optical
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Post by optical on Aug 14, 2023 11:29:22 GMT
SOLDHolo Audio Spring 2 Level 3 R2R DAC with remote.        Superb used condition, barely a mark on the beautifully machined chassis and remote. Comes with a high grade Audio Magic "Beeswax" fuse around £100 on it's own. One of the most natural sounding DAC's out there. - Free UK Postage - SOLD - PayPal Friends & Family please
(This is a Level 3 version which is the highest spec available for this model). Outside of Europe there were also 3 versions available, LV1, LV2 and LV3 (Kitsune edition). As this is a European only 240v model it is none of these and is in fact the "European" LV3 version. I'm not sure as to how this differs from the Kitsune but it is the highest possible spec available when buying in Europe. Specs: Mode NOS (no oversampling and direct conversion of the digital stream). Mode OS (oversampling of PCM and DSD signals at the highest frequency before converting digital to analog). Mode OS PCM (automatic PCM conversion before D/A conversion, regardless of the type of input signal). Mode OS DSD (automatic DSDconversion before D/A conversion, regardless of the type of input signa). There is an AES / EBU entry, a coaxial S / PDIF input on RCA connector as well as a coaxial input on BNC connector. A Toslink Optical S / PDIF connector is also available. These inputs support sampling from 44.1 to 192kHz - 24bit (PCM) and DOP64 (DSD). The I2S input on HDMI connector conforms to the LVDS HDMI standard (Audio-GD, Singxer ...). This input is compatible with the sampling frequencies from 44.1kHz to 1,536M - 32bit (PCM) / DOP64-512 / DSD64-1024 (DSD native). The Spring II also has a USB input with galvanic isolationand native support for digital streams up to DSD1024 and PCM1.536M. This feature allows the Spring II to offer two inputs compatible with the extreme sampling frequencies., when most of the very high-end DACs only have an I2S input -less standard - for this purpose. The DAC Spring II L2 offers a balanced analog stereo output on 3-pole XLR connector as well as a single-eded analog stereo output on RCA connector. The output stage operates entirely in pure class A. It is a pure DAC (no volume control or attenuation). The outputs must therefore be connected to a preamplifier, an integrated amplifier or active speakers with adjustable attenuation. SPECIFICATIONS Type DAC Conversion technology R2R Inputs USB-B (USB3) Coaxial SPDIF RCA Coaxial SPDIF BNC AES/EBU Optical Toslink I2S HDMI (LVDS) Outputs Stereo Single ended (RCA) Stereo Balanced (XLR) SNR PCM : -120dB DSD : -126dB Output level Single ended RCA : 2.5V Balanced XLR : 5V Input sensitivity Coaxial : 75Ω Optical : 19dBm Sampling rate S/PDIF : 44.1 - 192kHz / DOP64 USB : 44.1 - 384kHz / DSD1024 I2S : 44.1 - 384kHz / DSD1024 USB compatibility Windows, Mac, Linux Power consumption 40W Dimensions 430 x 300 x 55mm Weight 8.5kg
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Post by electronumpty on Aug 14, 2023 13:28:31 GMT
Very nice GLWTS.
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Post by antonio on Aug 14, 2023 13:42:03 GMT
Nice and at a good price, could've been tempted to compare against my Soekris, but wouldya believe it I'm away on my hols in 4 weeks and my hard earned is already spoken for. Wine, women and song, my priorities go to the first two.  |
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optical
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Post by optical on Aug 14, 2023 13:57:07 GMT
Nice and at a good price, could've been tempted to compare against my Soekris, but wouldya believe it I'm away on my hols in 4 weeks and my hard earned is already spoken for. Wine, women and song, my priorities go to the first two. You'll find no argument from me on either of those priorities Dave. Have a great time, sounds like you'll make sure of that! |
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Post by brucew268 on Aug 14, 2023 18:49:37 GMT
Oh, you're killing me! If I wasn't on my current upgrade path focused on power supplies, I'd snatch it at that price. Not this year though. GLWTS.
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Aug 14, 2023 20:28:07 GMT
That won't be around for long.
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Post by lurch on Aug 15, 2023 10:43:00 GMT
opticalChris I'd be interested in this, however before I can make a decision I would need to pit it against my pimped BI to see what, if anything I would gain. This would be a circa +£600 cost to change so could we sort an A/B somehow?
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optical
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Post by optical on Aug 15, 2023 11:19:19 GMT
optical Chris I'd be interested in this, however before I can make a decision I would need to pit it against my pimped BI to see what, if anything I would gain. This would be a circa +£600 cost to change so could we sort an A/B somehow? Sure, I understand that completely. I'll have a think as it's for sale on eBay etc and I've already turned down a few low-ball offers on that particular site. PM me your address and I'll see if I can sort something out this week hopefully. It's certainly best to try it in your own system rather than hear it on mine I would say as at this level I've known DAC's to sound markedly different from one system to another actually. We'll try and sort something out anyway  |
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Post by lurch on Aug 16, 2023 17:07:20 GMT
The Spring will be at Lurch Towers tomorrow for a few days (thanks Chris) to fight it out with my maxed out BI. It should be very interesting as in mildly pimped form the BI matched a £3k Lab12 Reference 1, and I've had further work done since, so let battle commence.😁
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Aug 16, 2023 18:04:08 GMT
The Spring will be at Lurch Towers tomorrow for a few days (thanks Chris) to fight it out with my maxed out BI. It should be very interesting as in mildly pimped form the BI matched a £3k Lab12 Reference 1, and I've had further work done since, so let battle commence.😁 Looking forward to this, but I suspect we all know the outcome given your attachment to the BI? Who knows, maybe the Holo will cause an upset! |
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Post by lurch on Aug 16, 2023 18:54:18 GMT
Yes, I like the BI, but I'm only attached to it's SQ. The only reason I spent further on pimping was because I heard what was, possible via the twin psu MSB Discrete and dCS Rossinni but didn't want to spunk £13 - 22k, £600 seemed eminently more sensible, and to my ears took it some considerable way towards them.
