

In terms of audibility, I think break in has more impact than just about any of the HQP filters do. If you hear big differences between HQP filters you will likely hear the difference of break in too.

[KenMoreira]

22 minutes ago, toddrhodes said:

 

 

My May is about 4 weeks old now I think, and I've got probably 400+ hours of play on it, 100 hours of listening or thereabouts (totally guessing here as that seems real high now that I type it out) - IMO, it does get better with age. Better bass and improvements in imaging precision, meaning room cues and spatial cues, are what stand out to me. I've only used mine in NOS mode with HQP providing DSD256 to it. I've tried 32x PCM but just haven't locked into it yet. More on that in a sec. But to me, I didn't want to believe it and it DOES sound excellent out of the box. But whether it's acclimation or it "burns in," I have no idea, I just know I appreciate it now - I'm going to say "far more" - than right away. And that's saying a lot because right out of the box it presented an improved experience over my Denafrips Venus II it replaces.

 

More on that last point - I've fought this urge real hard, but I've come to the conclusion that going straight out of my USB port on my i9900KF HQ Player PC... is just as good as what I've become accustomed to using my Zen Stream as an NAA. I still intend to make the PC USB output "better" and try an even better USB cable than I have, but I'm simplifying my setup and now I'm just getting rid of the NAA entirely. I might go HQP Embedded and run Linux on this machine eventually, I'm not sure. But I can say the Titanis USB input is legit. I've tried it a few times and thought "Nah, it just can't be as good" and I'd convince myself it wasn't. But really, it is. And this is the same thing being said for Spring 3 L3 with the same input as well. My May does have the "enhanced" USB input but I'm using an Intel chip so it technically shouldn't matter in my setup.

 

I now have a Curious Evolved USB cable coming to try out, and have moved May KTE back out of my room and it sits right next to the HQ Player PC. In terms of preferring DSD over PCM - I do get what others say about PCM being more "exciting" but I prefer the timbre and tone density of 256DSD upsampled with the ASDM7EC modulator - gauss-long fitter. 

 

In fact I like this whole combo so much, I'm going to sell off the rest of my vinyl that isn't like an heirloom treasure to me, as I honestly can't see playing it anytime soon. No need.

Burn in on my spring was signicant. And the only gear I've noticed it happen on.  

[wanta911]

3 hours ago, mrwiggles said:

Just took delivery on a MAY KTE and plan to use HQP to power upsampling to the DAC. I have two questions that I hope those who have come before me can answer:

 

1. Is burn-in really a thing with this DAC? I read posts where people say that you really need 400+ hours of continuous playing (often unattended playlists just for this purpose) to really get the most out of the MAY. I am still waiting on my Pass Labs amp being delivered in a few weeks so have the time to just hook up the MAY to burn-in if that’s really required. But this feels like one of those audiophile myths that so often get debated.

 

 

Opinions can only be based on personal experience and in my case - count me in as a semi-sceptic on the issue of burn-in. I don't discount the premise out of hand but I do question the number of hours that sometimes get quoted and at what point the burn-in is psychological versus mechanical. I read on Audiogon where someone said that their Holo DAC went to "another level" @ 3,000 hours of playing time.....it's posts like this that give this hobby a bad name.

 

Burn-in is also used by fanbois on forums to try and discount another person's dislike of a particular piece of equipment that they themselves DO like or recommended: "oh you need to burn it in for 500 hours and then it will all fall into place". I bought the original Auralic Vega DAC when it first came out and in my particular setup at the time I found it fatiguing after an hour or so each time I used it. Forum advice went from 250 to 500 to 750 to 1000 hours of burn-in each time I noted my dissatisfaction. After 1000 hours, it sounded exactly the same as it did within the first 2 hours - like a pencil being pushed into my ear drum 🤣. In hindsight I can understand that system matching and/or the infamous ESS Sabre glare was to blame (yes I do subscribe to that in older applications).

 

I am not discounting the argument for burn-in on an R2R DAC as it makes some sense, at least compared to a Delta Sigma application and I am not discounting out of hand some of the impressions here, as they at least all seem to be around the same time frame. The logical side of me questions exactly what is burning in after say 50 or even 100 hours and it will be interesting to experience it for myself when my Spring arrives later this week 🤙

[mr. Fancypants]

My May (KTE) did not sound good out of the box.  In fact it sounded so bad compared to my Marantz SA10 cd player that I actually started to worry that I was just another victim of internet hype.  After around 100 hours it started to sound pretty good and continued to improve for a few weeks.  I sort of regret buying such an expensive cd player now.   LOL

[KenMoreira]

53 minutes ago, wanta911 said:

 

Opinions can only be based on personal experience and in my case - count me in as a semi-sceptic on the issue of burn-in. I don't discount the premise out of hand but I do question the number of hours that sometimes get quoted and at what point the burn-in is psychological versus mechanical. I read on Audiogon where someone said that their Holo DAC went to "another level" @ 3,000 hours of playing time.....it's posts like this that give this hobby a bad name.

