It was KTE for me simply because of the USB implementation that’s shared with the May and it allowed me to simplify my setup with no DDC and less cables.
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I think I’d agree with most of what’s been said here already, that new pricing the holo stuff is compelling from my experience but is overpriced used, they are good dacs overall for the money but are sometimes vastly overstated in their technical ability elsewhere or pushed to people who don’t have a good system for them, the USB on them is top notch for the money (even on the spring 2 kte it was really good), etc
I still think that the May isn’t the best value for what it is even new after owning it again for a bit and comparing to those who hit the same price point (and less used), but I do have a feeling (which I can’t confirm) that the spring 3 kte would be more favorable in my mind because it’s probably close enough to the may while being in a price bracket where it has much less competition
I do feel that some of my distaste for the holo stuff at this point does come from people who shove it down others throats and make stupidly bold claims about them, but the dacs also truly aren’t to my personal preference and aren’t really something I would want to own myself (anymore), there’s plenty other I’d rather have at the same price point (more for the May than spring or cyan). But just because I don’t prefer something doesn’t make it “bad” in my mind, I still think they are overall competitive enough to where I understand the appeal, I do see value in them for others, and I’ve heard synergy that you can’t get with other dacs for specific amps (such as headamp products) to where they firmly have a place imo
Also, KTE versions are pretty worthwhile imo, not just for the better USB, the actual component upgrades are worth the money (and it ensures even more solid resale value). You could go even higher with like a wildism mod, but after that cost I think you get into the territory of “might as well get something higher up”
Wish they did better single ended, yes it’s not terrible but I also think there were some good pairings that just didn’t make sense because of running single ended, but this isn’t a problem exclusive to holo stuff, just the downsides of fully balanced stuff in general
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What would you rather own (in theory) over the spring for around 3-3.5K new or used? I don’t want to through the DAC rabbit hole again lol but can’t keep myself from asking
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I actually basically have an article on sonus that outlines some of my favorites in the price range lol, did that a few months ago
But tldr (with a bit extra info) I’d probably rather have a mystique v3, ma-1 v2, amber 3 (now 4), la voce s3, wavelight, bricasti m3 (or old first gen m1 if possible), and perhaps a few others, assuming those can still be found in that price range (they could in the past). All of which I’d personally prefer to the may kte, and all of which (to me) trade blows with the may (or exceed in some aspects). Again though it will all come down to preference and synergy, there are genuinely some setups/sonic goals where I would want a may over some of the above, but all depends
I will admit I do think I was a bit too harsh on the may in here, but I still generally feel like I represented my experiences with it accurately without being influenced by my distaste toward the community view of it
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Read that and pt1 and enjoyed both immensely but most if I recall are in the 5-6K range and not the 3K or just below it which is the price I paid for my Spring. Staying below 3K is a hard target price I think…
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3-3.5k used, I thought you were talking used not new sorry. But you can la voce around 2.5k used now, mystique v3 around 3, ambers under or at 3, meitners occasionally drop to 3.5 or slightly below, same with bricasti, wavelights sit steady near 3.5 but can be had new near 4 so might as well get new there
Yes those are more around 5 new (with a few in there at that 3-3.5 price point new). With new prices, you are a lot more restricted for sure and the spring and may are a lot more compelling
And I also just realize you said spring not may, my bad lol, but then again if you can get things that compete or improve over the may used within the same range as the spring 3 kte new, that’s kinda saying something (if the may and spring actually dropped similarly used it would really change the value prop of them)
This is really why it’s hard to suggest holo stuff for value if you have any desire to buy used, because you can get a whole lot more for your money. But if you only buy new, it’s suddenly a good value. Then again the used market is getting continually more fucked with pricing rising overall and things that used to commonly show up now absent, so now is really not the best time to be buying anyway
I just don’t think they offer that much performance to justify holding basically new or even over new pricing on the used market, there’s barely anything that can do that for me though imo
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Makes sense. I’ll revisit this list when I feel like I figured my amplification decisions I guess (keep or sell the Ferrum stack and Enleum, buy or not the WA33, Zahl HM1 or some tube amp)
I also still have a headphone or two I want to give a try (AB1266 and Utopia) so that’s probably also higher priority at the moment then changing DACs again.
Exhausting hobby!
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Yes absolutely figure out the headphones and amp(s) you want to live with first. You already have a solid foundation with the spring and already tried solid amps with what you have, the difficult part is just going to be deciding what your overall preferences are and what (if) you want to actually live with lol. I would just stick with the spring if you like it, and go from there until you have the rest of the chain sorted out. Exhausting hobby in many ways lol
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My suggestions, 3 different headphones, 3 different amps, and two different DACs, all with good to great synergy that provide you all the variety and range you want.