I've had £2.4k sat here in the hifi bucket doing nothing for several months, but until I hear something worthy it will stay there. If the Spring 2 gives me what I think is a vfm upgrade then the BI gets sold, no ifs or buts as should get £1k+ for the BI with its level of mods.
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Aug 16, 2023 19:50:49 GMT
Yes, I like the BI, but I'm only attached to it's SQ. The only reason I spent further on pimping was because I heard what was, possible via the twin psu MSB Discrete and dCS Rossinni but didn't want to spunk £13 - 22k, £600 seemed eminently more sensible, and to my ears took it some considerable way towards them. I've had £2.4k sat here in the hifi bucket doing nothing for several months, but until I hear something worthy it will stay there. If the Spring 2 gives me what I think is a vfm upgrade then the BI gets sold, no ifs or buts as should get £1k+ for the BI with its level of mods. Fair enough. |
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Post by jandl100 on Aug 17, 2023 4:53:59 GMT
It's all personal preference in the end.
I've owned a fairly pimped up BI DAC and moved it on without a qualm, and without feeling I wanted to pimp it up some more. It was OK, but I didn't hear anything very special.
My Holo Spring Level 2 DAC (which is a bit downmarket from Chris's) stayed for much longer.
It's whatever floats your particular boat.
That's a good price, Chris, Glws.
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Post by lurch on Aug 17, 2023 15:38:26 GMT
Well the S2 was waiting for me when I, got in from work at 10am, immediately moved things around on the rack, fitted it in and powered it up (give it 1 1/2 hrs to warm up). Spent the time sorting a playlist for the eventual A/B on Sunday Monday. Its 12 O'clock, sod it I'm swapping to the S2, hmm, different, good different but different nonetheless, did numerous comparisons during the 1st 20 mins as you do then left it on the S2 and playing all sorts and really enjoying it. My original plan was, to just listen for a few days to get used to the new, presentation and see whether I could live with it or whether it would grate after a while. This however was not to be as a couple of pings on my phone around 15:40 heralded a couple of PMs from Chris to say some twat on eBay had bought it so it needed to go back as buyer was collecting Saturday. BOLLOX. So out it came and I'm dropping it off to him around 7-7.30 tonight.
What did I think of it in the few hours I had ot playing O hear you ask, well.....
My initial, thoughts are it's different, but good different to the BI. The S2 is, cleaner, everything seems a bit further forward in the mix, + bass seems a tad tighter, and cymbals etc seem have more air and definition but the overall sound is not as rich (a valve thing?). Whilst the level of detail and spacial clues from the S2 were very good, the sound did lack a bit of body for me, though this was maybe just a new presentation niggle. All in all a bloody good DAC, and especially ideal for those who like a detailed, clean and crisp sound that stays the right side of the line between music and hifi.
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Aug 17, 2023 15:41:37 GMT
Well the S2 was waiting for me when I, got in from work at 10am, immediately moved things around on the rack, fitted it in and powered it up (give it 1 1/2 hrs to warm up). Spent the time sorting a playlist for the eventual A/B on Sunday Monday. Its 12 O'clock, sod it I'm swapping to the S2, hmm, different, good different but different nonetheless, did numerous comparisons during the 1st 20 mins as you do then left it on the S2 and playing all sorts and really enjoying it. My original plan was, to just listen for a few days to get used to the new, presentation and see whether I could live with it or whether it would grate after a while. This however was not to be as a couple of pings on my phone around 15:40 heralded a couple of PMs from Chris to say some twat on eBay had bought it so it needed to go back as buyer was collecting Saturday. BOLLOX. So out it came and I'm dropping it off to him around 7-7.30 tonight. 😂😂 Bloody typical. |
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Post by lurch on Aug 17, 2023 15:52:35 GMT
Yep. And my tennent out Sat + away Sun & Mon so could have given it a damn good workout.
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optical
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Post by optical on Aug 17, 2023 19:34:42 GMT
Big thanks to lurch (John) for dropping the DAC back to me at short notice, top man. It's hopefully sold funding a potential jump elsewhere but we shall see. Got a quick listen to his well fettled Black Ice DAC. Having owned a slightly less modified Jolida Glass FX III (practically same DAC) I know they have a very appealing signature sound and this one is no different, in fact it takes things further than mine did. Unfortunately we only had a quick listen, barely time for the valves to get up to temp but it was already sounding very nice indeed. It passed my usual bass test where the majority of valve DACs fall short. Nice bit of kit. Thanks again John. |
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Post by lurch on Aug 17, 2023 20:39:43 GMT
Thanks for the quick listen to your rig, it was producing great sound, very fast, detailed and crisp with very good bass. Most of the tracks I didn't know apart from the John Martyn Solid Air, that sounded absolutely sublime, wide soundstage and great imaging. It was also nice to see and hear Jaysons work in the flesh, looking forward to coming back when Oli comes down and will bring the BI along aswell.
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Aug 17, 2023 21:30:44 GMT
Thanks for the quick listen to your rig, it was producing great sound, very fast, detailed and crisp with very good bass. Most of the tracks I didn't know apart from the John Martyn Solid Air, that sounded absolutely sublime, wide soundstage and great imaging. It was also nice to see and hear Jaysons work in the flesh, looking forward to coming back when Oli comes down and will bring the BI along aswell. Yeah, well make that happen. I just need a few weeks to get some hours on the Aqvox. I have a few days off around October 9/10/11 which could work. |
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