What’s SMG, Jack?
Sorry Phil it was late. SGC, Small Green Computer a US dealer. The Inakustik cables are far easier to find in your part of he world.
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Jack, I think that you and Speed (@speed-racer) May be right.
I came back from a week in France a 3PM Brussels time and turned on the May and engaged the class A button on the Plinius SA 103 monoblocks.
I started listening 30 minutes later, and it was good, but like « where is the beef. » The amazing recording space recreation was there, but not 100%.
It’s now 4:30 PM and wow, so much better, but still not what I heard from this cd at the end of long listening session. The May is still not hot to the touch, as it is after a couple of hours. I think it takes more than 45 minutes to reach Paul’s thermal equilibrium.
I am still not ready to leave in on 24/7.
I will just have to take it out of standby sooner.
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Ok, I am back to the amazing « you are in the hall with the performers ».
The May is at Paul’s thermal equilibrium, or May be it’s the G&T happy hour operating it’s magic, bringing me to thermal equilibrium 
?
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I’ve noticed from past experience when returning from a trip, and powering my system up again, it took a full week for everything to stabilize again.
That’s why I leave everything powered on, or in standby, in the case of the BHK pre and amp.
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I also recall when I had to send an Accuphase CD player in for repair, it didn’t sound right until it was powered up for a full week after receiving the unit back.
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Hi goblue, have you done some more A/B blind testing since then?
A quote from Jim Austin when announcing the May as Stereophile digital product of the year.
« I’ll admit that I had no idea that an R-2R DAC was capable of measurements like this. I’d come to think of R-2R as a technology some people liked the sound of but that was inherently compromised in a technical sense. Not so, apparently.
“In almost every way, the HoloAudio May (Level 3) is the best-measuring D/A processor I have encountered,” John Atkinson wrote, after hosting the HoloAudio at his test bench, “rivaled only by the Weiss DAC502 and MBL N31.” The Weiss costs twice as much. The MBL, three times.
Not that measuring well is why the May was chosen. At Stereophile , it’s all about the sound. The May, Herb wrote, exhibited “force and gravity,” “natural quietness,” and “a unique type of understated liveliness.”“The May’s true-to-life demeanor made recorded music seem infinite and beautiful.”
Referring to another HoloAudio DAC, which he’d used for years, Herb said, “the May DAC takes the Spring DAC’s invisibility and Mohs-scale neutrality and adds push to it. Better than any DAC I know, the May recovers the natural pressure behind musical flow.”
About the Vote
Yet another lopsided win. The HoloAudio DAC scored even higher than the NAD M33 in amplification and the PS Audio Stellar in Analog Source. All but two reviewers voted for it, and almost half of those put it in first place. The AudioQuest DragonFly Cobalt DAC/ headphone amp came in a solid (but not close) second. »
It’s not just John and Herb, it’s almost half of the Stereophile reviewers putting it in first place.
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Hi Paul, have you made your choice between the Spring and May?
Hey @twablt, have you received your Serene? Brett was mighty impressed by his, so I am really curious. Please let us know how it sounds when you receive it !
WOW 
. I just played a CD I last heard through the PST DS, now with the PST May combo. P20 power in both cases.
Beethoven Coriolan, von Karajan, Berliner in the Jesus-Christus-Kirche, 1965.
The size of the soundstage is so much bigger, the reverb of the church is so real, the air palpable. Crystalline clarity, amazing realism. Major goosebumps.
I have had the immense chance of hearing the Berliner live, and this is the closest I have ever come to reproducing what I heard at that magic concert. Unbelievable.
I have heard a lot of expensive systems recently, but with the exception of the Wilson Alexx/Thor/Relentless Dag, none that I would swap for this.
Brett was right, the burn in is very long, over 1000 hours and still improving, but so worth it.
And of course system and room synergy is key.
Be well, amigos, and enjoy the music. Onto Beethoven 9th now …
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@Phil Yes…I ordered the Spring 3 KTE on Friday. I just couldn’t spring (Pun intended) for the May.
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Congratulations Paul !! Very happy for you ! I have not heard it, but owners are raving about the Spring. Let us know how you like it when you get it, please.
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Yesterday a Tambaqui by Mola Mola poped in. Well, it was an interesting comparison to PS Audio’s DSD. The Tambaqui was better in Resolution, Details, Bass and Stage with good liquid flow …
But: My 6 Years old DSD Sr. had little better colour and had more real musical flow, following “Klangrede”. I was more relaxed on the one hand side but also more interested in following music especially when listening to Acoustic Instruments. Mola Mola did too much in presenting details. Tambaqui never became harsh, but overtones had too much focus and did not sound natural, especially with Indian Sitar Music. The presentation seemed sometimes too upfront: too much from everything. Somebody likes it. I say bye, bye Tambaqui. I will send it back tomorrow. I’m looking very much forward to getting more News about the release date of DSD Sr. MK 2 soon …
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