Last summer I had a chance to listen to a May KTE for a week. A local dealer got one in on trade. It’s very nice. At first I thought it was a bit too analytical for me so I put a set of Mullards in the Pre and that really made a big difference. I like a bit of a relaxed sound. Ultimately I passed. A lot of MK1 modding was going on at the time and I was happy to do that. I think there’s several people here and on the Roon forum that have the May.
For headphone amps I have a Sony TA-ZHIES and a Woo Audio WA33. The TA is what I use for TV listening and the WA33 is for music. I use the TA as a DAC to the WA33 for music. Recently I have been using the headphone amp in our dCS Bartok. It’s surprisingly good. If it was more convenient to run headphones from it, I would consider using it a lot more. I have been considering building a 20’ headphone cable and running it under the floor. Of course that’s one more thing to do on a list that’s already a mile long. Maybe in 2024. I need to groom my backlog, it’s a mess.
My wife goes to bed early, so closed back is necessary. I mostly use a pair of Sony MDR-Z1R and ZMF Verite Closed. I have been thinking about getting a pair of Dan Clark Stealth and moving on from the ZMF. The MDR and the TA-ZHIES will be with me for a long time. I really like them and the MDR are very comfortable. I think I’ve had them since 2017. Just today I ordered a new set of pads for the MDR. They aren’t worn out, I am just concerned that sooner or later they won’t be available. I also have a pair of Campfire Andromeda 2020 that I use while travelling.
I am trying to convince @luca.pelliccioli to get a pair of headphones. But he’s focused on his new fantastic super deluxe listening room so I can’t break through his construction fog. Sooner or later…bwahahaha!
You know I’m pretty sensitive to forum temptations! How I would like a headphone quality rig now, with this tunnel like reverberation room, I’m really suffering.
But… but…
Since 20th March I’m forced to have a sort of audiophile dependence rehabilitation, almost 2 weeks without music, ironically due to a music room refurbishment! P20, DAC, speakers and cables all sealed in their boxes to sleep in a dramatic silence for a while. Worth waiting time for serious headphones and accepting the sound of silence, for a while.
Already said to my people in office: don’t expect to see me at work next weeks, call me only for very important reasons like wars, disasters or pandemics… (nowadays the new normal reality).
Just curious to know how’s life without a daily dose of stereophonic drug!
I just compared „Belafonte: At Carnegie Hall“ from the Red into my DSD Mk1 via USB and via I2S (now that I know to stay away from 44,1kHz and the preemphasis bit), and Bridge II removed from my DAC. The I2S is clearly superior. I have never heard this recording so relaxed and with so many details on my system before.
In addition to the preemphasis issue, however, I also found I have no gapless playback over I2S, which I have with USB. Damn what a rabbit hole…
It’s funny how I have gear pigeonholed. I have my office system narrowly defined as near field. For meetings I use a Jabra conference speaker. I never use a headset or earbuds when I am out there. I suppose I am a creature of habit.
Thanks. I ended up with the same setup, staying away from 44,1/16. Since the I2S sounds better than USB and most of my beloved music still is redbook, I‘m now thinking about a HDMI breakout adapter. Or maybe I get me an AES cable and just try this. But that would mean only DSD64.
Now having all the setup issues fixed/worked around, I could finally enjoy some music. The Red via I2S, no Bridge in DAC, I can indeed hear more details in quiet passages compared to Red USB without the Bridge installed. I should possibly try Red I2S with and without Bridge installed, again…
Since switching to the DSD Mk2 from the MK1 I had to go back to the USB input which has required a long USB cable as my server is in an adjacent room.
I’ve held off on getting a streamer for the AL. However, I’m taking my system to an audio show, the Lone Star Audio Fest, in Dallas the first weekend of June and it doesn’t look like the AL will be ready by then so I need another option.
Based on this thread, I ordered a Red today. Hopefully it will arrive in time.
Though after just reading the manual, it doesn’t look like it’s going to be plug-n-play and sounds like it is going to be more complicated to get going than I’d like.
This thread is about Holo Red Impressions, following this thread since it’s beginning. It’s probably just me, I still haven’t gotten a clue what the device sounds like other than “nice”.
That doesn’t mean much or means a lot of things here.
I’ve seen a picture of 4 dip switches in post #51 with switches 1,2, and 3 down and 4 up. The posts around that seem to be talking about USB in and I2S out, though that doesn’t make any sense because if you use USB in you’d just go into the DAC. I’m sure I’m not comprehending this correctly.
I will be using Red’s Ethernet input from a Windows music server running ROON and the I2S out to the DSD Mk2 I2S in. Will 1,2,3 down and 4 up switch configuration work for the way I want to use Red?
The manual also seems to talk about setting pin configurations for the I2S cable. Is this something differnt or am I over-complicating it?
