They're on Amazon available at different lengths. Here's one for 0.75 meters:
https://www.amazon.com/AudioQuest-C...mzn1.fos.18630bbb-fcbb-42f8-9767-857e17e03685
Holo Audio Spring R2R DAC
- Thread starter mtoc
- Start date
https://www.amazon.com/AudioQuest-C...mzn1.fos.18630bbb-fcbb-42f8-9767-857e17e03685
No... it's a normal USB cable, ie USB A to USB B.eg https://www.amazon.sg/AudioQuest-Ca...3323&sprefix=audioquest+carbon,aps,376&sr=8-1
Sorry... what do you mean? I am currently using the A6 with USB to the Holo Spring 3 KTE.
koso
100+ Head-Fier
I am used to do burn in DAC this way: put any source (CD player, streamer) 24/7 on repeat, turn DAC on and hit play. Amplifier does not have to be switched on. It is good to create playlist which containd different sampling rates and mix of PCM and DSD so that you burn all parts of the DAC evenly (for example Spring has a separate circuit for PCM and for DSD).
The product page for the Spring 3 (https://www.kitsunehifi.com/product/spring-3-dac/) shows the only difference between the Level 1/Level 2 USB and the KTE USB to be that the KTE version has the Titanis 2.0 circuit. I have seen many here say only the KTE USB is galvanically isolated, but the website says all Spring 3 levels have USB modules that are "ground isolated", which I think is the same as "galvanically isolated". Looking at the May page (https://www.kitsunehifi.com/product/holo-audio-may-dac/), it says the same (all are "ground isolated", while the only difference is the level 2/kte have the Titanis 2.0 circuit while the level 1 does not). It seems most are saying that the main reason to go with the Spring 3 KTE over the level 1 or level 2 is because of the USB, but the price difference between the level 1 and KTE is $900. So why is it that the Titanis 2.0 circuit is worth $900?
Last edited:
borkenarrou
500+ Head-Fier
I think KTE also has better capacitors and fully silver wiring inside.
BrainSalat
100+ Head-Fier
There are more difference. You can find them highlighted here (scroll down):
https://magnahifi.com/holo-audio-spring-3-dac-kte-kitsune-r2r-dsd1024/
and "ground isolation" is not the same as "galvanic isolation", the first is only a subset of the second. The first protects you only from ground loop interferences. The galvanic isolation additionally isolates the signal path, in this case implemented as a opto-electrical isolation in the Titans 2.0 circuit.
Yes but that appears to have very little benefit. GoldenSound's review of the May compared the Level 2 to the KTE, where they have the same USB but all those other parts are upgraded in the KTE and not in the level 2, and he said the difference was so little that it probably wasn't worth the $800 difference, unless money is no object. The comments here seem to largely agree, that the USB is the main reason you would go with the KTE, assuming you aren't adding a preamp. So I don't understand what about the Titanis 2.0 circuit makes it worth an extra $900.
I just read through that link, and it appears to be identical to https://www.kitsunehifi.com/product/spring-3-dac/. Again, the only difference it gives between the level 1/level 2 USB and the KTE USB is the Titanis 2.0 circuit. So why is the Titanis 2.0 circuit worth $900?
Last edited:
BrainSalat
100+ Head-Fier
Did you miss this:
The following is added to KTE Spring3:
1. 100VA O-type (NOT toroid) Flat wire type as found in the flagship May Dac L2 and KTE.
2. All copper wire is replaced with 1.5mm pure occ silver wire
3. Hand Selected Dac module to have best measurements compared to averages.
4. KTE Spring3 is ONLY level to have the enhanced USB module as found in our L2 and KTE May dac. Has titanis 2.0 circuit.
5. Replaced IEC inlet connectors with pure silver/rhodium plated faston connectors at the IEC inlet
6. HoloAudio Red Nano fuse
7. Holo Audio Caps(we have done extensive testing and these prove to provide the very best sound quality)
8. Special Kitsune Tuned Edition branding inside and out (pure copper Kitsune fox emblem on top panel, like our extremely popular KTE SU2 product)
9. KitsuneHiFi VIP service, english support and manuals/software
and to me the Titans 2.0 circuits is one of the most important features. It removes the need to have an external DDC when using the USB connection.
Last edited:
Yes I saw all that other stuff. The transformer has round wire (they are all o-type non-toroid), the copper wire is replaced with silver, custom caps, some theoretically improved connectors and the fuse. But GoldenSound confirmed that these make very little difference when he compared the level 2 May to the KTE May, and aren't worth the $800 increase unless money is no object to you. He and pretty much everyone else I have seen says the only argument for the Spring 3 KTE is the USB. But $900 is a lot to spend on something whose benefit is not described anywhere. Plus they sell a USB with that Titanis circuit (https://www.kitsunehifi.com/product/holo-audio-titanis-active-usb-processor/) for less than $100. Their website is very detailed on what the differences are between the different levels, but no detail is given on what the Titanis circuit even does, let alone why it is worth such an increase in price.
Last edited:
I think the Titanis circuit gives a bit better measurements. The Spring 3 L1/L2 measure already exceptionally good (USB input) - if one can hear the miniscule difference is another thing, i personally don't think i could do it. That is why i went with the L1. But if money is no object then one can aim for the L3.
Last edited:
BrainSalat
100+ Head-Fier
Then I think you have already narrowed all corners and is only up to you to decide whether those extra features worth the extra bucks.
About the titans USB processor you linked, I don't think is the same built-in in the KTEs (Titans 2.0), at least I don't see any mention to opto-electrical isolation. Only the version 2.0 isolates electrically the signal path, which is now opto-coupled. If I remember right, GoldenSound also explain it in their Spring3 review.
I haven't seen measurements between the Titanis USB and the standard, though it wouldn't surprise me if there was some measured difference. I have actually seen no review of the difference between them, either measurements or subjective reviews. And I have seen no official description of even what Titanis supposedly even does. It concerns me that the main reason people are saying the KTE is worth the $900 upgrade is because of the USB, where the only difference is Titanis, and they sell a Titanis USB module separately for $78. How is a chip worth $78 in an external module but $900 internally? The L1 seems to make waaayyyyy more sense, at least if you don't need the internal preamp. Probably on the May also, unless money is no object. At least GoldenSound confirmed there is some noticeable if slight difference with the other improvements (silver wiring, custom caps, etc), but I haven't seen anyone even confirm there is a noticable difference at all with the USB upgrade.
Where did you hear the Titanis 2.0 chip has "opto-electrical isolation"? On GoldenSound's review of the Spring, he says the Titanis chip "is overclocking and doing some conditioning of the signal". He also says the USB card itself is "fully galvanically isolated" because of the physical gap in the USB card, but pictures of the standard USB card (https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...e-measurements-of-holo-audio-spring-dac.5869/ and https://soundwe.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/Products/HoloAudio/Spring2-03.jpg) show it has the exact same physical gap. Both the standard and enhanced USB have an XMOS chip as the main processer. It looks like the only difference is in the enhanced USB, the signal goes first to the Titanis chip that "is overclocking and doing some conditioning of the singal" before it sends the signal to the XMOS chip, while in the standard USB, the singal just goes straight to the XMOS chip. So while I understand why "overclocking and doing some conditioning of the signal" might be worth $78 for some people, I don't see why it is worth $900. But the view that it is seems almost ubiquitous on this thread.
Users who are viewing this thread
