[kingoftown1]

I've tried a number of so-called "perfect" USB devices. Many were good, none have offered complete immunity IME. I respect that may not be everyone's experience, hence my recommendation to test in your own system.

 

[Darion]

Thanks everyone for the clarifications and advice. I haven't decided yet whether I'll use hqplayer with may. As I wrote earlier, I couldn’t find filters that I really liked. I'm waiting for May and will experiment.

I have a powerful PC with 13700 and 4090 rtx. But he is standing on the opposite side of the room. This is an 8 meter USB cable. Buying a second PC to use exclusively for hqplayer, and placing it next to May, is wasteful - I don’t know, I want to go this route. Now I use a regular 10m USB extension cable to connect my PC to the Hugo tt2. Everything works fine and hqplayer works through cuda on rtx 4090, which allows you to use it to the maximum.

Purchasing a streamer will allow you to connect hqplayer over the network. And from the streamer send a signal via usb/i2s to May.

These are my plans for now.

 

[jelt2359]

Why not consider PGGB, which can remaster files offline to DSD1024, and sounds incredible? So remaster on that PC, then use them in your server near to the May.

https://www.remastero.com/guide-plus.html#QSDSD

PS, I used to own the May, and still have my Dave. Used it with DSD upsampling out of HQP but didn't like it, too smooth- so sold it. The new PGGB DSD has really changed my mind about DSD. Downside is, you kinda still need powerful PC to upsample them, so quite similar to HQP requirements.

 

[Darion]

Why not consider PGGB, which can remaster files offline to DSD1024, and sounds incredible? So remaster on that PC, then use them in your server near to the May.

https://www.remastero.com/guide-plus.html#QSDSD

PS, I used to own the May, and still have my Dave. Used it with DSD upsampling out of HQP but didn't like it, too smooth- so sold it. The new PGGB DSD has really changed my mind about DSD. Downside is, you kinda still need powerful PC to upsample them, so quite similar to HQP requirements.

The problem is that I don't have my own music. I use streaming services exclusively.

 

[plumpudding2]

The problem is that I don't have my own music. I use streaming services exclusively.

I don't know if I'm allowed to mention this but when I tried PGGB I simply used Qobuz-dl to rip the files from the streaming service.

 

[Darion]

I know, I’ve used it, it has its own nuances of operation. Thanks anyway. May will arrive, I’ll start experiments.

 

[trollbearpig]

Is XLR or RCA preferred for the May? And does anyone have favorite cable brands they recommend ?_? I will need a new cable as my old one is too short.

 

[plumpudding2]

Is XLR or RCA preferred for the May? And does anyone have favorite cable brands they recommend ?_? I will need a new cable as my old one is too short.

Definitely XLR. If you're sensitive to cable differences my recommendation is Lavricables Grand XLR which are expensive but not Audioquest levels.

If you're not get some star-quad configuration copper ones with Canare or Mogami wire and Neutrik plugs. (Benchmark sells quality ones for a low price)

 

[trollbearpig]

Thanks pudding, that's super helpful

 

[kumar402]

Pretty much as Goldensound said. I prefer tube amps and listen to R&B, Rock, dance, edm and the Rockna gave me everything the May did but with more impact. I could see why Holo designed their amp to be so punchy as it probably pairs so well with the May’s extremely smooth presentation. I needed a bit more bite because I mainly use the WA33.

holo amp as in Bliss?
Bliss is not punchy amp. Does everything well except for the punch.

 

[Frankie D]

I find the Bliss can punch. That said, the May is not overly smooth.

 

[PrTv]

Hi guys... now I'm using the Termie Plus + Hermes DDC and good Coax cables to sync the clock between the DAC and DDC. With my headphone setup (in Sig), I regularly find that treble is too hot for many poorly recorded tracks which I don't like.

It's always been my impression that Termie Plus is a bit bright, whilst the Holo May KTE3 is smooth. About to place an order today but I did some research and found this thread Holo May KTE 3 Impressions and thoughts. From various comments in this thread, the May KTE seems to sound harsh and dry. As I have to buy this blind (not possible to audition where I live), I just wanna check with you guys, with headphones setup (Susvara / VC / Utopia 2022) and my amp (V281), how high is the tendency of this DAC to sound harsh/bright/dry (comparing with my Termie Plus now), if I put it in my system.

Thanks

 

[Solasuke]

Hi guys... now I'm using the Termie Plus + Hermes DDC and good Coax cables to sync the clock between the DAC and DDC. With my headphone setup (in Sig), I regularly find that treble is too hot for many poorly recorded tracks which I don't like.

It's always been my impression that Termie Plus is a bit bright, whilst the Holo May KTE3 is smooth. About to place an order today but I did some research and found this thread Holo May KTE 3 Impressions and thoughts. From various comments in this thread, the May KTE seems to sound harsh and dry. As I have to buy this blind (not possible to audition where I live), I just wanna check with you guys, with headphones setup (Susvara / VC / Utopia 2022) and my amp (V281), how high is the tendency of this DAC to sound harsh/bright/dry (comparing with my Termie Plus now), if I put it in my system.

Thanks

The May is definitely not a bright or harsh DAC, especially in NOS. Make sure you let it warm up properly before making a judgement call (in my opinion 24 hours).