 

Burn-in is also used by fanbois on forums to try and discount another person's dislike of a particular piece of equipment that they themselves DO like or recommended: "oh you need to burn it in for 500 hours and then it will all fall into place". I bought the original Auralic Vega DAC when it first came out and in my particular setup at the time I found it fatiguing after an hour or so each time I used it. Forum advice went from 250 to 500 to 750 to 1000 hours of burn-in each time I noted my dissatisfaction. After 1000 hours, it sounded exactly the same as it did within the first 2 hours - like a pencil being pushed into my ear drum 🤣. In hindsight I can understand that system matching and/or the infamous ESS Sabre glare was to blame (yes I do subscribe to that in older applications).

 

I am not discounting the argument for burn-in on an R2R DAC as it makes some sense, at least compared to a Delta Sigma application and I am not discounting out of hand some of the impressions here, as they at least all seem to be around the same time frame. The logical side of me questions exactly what is burning in after say 50 or even 100 hours and it will be interesting to experience it for myself when my Spring arrives later this week 🤙

Burn in on these is real. They start out bright with almost no bass at all. You will see. 

[Ozan Bolat]

8 hours ago, wanta911 said:

 

Opinions can only be based on personal experience and in my case - count me in as a semi-sceptic on the issue of burn-in. I don't discount the premise out of hand but I do question the number of hours that sometimes get quoted and at what point the burn-in is psychological versus mechanical. I read on Audiogon where someone said that their Holo DAC went to "another level" @ 3,000 hours of playing time.....it's posts like this that give this hobby a bad name.

 

Burn-in is also used by fanbois on forums to try and discount another person's dislike of a particular piece of equipment that they themselves DO like or recommended: "oh you need to burn it in for 500 hours and then it will all fall into place". I bought the original Auralic Vega DAC when it first came out and in my particular setup at the time I found it fatiguing after an hour or so each time I used it. Forum advice went from 250 to 500 to 750 to 1000 hours of burn-in each time I noted my dissatisfaction. After 1000 hours, it sounded exactly the same as it did within the first 2 hours - like a pencil being pushed into my ear drum 🤣. In hindsight I can understand that system matching and/or the infamous ESS Sabre glare was to blame (yes I do subscribe to that in older applications).

 

I am not discounting the argument for burn-in on an R2R DAC as it makes some sense, at least compared to a Delta Sigma application and I am not discounting out of hand some of the impressions here, as they at least all seem to be around the same time frame. The logical side of me questions exactly what is burning in after say 50 or even 100 hours and it will be interesting to experience it for myself when my Spring arrives later this week 🤙

How does burn-in on an R2R DAC makes some sense, it would not with other DACs ? Am I missing something for I very early on found out that the S3 is much better SDM 256 fed than PCM 1536 fed and thus have never burnt in the R2R part specifically...

As of the burn in, at the moment my S3 (somewhere in the 300 hours ? 400 ? lost track) is continuously fed though I'm not listening to it : guess it appears like I subscribe but if I'm asked to describe benefits.... euh... not sure there's been any since the very few first hours and that how much I enjoy the S3 depends more of my personal shape. I'd say it took about 1 day or 2  for either the DAC to burn in (less than 50 hours) or my brain (a few hours of listening free of concerns such as PCM vs SDM, which filters etc) to dig the S3 was in another league than other DACs I trialed, thanks to how natural the timbres are and how all parts of the soundstage are equally dense

[Extreme_Boky]

I had very nice XLR (balanced) interconnect cables that I listened to for a couple of years. A friend of mine heard it and compared it with his interconnect cables, and decided that he'd love to have the exact cable as mine. So, I made another one for him - exactly the same. But, it sounded terrible. The newly made cable was flat, did not have that beautiful spatial and relaxed presentation like the one I listened to for a couple of years. I had to dissect the cable to show it to him; to convince him that the cables were identical... I just asked him to be patient and listen to it for a while 😊

 

May DAC uses a very large number of electrolytes, as well as power supply decoupling capacitors (film capacitors, 1uF). I suppose the dielectrics in both capacitor types will change if exposed to DC... and that change will be gradual over time, i.e. - not that noticeable. In addition, the May's analog class-A output stage burns a lot of current at all times (total power dissipation is 60W !!). I'd expect that parts used in this stage would also change the sound somewhat over a longish period of time. This is why I would burn May 24/7 with a load at its output (it could be as simple as a 300 - 400 ohm resistor, or pair of resistors if using XLR balanced output). 

 

The real proof would be in blind A/B comparison between a brand new May, and the burnt-in May. 

 

 

[wanta911]

39 minutes ago, Ozan Bolat said:

How does burn-in on an R2R DAC makes some sense, it would not with other DACs ?

 

Just giving it the benefit of the doubt based on all those additional & unique parts needed for R2R ladder DACs (as described above by @Extreme_Boky) compared to a simple DS chip architecture 😉

 

47 minutes ago, Extreme_Boky said:

May DAC uses a very large number of electrolytes, as well as power supply decoupling capacitors (film capacitors, 1uF). I suppose the dielectrics in both capacitor types will change if exposed to DC... and that change will be gradual over time, i.e. - not that noticeable. In addition, the May's analog class-A output stage burns a lot of current at all times (total power dissipation is 60W !!).

 

I'd better start saving for my next electricity bill!

[Extreme_Boky]

It's not that bad.... May would have to be constantly ON for close to 17 hours, to burn (only) 1kWh of energy. The cost of 1 kilowatt-hour in States is around 10 cents. So, don't worry too much 😉