Thanks as you got my attention partnering it with the Jay’s CDT2 Mk II, which is precisely what I had in mind. Off track can be a good thing, in this instance I found it to be rather helpful. The Holo is also on my mind at the moment, so now I have returned it to our normally scheduled programming.
I don’t have any problem recommending either the Spring 3 or May KTE as an alternative to the La Voce S3 with the Jay’s. Mine is paired with the La Voce S3 now as I had it shipped to the Greenville house as I was going to be here for the holidays. When I go back to Florida where the May KTE currently resides I will take the Jay’s there and put it in place of the Nuprime transport. Like speed-racer and many others here I think the May KTE is the best I’ve ever heard in my systems.
Sherman & Mr. Peabody !
Where’s Boris & Natasha ?
Bullwinkle is my favorite cartoon series of all time. There is so much double meaning comedy in there that it kept mom, dad and the kids all happy.
Natasha is hotter then what I remember as a youth.
It’s the eyes…
What’s the point?
It kept Dad in the living room watching the kids.
I made a point that going off topic is in itself not a bad thing, as in the side conversation regarding the Jays CDT2MkIII transport in a HoloMay Thread. A little Jay Ward imagery to lighten things up while emphasizing that very point. As I said now back to our regularly scheduled programing:
Now what is so great about the Holo May KTE DAC, and why should one partner it with a Jays CDT2MKIII especially when comparing it to the PerfectWave DSD/PST combo. From what I gather, from his listening experience @angen could not part soon enough with the KTE. Was it the KTE, Al’s music preferences, his system, or personal preference?
I get the impression that the KTE/Jays may produce a slightly thin and forward sound, albeit better soundstage delineation in comparison to the PerfectWave combo.
Now are we back on track?
I remember it well 
The May KTE does not cost enough for him…he has cables that cost more.
Or he just is sharing his honest opinion based on listening to it in his system. My thought would be acceptance will be system dependent based on ones listening preferences, music preferences, and budget. Did you compare yours directly with the DSD/PST combo?
And that impression comes from only one actual owner who did not own a PST at the time and another member who just stuck it in his DSD optimized system for a couple of hours and made a pronouncement. So the rest of us actual owners are deaf or just plain mistaken even though we’ve compared both DAC’s in our own systems for a length of time. Also if my memory serves me correctly a good part of Al’s current system was either not in place or fully operational at the time he made his assessment.
I’m not picking sides, I’m not looking for an argument either. I am looking for evidence to support one option over another. I personally am at a crossroads. I understand Al’s opinion is based on his journey. Seems like he continues to have a fun time with it, and from what I’ve read it’s credible. I was hoping to learn if others had similar experience but landed on a different solution, thats all. Maybe I’m naive.
Don’t have an issue with Al’s personal opinion of what he heard in his system of that time as at least he put his money down and tried it for himself. The other pronouncement has absolutely no credibility to me based on how it was done or the time involved. Having listened extensively to the DSD for three years in standard form and then again after the transformer upgrade it was better afterwards but not transformative. It was in fact what Ted spec’d and intended to start with. I thought the Aqua was better than either version with the May better still. All were tested in the same system that had been in place for almost two years so I am familiar with what changes in components can do. I find the “house” sound of the three DAC’s to be similar with none of them being “thin” or “forward” in any way as I have dumped several DAC’s of that ilk pretty quickly. As to pairing with the PST, I don’t know nor do I want to. I only own less than a half a dozen hybrid SACD’s so don’t need an SACD capable player. Plus if I did that one would never be a consideration as while not as problematic as the DMP the PST’s ever expanding list of hardware and software “quirks” are not something that appeal to me at any price and certainly not at that one. I have owned four PSA pieces in the last five years and still own three so that is not the issue. It is the apparent build quality and lack of quality control for the disc players that is my issue. For me it was always down to the Jay’s or the Project CD Box RS2. In the end the build quality of the Jay’s plus Alvin’s reputation and the fact that I had three prior transactions with him won out. Also if you want to use I2S that eliminates the Project as like the new Aqua spinner it is brand proprietary.
