I believe so. Very curious to listen to it as the stock Pontus II and Ares 12th both sound pretty good.
Got a new DAC.
So far I’m really enjoying it. Contrary to the name, I don’t find it to be overly “warm”. It’s more neutral even with the tube buffer. The tube buffer just adds a slight sweetness of the even ordered distortions that many of us love.
Ive also found that it’s very source dependent/sensitive. Using my iPad through the X-SPDIF 3 via COXIAL have yielded the best results to my ears. TOSLINK via the same source is slightly softer/veiled compared to COAXIAL, and usb direct from the iPad sounded flat and lacking dynamics. The iPad signal needs the cleaning and reclocking that the X-SPDIF 3 does. I’m sure a better source would have a positive effect on sound quality. Maybe a dedicated streamer would be my next eventual upgrade.
I think I’ll eventually upgrade the tubes as well. I’m sure some good NOS tubes would sweeten the sound even more.
Sonically I find it to be pretty neutral, and it stages in a very natural and organic manner. Separation of instruments seems very accurate. Little sonic nuances appear to be staged where appropriate for whatever recording that I’ve listened to. From low bass to high treble, it all seems to be represented as in the recording.
I haven’t peaked inside yet, but with photos found online it appears to be a fully discrete output stage, along with a proprietary ladder. I wonder what some higher quality capacitors along with upgraded tubes would (as a community we do seem to love tinkering with our gear). It really is a good value as far as DACs go, IMO.
FIIO Warmer R2R Tube DAC.
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I just love the look of it - damn what it sounds like!
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With the MZ3 it’s more neutral than you’d think, but overall very organic. Overall sound I’d say is natural.
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I decided to grow my library a little bit since good hifi CD players are getting more available and affordable for me. I have been considering the Shanling cdt 90. I would love the tube based one but that is too far outside my price range atm.
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Hello,
Take a look at the Marantz CD6007, which is not bad and offers great value for money.
The two digital outputs are also great if you have the option of connecting to a good DAC, making for a great experience.
The Onkyo C30 is also good on paper, albeit with a more neutral sound.
The Marantz CD6007 also has a well-designed headphone output with three gain levels, which can even drive a Susvara at the expense of sound quality.
But with ZMF headphones, it does a good job if you just want to listen to CDs quickly.
The Shanling cdt 90 also looks good, but the question is whether it’s necessary.
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Considering how much I loved the Cyan 2, this was inevitable. Though I must say, it’s gonna be a tall order beating the Pontus 15th.
I’ve got it warming up. I won’t listen to it until Saturday, may even Sunday, so it’s good and warm!
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You’re collecting DACs to nearly the same extent I collect headphones! 
Look forward to how you think they all sort.
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I’m trying to stop… I almost did with the Pontus. Everything sounds right with that DAC. Unfortunately, I A/B’d the Pontus 15th against the VMV D2 and the Denafrips sounded so slow it made me doubt it’s suitability. Then this Holo popped up on eBay and I took it as a sign from god - on paper, all the pros of the Denafrips with better transient attack, closer to the VMV. We’ll see!
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I’m only familiar with any of those to the extent of what I’ve read, but the Spring 3 KTE is one I’d like to hear if I ever get the chance.
Only heard the May briefly, in an unfamiliar chain. I liked what I heard though! (should hope so). It was a May/Bliss KTE and a Sus OG at a local meet.
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It’s getting some decent reviews. How they are making it for that price is kind of baffling! I wonder how much the channels match, thinking maybe they didn’t go with matching resistors and just went with ones with low tolerance. Having said that, if you can’t hear it or it adds a character you like it really doesn’t matter. Does look lovely and retro. Enjoy!
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I saw WT’s review this morning.
I certainly don’t hear as he does but he is at least very consistent in his approach and he rates it.
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Trusted my gut and it paid off. Made the LCD-24 everything I wanted the LCD-5 to be and more. Vegan pads (with the felt spacer rings) are the way to go. Mids are filled in more to my ears and the treble is perfect. Stage is brought out even further than it was before. Absolutely fantastic.
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I liked the lcd 5 quite a bit more than lcd24, but the lcd24 have some weird perf dekoni pads so I figured it will be way better with other pads
Im not keeping the 5 but im keeping the 24, it fits my collection way better and compliments my lcd3pf
Im wondering wether I should go stock pads or zmf lambskin, I want it quite warm kinda like the lcd2pf… we’ll see
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Yeah, it’s really the best value DAC that I can think of. The sound is beyond its price point, and you can tinker a bit with the tubes.
I haven’t noticed any channel imbalances, and I’m actually preferring OS mode after more time with it. OS just tightens up the sound a bit and makes things a little more refined.
it’s honestly a great sounding DAC, IMO.
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I have sometimes found all the DAC auditioning I have been doing recently tricky as my primary headphone, the seriously underrated Moondrop Cosmo, is reasonably, albeit tastefully, coloured. I have found understanding DAC treble presentation to be the most challenging part.
Rather than grabbing my HD560s like a sensible person, I somehow justified buying a Sundara because of its Harman conformity.
I listened to Sundara for all of 5 minutes when the 2020 revision was all over YouTube. I preferred and stuck with the 560s. Many years later, my ears haven’t changed. Sundara ain’t bad but 560s, to my ears, on my chain, for my preferences, is a more engaging but also “correct sounding” headphone. It tubes great, too 
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Yup. (You silly person for buying one )
I had the same reaction recently too with Sundara. I bought one way back in 2020 at the start of my journey, and while I recall liking it OK I preferred my 650 (at the time).
Since then it’s been stuck in a case, I always meant to sell it but never got around to it. It’s hardly worth anything now, and I came across it again and gave it a listen. Not bad, but nothing really special either. (of course Resolve and that crew love it, which was why I bought it).
Anyway, I gave it to my son, and he had kind of the same reaction! His daily driver has been a Drop/Sennheiser 580X Jubilee. On a much lesser chain than mine! (Schiit Gunnr)
Sounds like consistent results to me. 
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Im extremely happy with these ones
Ive heard here or there that the d9200 are not worthwhile or simply not as good as the th900 ltd, but god damn for me they fricking godlike: they compliment my th900 ltd perfectly by being lighter and rougher, with just enough differences to be more fun
Im having a blast pad rolling these, I have 4 fostex and 2 zmf all sound amazing, im gonna find the best one and its either stock denon or some warmer zmf. I only like stock fostex and lambskin yaxi pads for th900ltd, with the d9200 I can get a custom signature.
I dont have stock pads and they are 120usd, has anyone compared the sound of those??
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I’m often tempted by the D7200. I’ve heard the D5200 and found them a bit too dark but otherwise extremely good.
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