Also PLL off, hdmi from DI20HE, second hdmi from the PS Audio PWT, imho a good source with less jitter does not need PLL as strong.

@GoldenOne thank you again for this informative review. And yes, sound is always subjective, measurements, done properly, are not...i especially like the DI20HE soundstage depths...this is the reason i still use it with the MAY via I2s.

from my experience, you might get changes in high frequencies and in imaging from time to time...but it will not become "bad" sounding, it will stay within a range, where you are ask yourself: is this due to "burn in"? I used the MAY in normal cycles, on/off, and those changes are gone after 6...

I have still the Audio GD DI20HE, to compare it directly with the USB input to the MAY. The soundstage dephts is deeper with the DI. But i receive more resolution and width direct connected to the May USB input. So, for me actual, the direct USB input with an igalvanic3 in between (LPS powerd)...

imho, there should be no difference in warm up behaviour sound wise for both DACs… But maybe I am wrong, the MAY gets to final case temp after one hour.

Thank you, I will give it a try, you are right, the impedance of RG59 is wrong and might result in a wave (DI is 50 in)...this could explain the smeared high frequencies. Your shared experience is very welcome as always.

I hope your result will differ from mine. My LPS is the 25W Talmea standard LPS, with the LED Voltage display on the front and a switch. My DI20HE sounds stock the best, even better than the MAY USB input which is already one of the better USB inputs. The DI20HE soundstage is deeper, but not...

My clock experience is different as mentioned before. I have a 8663-XS OCXO Oscilloquartz with an LPS and it decrease the resolution in my opinion. The internal clocks give more information in my chain, tested with 3.993 and 4.076. Best setup for me is stock with the DI20HE and I2S to the May.

Yes and i had to swap channels for DSD - L/R (Holo Audio May)

Congrats to your DI, i have no issues with DSD from the DI20HE to the May, Bitstream (source) in JRiver, channel swap in the DI (L/R) and go. The DI shows DSD? Additional be aware of this "burn in" thing, today 3d, tomorrow maybe not...at least for the first 100H...

Herbs side comment to the MAY

I am so impressed, the bass definition, the staging and the large image in the upper and lower corners beside the speakers.... it displays the difference between an aquarell and an oil paining...i had no idea that this is possible with a digital source...

I kept the MAY running for the last 36h, with different sample rates. A few minutes ago I listen to caribou - swim (highly recommendation), played with the ps audio pwt, via i2s. @Flextreme i like to share your word "magical"...it is the first time, that the musical density and forceful...

The MAY arrived yesterday and after a short warm up time, I like to share some first subjective impressions: Build quality is excellent, The DAC gets slight above lukewarm, the Power supply not as much. Locking takes getting used to, but to get first impression, I swapped sampling formats. If...

New record day reviewed the may on youtube....i think we made a good choice...:ok_hand:

@donato, cool avatar... Sold my R8 and now i am waiting for the may L1...estimated End of Jan

@FredA ...regarding the Nimak Black USB pure Silver.... i had it in the chain for 8 Weeks 7*24... then i changed back to the AQ Coffee....and...the soundstage is wider and deeper... Clinical pinpoint image is equal...but lower mids and bass is more sustainable...might be the source cable synergy...

in my system serial has a wider soundstage, but this might depend on the source and sample rate. parallel has a compacter center image imho (DI20HE (4.076) -> R8 (NOS)). It is a question of taste....

Got the nimak black usb cale today and swapped it against the aq coffee. To early to give a statement yet, the di20he takes too long to boot, to get a fast comparison.

Off topic, but after this discussion I ordered the Nimak USB BLACK Mk2: ...with additional mylar shield, 18 AWG guides in pure soft silver 6N, 3 x shielded, Signal and power leads are shielded separately with high alu mylar foil and then finally shielded with a thick pure copper braid... we will...

@Thenewguy007, thank you for the link. It is always the same game... I have a AQ Coffee USB Cable, and i am happy with it. Now my first view in the link leads me to a new cable desire... I think i will give the Nimak black a try, or i will build one myselve...

@blackpepperjam , thank you for your hints, which leads me to further critical listening sessions with firmwarechanges and comparisons to my PSAudio PWT. Both are connected to the R8 via i2s (i have i2s on Input 4 and 5) and i can compare both sources by input button on the r8 simultanusly. I...

I tested V4.076, and i am sure, that this is the best setup for me. I don´t know, what happened on the dsp side, but imho the soundstage is almost artificially huge and has less attack and a much better decay and micro details are pushed, i.e. echo...cool!. Yes, it sounds even more analogue...

This might be a question of the system synergy...and source. For me, p-mode is narrower in sound stage, I2S is sharper in presense. Also i have mixed feelings with my OCXO 8663-XS and the LPS...internal clocks still sound better to me (V4.07b)

Thank you for your impressions. I referred the measurement hoax to the R8. I only tried I2S out and the DI-HE is imho an amazing peace of gear...had an U16 before and i never thought that jriver from a laptop can compete with my PS Audio PWT (also I2S) as a source...easy listenable regarding...