[thyname]

LTA MZ 2
https://www.lineartubeaudio.com/products/mz2mz2-s

Were you replying to me for the preamp?

This has no remote, no Balanced outputs XLR, and outputs for subs.

Schiit Freya perhaps?

 

[tkcha]

do not skimp on pre amp schiit only do so much if you dont have budget still about 2 grand there are so many more option available which Parasound JC 2+,Cary Audio SLP 03,Don Sach Preamp or some higher price preamp you can have second hand markect for much better price.

 

[thyname]

do not skimp on pre amp schiit only do so much if you dont have budget still about 2 grand there are so many more option available which Parasound JC 2+,Cary Audio SLP 03,Don Sach Preamp or some higher price preamp you can have second hand markect for much better price.

I just need a passive preamp, just for volume control.

 

[tkcha]

For passive preamp look at Tortuga Audio,Khozmo Acustic,Music First Audio lower entry level preamp all good preamp.

 

[remoss]

In a few weeks I have the opportunity to compare the R2R7 and the R2R HE7. I am curious about the differences!

 

[doraymon]

In a few weeks I have the opportunity to compare the R2R7 and the R2R HE7. I am curious about the differences!

R2R7 is the Audio-gd, but what about the HE7?

 

[remoss]

I'm so sorry, posted in the wrong thread.

Btw, the R2R HE7 is also an Audio GD dac: http://www.audio-gd.com/HE/R2R7HE/R2R7HEEN.htm

 

[doraymon]

I'm so sorry, posted in the wrong thread.

Btw, the R2R HE7 is also an Audio GD dac: http://www.audio-gd.com/HE/R2R7HE/R2R7HEEN.htm

It was interesting anyway!

 

[doraymon]

So the Spring KTE and the Ice Age Silver/Silver power cord are ordered but now I am left with a big doubt... KTE SU-1 or not?

As I already posted earlier I just spent a fortune on an sMS-200ultra and tX-USBultra (both powered by an sPS-500) in order to get the cleanest possible USB signal to feed my DAC.
Switching from the Hugo (sold) to the Spring KTE I find out that the I2S input has advantages over the USB. I will not be able to audition by myself so I will have to trust what I read.

I am very reluctant to add another box between source and DAC and I am afraid that the "reconstructed" and clean signal output by the tX-USBultra could be even degraded when passing through the KTE S-U1.
I don't know the physics behind all the signal manipulation so it's really hard for me to decide...

 

[joseph69]

So the Spring KTE and the Ice Age Silver/Silver power cord are ordered but now I am left with a big doubt... KTE SU-1 or not?

Listen to what you have without the SU-1 and if you like what you're hearing then you're good.

I personally didn't care for the SU-1 in my chain (with my system). I then decided to purchase the KTE SU-1 when it came out and too me the KTE was a real nice improvement.

 

[tkcha]

I have Aurender N100h, Intona with holo spring 3 KTE without I2s connection and sound pretty good its your source. Dirty and noise source may need Su-1 but your SOTM stuff good enough without Su-1 and I2s for me, my listening room clean and neat looking other than MAD Science Lab no more another small box please

 

[bflat]

So the Spring KTE and the Ice Age Silver/Silver power cord are ordered but now I am left with a big doubt... KTE SU-1 or not?

As I already posted earlier I just spent a fortune on an sMS-200ultra and tX-USBultra (both powered by an sPS-500) in order to get the cleanest possible USB signal to feed my DAC.
Switching from the Hugo (sold) to the Spring KTE I find out that the I2S input has advantages over the USB. I will not be able to audition by myself so I will have to trust what I read.

I am very reluctant to add another box between source and DAC and I am afraid that the "reconstructed" and clean signal output by the tX-USBultra could be even degraded when passing through the KTE S-U1.
I don't know the physics behind all the signal manipulation so it's really hard for me to decide...

One way to look at this is that all the USB and digital connectivity equipment you own will stay with you much longer than any particular DAC. While there could be advances in the future for digital connectivity, it will likely be a much longer technology cycle. I think it's analogous to digital cameras. I have upgraded my DSLR at least 5-6 times, but I still have every single lens that I purchased during that time. I know the physics in lens design has remained relatively unchanged in the past 50+ years while the image capture technology changed every 2-3 years.

My own opinion is that USB is here to stay, but if there is a "better way", I believe it will be wireless technology which completely eliminates noise transmission due to power signals. However, I don't think it will be with wifi technology, but rather a low power, low bandwidth, close proximity technology similar to Blue Tooth and Apple W1.

 

[tkcha]

Almost everyone say holo have bad usb board and inferior clock and claim I2s is must but my case usb with clean source result fantastic sound. Few month ago ㅑcompare chord Dave, Bricasti M1 SE side by side. System contain Zesto Audio Pre,power amp drive Martin Logan Renaisance ESL 15A speakers every DAC connect to Antipode server. All three DACs sound fantastic very little difference but on PCM, dave better than both holo,M1se but DSD Holo was the best. For me DSD is very important. I owns more than 2500 albums. I was VERY disappointed from Dave DSD sound. so 2500$ holo spring can compete with 10000$ DACs but Hopely Next May DAC will be come out with better usb board,clock and all that magic touch can compete with even higher price range DAC.

 

[earnmyturns]

So the Spring KTE and the Ice Age Silver/Silver power cord are ordered but now I am left with a big doubt... KTE SU-1 or not?

As I already posted earlier I just spent a fortune on an sMS-200ultra and tX-USBultra (both powered by an sPS-500) in order to get the cleanest possible USB signal to feed my DAC.
Switching from the Hugo (sold) to the Spring KTE I find out that the I2S input has advantages over the USB. I will not be able to audition by myself so I will have to trust what I read.

I am very reluctant to add another box between source and DAC and I am afraid that the "reconstructed" and clean signal output by the tX-USBultra could be even degraded when passing through the KTE S-U1.
I don't know the physics behind all the signal manipulation so it's really hard for me to decide...

My comparisons (all PCM from 44.1/16 to 192/24, via Roon):

1) microRendu+UpTone LPS-1>USB>...
2) microRendu+UpTone LPS-1>USB>(non-KTE SU-1)>I2S>...
3) Allo USBridge>USB>Schiit Eitr>S/PDIF (Nordost Blue Haven coax)>...

1) sounds a bit harsher, fuzzier than 2) in mid-high frequencies. So far, I've not been able to hear much of a difference between 3) and 2). 3) costs ~400 USD, 2) ~1400 USD. YMMV.

 

[whirlwind]

Almost everyone say holo have bad usb board and inferior clock and claim I2s is must but my case usb with clean source result fantastic sound. Few month ago ㅑcompare chord Dave, Bricasti M1 SE side by side. System contain Zesto Audio Pre,power amp drive Martin Logan Renaisance ESL 15A speakers every DAC connect to Antipode server. All three DACs sound fantastic very little difference but on PCM, dave better than both holo,M1se but DSD Holo was the best. For me DSD is very important. I owns more than 2500 albums. I was VERY disappointed from Dave DSD sound. so 2500$ holo spring can compete with 10000$ DACs but Hopely Next May DAC will be come out with better usb board,clock and all that magic touch can compete with even higher price range DAC.

I am using usb with no SU-1 in the chain....DSD sounds spectacular with this dac.