‘Also there are TWO i2s ports in the May dac. Each one can be individually configured pin outs to support all i2s products on the market.’
Software configurable on device via front panel buttons. 4 options for I2S HDMI pinout.
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I don’t think my brother’s friend is aware of this. He is deciding a transport, maybe a PS Audio transport, but haven’t decided. But with I2s compatible, can he get the SACD layer out to the May?
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I believe getting to the SACD layer and outputting I2S on HDMI is the job of the transport. If the DAC I2S configuration matches the transport you’re golden.
With 4 possible combinations, the Holo DACs are reported to work all transports in the wild.
May manual: https://www.kitsunehifi.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/May_user_manual.pdf
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I don’t believe there is anything like HDCP for I2S. PS Audio licensed from Sony via the Oppo drive the right to extract the SACD layer and send it out digitally. Most players would/could only output SACD signal on their analog outputs which of course doesn’t allow one to use a external DAC to convert.
@ smatsui324 Can you confirm the PST and/or PWT works via HDMI with the May DAC for SACD layer?
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Maybe @Phil can enlighten us. He is using the PST transport with the May, but I never had a chance to ask him. He also informed me the May take considerable time, like the DS to break in, so I can’t really judge this DAC too soon.
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SACD transmission is a handshake between transport and DAC. Sony/Philips licensing insist on same manufacturer at both ends.
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So does Holo May make a SACD transport?
Just rip the SACD and eliminate the transport from the equation!
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Great idea! My brother’s friend is thinking about getting the Lumin U1 mini and getting into streaming anyway. I’ll tell him forget the SACD transport.
There’s a good deal on an almost new U1 Mini for sale over at Audio Circle.
I agree with @speed-racer. I ripped my SACDs about 5 years ago. In their wall mounted storage cases they sit. There are $30-50 blu-ray transports on eBay that can rip them if you have the technical ability to read and follow the many instructions available.
I hooked up a 7 year old cheap Sony blu-ray player to spin a couple CDs (this model doesn’t do SACD) just to compare to my streaming setup. In my space, not being able to apply convolution is a non-starter for accurate bass. At first it sounds exciting but quickly realize the decay of bass up into the male vocal range is thick and doubled over itself…no thanks.
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My brother’s friend still might get a CD transport because he doesn’t have that many SACDs, but has plenty of CDs. He’s thinking about the Jay Audio CD transport. Maybe that’s a good one, I don’t know.
But Audio Circle. Isn’t that a forum? Do you have to be a member to purchase? Is it safe to do so?
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Yes, it’s another forum that’s been around almost 20 years and supported by dozens of smaller manufacturers like Van Alstine, Salk, Odyssey and GR Research. I have been a member there since the beginning and have bought and sold dozens of items on there over the years. The seller of this item is good to go. He is having to move suddenly due to a family medical situation across the country and is trying to sell his whole system rather than move it.
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Rip the CDs and forget the transport……
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I know you can configure the Holo DAC to be compatible with the PS audio transport via the IS2 interface, but I don’t think that means it will read the SACD layer.
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Because it’s supposably a better interface than USB for playing CDs.
You have to have a licensing agreement with Sony to play the sacd layer off of a transport to a DAC, which PS Audio has.
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Good advice! Saves him a lot of money.
I’ve ran my Sony UBP-X1000ES with HDMI to I2S HDMI adapter boards successfully into both the Holo May KTE DAC (both Ron’s and another friends) and my PS Audio DirectStream DAC Sr… While no one really cares about 128fs or even 256fs (placebo effect - c’mon admit it), I like the sound of the Holo DAC but never got the chance to do a head to head comparison between the two. Ron liked it so muc, he wouldn’t lend it to me like he did the Terminator DAC. The Terminator gave the DirectStream a good run for its money but aside from my personal bias, I like the smoother sound of the DirectStream over the Terminator. There were times though where I didn’t know what DAC I was listening to 
.
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I’d like to try that one day and get a cheap Sony compatible player (not an Oppo fan), and with the file hacks, start ripping my SACD’s into my hard drive. For now, they sound fine spinning away into my DirectStream DAC Sr. via HDMI to I2S HDMI adapter boards and my Sony UBP-X1000ES.
Do you mean DSD128 and DSD256? If you do, hell yes people care…I certainly do.
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