See, it’s not that hard. 
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Ouuff if you think about the test again, it grounds you again.
Suddenly Spring 3 Lv 2 is no longer what you thought it was.
And moves much more in the direction of purist/enthusiast instead of possible upgrade/end game.
To be fair, the Spring 3 is actually okay for the money, or why do you think it’s too expensive?
It would at least be better than the Terminator and scrapes a bit with the tested equipment from the report where priced even higher.
Does the evaluation of the May in the report also apply to the Spring 3?
That the Spring does certain things even worse than the May?
I actually had 3 devices in mind for a 3 K range.
One I found myself was the Ank 2.1 Signature, another suggestion I received was Mhdt Orchid/Atlantis and Spring 3 as R2R.
The Spring seems to me to be technically really modern with certain weaknesses as you read out at the end.
Mhdt I’m still very unsure about, it seemed to be okay at first, but I’ve read a bit too much about it.
I’ve hardly heard anything bad about the Ank 2.1, but it’s hard to find anything good.
When I did, it was really positive with the possibility of playing with the tubes.
It’s really not easy to find something.
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That’s where I thought I was headed. But since I’ve pursued a one headphone, one amp one DAC strategy. Narrow and deep instead of broad and comprehensive, I suppose.
What’s the saying? “Life is what happens while you’re making plans.”
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What did you end up with?
I was hoping to go one DAC one Amp and multiple headphones but understood I’m probably not there yet (accepting to hold only one of each and figure out what to keep)
Took me a long time to get there, but I will say simplifying my main system was one of the best decisions I ever made.
I’m looking for a step up in amps, but it would have to replace the WA33 rather than be something I owned with it.
I do still use 3 or 4 headphones regularly though, I usually swap them out around weekly, been a MySphere week this week, might be a 1266 week next week.
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We’ll, I just bought a new dAC so I wouldn’t say I’ve ended up with anything, lol. But my current set up was centered around the Susvara, and is comprised of a Bakoon 13 hour, a Rockna Wavedream edition DAC and a Matrix XSPDIF DDC
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mid-fi hell is not a tier of gear but a state of mind 
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Same. I am so obscenely happy with the AIC I just dont even use other amps.
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That’s where I wound up after my “great purge” and I was fine for months… and then, not having speakers still for my 2 CH and then the monkey mind started to wonder.
BTW the 3X3X2 formula doesn’t mean it all has to be top $$$$ level. For me it actually includes flavors of entry, mid and high but on components that all work well when intermingled. Gives me 18 solid flavors. Like I told someone else this morning, that’s a lot of flavors to keep the mind engaged and the soul happy.
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Has anybody tried the serene? If so, what’s it like sound-wise? Or are there more preamps worth looking into over this (around same price)?
Sonic goal: something less forward overall
A side question: for those that use a pre, do you make sure you have the same cables feeding into and out to equipment? Or do you mix and match?
The discussion over at the lampi thread has me maybe considering a pre, so I’m just brainstorming. I know db_cooper recommended a pass x2.5 so I’ll take it as an option as well.
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Given your white whale, take advantage of the balanced outputs. I’ve done both used the same cables in and out (cheaper) but I’ve also used different cables based on things I was trying/chasing.
The reason I recommended the Pass X2.5 was due to the similar cost (used) but I’ve enjoyed the Pass Labs sound. Can’t speak to how it will pair with the Holo DACs since I had gotten rid of my Cyan before I got the Pass.
I spent some time reading the Lamp documentation and Lukasz is pretty adamant about pairing the DAC with a pre with the correct input resistance.
The load presented by the preamp or amp or simply the next analog component that
the DAC sees, should be as high as possible. It is measured in kilo-Ohms and 47 Kilo
Ohms is a perfect ballpark value. More is VERY rarely seen. 20 K is next common
value, and it is great too. 20 K is kind of on a low side, but we can handle that. Lower
than 10k is bad news. But our Amber-3 DAC will handle 10 as well because we
configure the DAC with additional cathode follower, low impedance buffer stage.
Having said that - every properly designed amp or preamp keeps the load value above
40k. And if it doesn’t - we simply don’t choose such amp because it was not designed
with audiophiles in mind.
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Oh didn’t know that. I don’t think it was in the manual or I just missed it. Thanks for the heads up!
Just to be clear I would only need the pre for the lampi not the Holo.