That’s a great comparison Phil. I have the SPP also – it is fantastic. The Halo compares more to a quality analog rig. It’s so “un” digital. Just outstanding…
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Yes, my merry-go-round dac search is over.
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I’m enjoying the burn-in, although I’ve taken a more passive approach now that I’m around the 250-hour mark (i.e., I’m not running it when I’m not listening to it). I’ve been concerned about the amount of heat being given off. I don’t have the opportunity at the moment to separate the power supply and DAC on different shelves to help. I am considering getting some IsoAcoustics pucks to help provide greater clearance (and hopefully help with any vibrations).
I’m appreciating the May KTE on the whole and enjoying many aspects of it, but I haven’t had the same love affair with it yet. I need to make some additional enhancements on the streamer side which should help draw out more in the DAC.
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I am using Townshend pods under the dac and an Isoacoustics Zazen2 under the power supply. Highly recommended.
On the streamer side, the Matrix really helps in my system.
On the transport side, the wonderful PS Audio PST through I2S doesn’t need any help. A superstar transport, the best I have ever heard.
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Congrats to @smatsui324 for his recent Holo May KTE.
How do you like it ?
How does it sound with the fantastic PS Audio PST?
I know one of his cousins. My singular connection to a famous person.
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I was with some friends from work for an early New Year’s Eve dinner at I believe Larsen’s Steak House c. 2004 in La Jolla, CA when in walked Mr. DiCaprio, Gisele Bündchen and an older woman we didn’t recognize. As luck would have it they were seated at a table next to us. Maybe because I was with Californians and they’re used to it, they reacted with some little remarks but nothing else. No one got up and asked for an autograph, etc. and the trio’s privacy was respected. Thought that was kinda cool.
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The May KTE is fantastic with my PST SACD as my source or my streaming setup. I couldn’t be happier with the May DAC.
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Are you using a separate power supply for the Matrix or just running it through the power from your USB cable/streamer?
Yes, I am using a « whole enchilada » Farad power supply, and it makes a very noticeable difference.
But other, much cheaper power supplies have been recommended in the Matrix thread. For example, Sbooster also gets very positive reviews. I have a few in my streaming chain, and they are excellent.
Final recommendation: use the best cables you can with the Matrix. After some extensive testing for USB between Shunyata Omega and ChordMusic, I chose the Chord. And a RAL I2S (I am currently trying the AQ Dragon).
Again, cheaper cables are also recommended in the Matrix thread, IIRC from Inakustik for USB, and Wirerworld for I2S + a whole bunch of other brands.
I hope this helps.
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Hi @brett66, any news about your Serene ?
Supposed to arrive today
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I hope that you plan to post your impressions. The break in is probably long, but the wait should be worthwhile.
Sure will. Delivery has been delayed, stuck at the local DHL office for some reason.
@John_Dubya First 15 mins. impression - It’s deathly quiet! I mean completely and utterly.
The bass, oh the bass. Stage was a touch closed in but that lasted all of a minute. It’s not up to temp at all yet but certainly promising right out of the gate.
It only took 27 days from day of order to receipt. Estimate was 5-6 weeks and possibly 1-2 additional for the hand wound KTE transformer.
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Just some thought after looking at the pictures of the DAC internals and their offer.
At least to someone without EE knowledge like me, it looks as if it has much more elaborate power supplies than the DS and more expensive parts (except for the fact it has no FPGA design. Would be interesting if that’s true or not.
The option of the different configurations at different prices is also interesting. I bet this is a good strategy, as especially if this was non upgradable, most would buy the most expensive version from start. Which would make clear that customers expect, that products don’t pass on quite cheap parts that would make it clearly better, but expect that products are fully optimized up to those measures that mean very noticeable expenses, which justify a completely different price level generally.
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I am trying to erase your post from my memory 
.
And I keep repeating to myself that I am super happy with my current preamp.
No no, I don’t need another toy.
Congratulations 
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The May has multiple FPGAs….they just use them differently than Ted does.
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The Holo DACs are gaining in popularity across forums!
Especially the Spring3 (more affordable) but probably helped by hype of the flagship May DAC.
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The Serene is a fine preamp. I’m not going to wax on comparing it’s virtues compared to the BHK with excellent NOS tubes.
If you’re in the market I highly recommend you give one a try. Otherwise simply be happy with what you’ve got.
I don’t believe it will require a long break in at all, if any, beyond the 72 they put on them for QC.
The most impressive attribute is the low level detail presented at low listening volume. The noise floor is exceedingly low.
One word: fantastic!
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Will you keep both preamps ?