[xirxes]

Just out of curiosity: Do you consider the TT2 to the Holo May a downgrade?

I’ve heard that it’s a side grade. Less resolution perhaps but a bit more analog sounds. Either one needs to fit your desired chain flavor

 

[kion]

Anyone tried to add a tube preamp to the chain?

I have an OTL tube amp collecting dust and it’s not really designed for low impedance cans, thought it would be fun to pair it with the 23R as a preamp to add some tube distortion

 

[MacedonianHero]

Just out of curiosity: Do you consider the TT2 to the Holo May a downgrade?

I would say more of a side step. But both are a downgrade from the DAVE.

 

[DJJEZ]

I would say more of a side step. But both are a downgrade from the DAVE.

For me, the holo May is equal to dave and beating it in some aspects. I own both dave/mscaler and holo may KTE. The dave sounds extremely digital in comparison to the may which sounds way more analogue and natural, smoother with better timbre than the dave and blows away the TT2 for literally every aspect of technical performance. ( I used to own TT2/M-scaler)

 

[MacedonianHero]

For me, the holo May is equal to dave and beating it in some aspects. I own both dave/mscaler and holo may KTE. The dave sounds extremely digital in comparison to the may which sounds way more analogue and natural, smoother with better timbre than the dave and blows away the TT2 for literally aspect of technical performance.

I'm sorry, to my ears, there is simply no comparison. The KTE lacks the depth, dynamics, detail retrieval and overall transparency. Great DAC for the price, but NOS DACs are limited in these regards and can only deliver so much. That's why I've since moved past them. FWIW, I've owned the KTE (and reviewed it), loved my time with it, but sold it a few weeks after the Chord DAVE arrived as the A-B comparisons were very clear to me.

 

[XERO1]

I had my little noodle baked pretty good by the AMP-23R at CanJam yesterday! What an amazing amp!! Here's an excerpt from my Day Two Highlights post in the CanJam Impressions thread.

Biggest Show Highlight -

- Enleum AMP-23R: This was without question the biggest 'Holy Schiit' experience I had at the show, and of course it happened with only 15 minutes before the show ended! I've heard a lot of amps that get a lot of hype and I usually come away only mildly impressed, so I pretty much expected the same for the 23R. But this amp was very different. This amp made my headphones sound better than I have ever heard them sound. I literally could not believe it at first. But with every different reference track I played, the song sounded better than I had ever heard it sound! The 23R had this incredibly rich tonality but at the same time had reference-level resolution, and all without the slightest hint of harshness. The 23R had the greatest combination tonal richness, natural resolution and rock solid bass slam that I have yet heard from any amp, tube or solid-state. I was so taken aback by the experience, that shortly after it, I saw DMS walking around, so I ran up to him and told him that he had to hear this amp! Somewhat surprisingly, he had never heard of the brand before, but he had other stuff going on and wasn't able to listen to it, but he shot a quick video of me raving about it! Bottom line is that while this amp is extremely expensive, it's one of the very, very few high-end amps that I've heard were I said to myself "This just might actually be worth it's crazy price tag." Time to start saving my shekels (again)! If you can, do yourself a favor and listen to this amp! It's absolutely fantastic!!

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/can...ember-17-18-2022.964899/page-23#post-17152074

 

[MacedonianHero]

I had my little noodle baked pretty good by the AMP-23R at CanJam yesterday. What an amazing amp!! Here's an excerpt from my Day Two Highlights post in the CanJam Impressions thread.



https://www.head-fi.org/threads/can...ember-17-18-2022.964899/page-23#post-17152074

Nice! Definitely my favourite SS amp to date.

 

[iFi audio]

I had my little noodle baked pretty good by the AMP-23R at CanJam yesterday! What an amazing amp!! Here's an excerpt from my Day Two Highlights post in the CanJam Impressions thread.



https://www.head-fi.org/threads/can...ember-17-18-2022.964899/page-23#post-17152074

Thanks a lot for these impressions, they're very enthusiastic! How was CanJam in general? It's good to attend to audio shows again, isn't it ?

 

[Alpexis]

So I already have a Susvara and an Enleum AMP-23r (using my trusty A&K SP2000 as the source). I want to invest in a better DAC soon, and am currently doubting between the DAVE and the DCS Lina Dac. I've auditioned both and would be really happy with both. As far as I can hear: combo with DAVE sounds fuller with a more holographic soundstage, combo with LINA sounds more delicate and organic. I would appreciate some other thoughts on synergy here. Thanks!

 

[DJJEZ]

So I already have a Susvara and an Enleum AMP-23r (using my trusty A&K SP2000 as the source). I want to invest in a DAC now, and am currently doubting between the DAVE and the DCS Lina Dac. Any thoughts on synergy here?

The dave has very good synergy with the 23R. (I prefer it over the holo may for 23R)

Haven't heard the lina though.

 

[eskamobob1]

So I already have a Susvara and an Enleum AMP-23r (using my trusty A&K SP2000 as the source). I want to invest in a better DAC soon, and am currently doubting between the DAVE and the DCS Lina Dac. I've auditioned both and would be really happy with both. As far as I can hear: combo with DAVE sounds fuller with a more holographic soundstage, combo with LINA sounds more delicate and organic. I would appreciate some other thoughts on synergy here. Thanks!

For my personal preference, neither has enough energy within the texture for the enleum. I enjoy m1se far far more than the dave with my 13r and even still find that a bit lacking. Rockna would be my next step if I had stuck with 13r for my main setup

 

[eskamobob1]

The dave has very good synergy with the 23R. (I prefer it over the holo may for 23R)

Just my personal take, but I don't think Dave has good synergy with 13r. I just think holo products have particulalrly poor synergy with it due to realy doubling down on the same sound profile in quote an unpleasant way. Imo holo stuff realy shines when you give it an amp that has a lot of energy within the texture and maybe eben borderline glare (ahb2 for example) as it evens things out tonaly without looking the staging that is holos special sauce

 

[DJJEZ]

Just my personal take, but I don't think Dave has good synergy with 13r. I just think holo products have particulalrly poor synergy with it due to realy doubling down on the same sound profile in quote an unpleasant way. Imo holo stuff realy shines when you give it an amp that has a lot of energy within the texture and maybe eben borderline glare (ahb2 for example) as it evens things out tonaly without looking the staging that is holos special sauce

I agree about doubling down on the same sound profile with holo. It just comes across too soft for my own personal tastes with the 23R.

 

[orrman]

So I already have a Susvara and an Enleum AMP-23r (using my trusty A&K SP2000 as the source). I want to invest in a better DAC soon, and am currently doubting between the DAVE and the DCS Lina Dac. I've auditioned both and would be really happy with both. As far as I can hear: combo with DAVE sounds fuller with a more holographic soundstage, combo with LINA sounds more delicate and organic. I would appreciate some other thoughts on synergy here. Thanks!

Highly recommend looking at the Rockna options. Synergy is really good with the 23r.

 

[iFi audio]

So I already have a Susvara and an Enleum AMP-23r (using my trusty A&K SP2000 as the source). I want to invest in a better DAC soon, and am currently doubting between the DAVE and the DCS Lina Dac. I've auditioned both and would be really happy with both. As far as I can hear: combo with DAVE sounds fuller with a more holographic soundstage, combo with LINA sounds more delicate and organic. I would appreciate some other thoughts on synergy here. Thanks!

The fundamental question here is to ask which one of these DACs was more up your alley