[Digital Enigma]

Chinese or not holo have some incredibly talented engineers

 

[HC1205]

I have both Dave and May connected to the same source and amp/headphone. May is an excellent DAC for the price, and I prefer it over Dave.

I'm not sure if you used XLR for Dave, but I've found Dave to perform best in single-ended, and the difference is significant (IMO). With XLR, the notes sound thicker, masking some details, especially in vocals. Additionally, there's a touch more bass quantity, but it lacks quality, and the transparency, stage, and naturalism that Dave can exhibit are lost. Dave is designed in single-ended, as are all Chord DACs. Moreover, Chord DACs and M-Scalers really benefit from running on battery and LPS, as what I've heard is akin to lifting a sonic blanket. Wave Cables also help improve further.
TBH I wasn't very impressed with Dave and M-scaler until I tried these and now every single time I listen, I am astonished by the monster Rob Watts has made.

 

[musicinmymind]

I'm not sure if you used XLR for Dave, but I've found Dave to perform best in single-ended, and the difference is significant (IMO). With XLR, the notes sound thicker, masking some details, especially in vocals. Additionally, there's a touch more bass quantity, but it lacks quality, and the transparency, stage, and naturalism that Dave can exhibit are lost. Dave is designed in single-ended, as are all Chord DACs. Moreover, Chord DACs and M-Scalers really benefit from running on battery and LPS, as what I've heard is akin to lifting a sonic blanket. Wave Cables also help improve further.
TBH I wasn't very impressed with Dave and M-scaler until I tried these and now every single time I listen, I am astonished by the monster Rob Watts has made.

Interesting..........it may be disadvantage using Dave with fully balanced amp like WA33 which is engineered as a fully balanced design, optimized to deliver the highest fidelity when used with balanced sources.

Hope Rob Watt will address XLR output difference in future products.

 

[GuiltyRocker]

I have both Dave and May connected to the same source and amp/headphone. May is an excellent DAC for the price, and I prefer it over Dave.

That's totally cool, I accept that others may like it more and that's fine. To me it's not even remotely close to the DAVE, or the TT2. But, that's just me.

 

[homeros8000]

I'm unsure if you used XLR for Dave, but I've found Dave to perform best in single-ended, and the difference is significant (IMO). With XLR, the notes sound thicker, masking some details, especially in vocals. Additionally, there's a touch more bass quantity, but it lacks quality, and the transparency, stage, and naturalism that Dave can exhibit are lost. Dave is designed in single-ended, as are all Chord DACs. Moreover, Chord DACs and M-Scalers really benefit from running on battery and LPS, as what I've heard is akin to lifting a sonic blanket. Wave Cables also help improve further.
TBH I wasn't very impressed with Dave and M-scaler until I tried these and now every single time I listen, I am astonished by the monster Rob Watts has made.

I would like to share my thoughts on my experience with the Dave and Mscaler. I owned both since 2020. I did not notice much difference between the single-ended and XLR connections. Additionally, the claims about the wave cables' effect were exaggerated. Although I still own those cables, I do not like their sound signature. They may work well in a system that is overly bright, but I do not have that issue. Furthermore, when I used an external battery for the Mscaler, it caused it to malfunction, and I had to pay a considerable amount for repairing it. I learned my lesson from that experience.

Despite the issue with the battery, I still own the Dave/Mscaler combo, and I can say that it sounds great for my two-channel system.

 

[GuiltyRocker]

This is precisely what I heard when I listened to the Holo May, my friend below owned the Holo May and sold it after I introduced him to the DAVE, his experience is exactly what I experienced. But, I'm adding it here so you can get the picture. I suspect that if you have overly bright equipment, the May may tone it down and make it more pleasant I guess. Based on my preference I would not go for that.

 

[homeros8000]

This is precisely what I heard when I listened to the Holo May, my friend below owned the Holo May and sold it after I introduced him to the DAVE, his experience is exactly what I experienced. But, I'm adding it here so you can get the picture. I suspect that if you have overly bright equipment, the May may tone it down and make it more pleasant I guess. Based on my preference I would not go for that.

Initially, I had the same experience with May. The reason was the Audioquest power cable I used for the May. Using a regular power cable connected directly to the power outlet solved the problem.

My system is not bright, I don't experience any brightness out of Dave, but May sounds more natural and detailed in my system.

 

[GuiltyRocker]

Initially, I had the same experience with May. The reason was the Audioquest power cable I used for the May. Using a regular power cable connected directly to the power outlet solved the problem.

My system is not bright, I don't experience any brightness out of Dave, but May sounds more natural and detailed in my system.

I see, glad you enjoy it. Different preferences is the name of this game.

 

[chelseafc]

Initially, I had the same experience with May. The reason was the Audioquest power cable I used for the May. Using a regular power cable connected directly to the power outlet solved the problem.

So you like the sound of RF noise, like other people like tubes, there is nothing wrong with it

 

[homeros8000]

So you like the sound of RF noise, like other people like tubes, there is nothing wrong with it

Yes, I prefer RF noise to snake oil

 

[Reactcore]

For the ones not knowing Mingus.. really should try his 60's albums on early 80's RBCD like this one.. Just MScaler candy

 

[Digital Enigma]

So you like the sound of RF noise, like other people like tubes, there is nothing wrong with it

That’s also the reason people buy the mscaler isn’t it, for a bit of that RF msg. But you can combat it by moving it 30ft away from your DAC and using overpriced hand made ferrite infested cables…

 

[Meridian7]

Sarsasm day
Makes me realize that no one ever, is without the affection of something somewhere. Does pure actually exist? Live music, does everyone percieves the same? Perhaps all that exist is affections on affections and we choose in that pile.

 

[T Bone]

Is there an appreciable benefit to connecting the M-Scaler to a source via the dual-BNC input vs a single BNC?
(The M-Scaler user manual lists Dual BNC as a possible input)

My M-Scaler is currently connected to a network streamer via a 75Ω digital cable - The streamer's SPDIF output connects to the M-Scaler BNC input 1.

I've begun looking at upgrading my network streamer. I'm wondering if I should include dual-BNC output as a "must have" feature.
One of the only network streamers that I found with this feature is the now discontinued dCS Network Bridge.
If there is a benefit to dual BNC input - can you recommend a ROON ready streamer / network bridge with that feature?

 

[LeeJB1970]

Is there an appreciable benefit to connecting the M-Scaler to a source via the dual-BNC input vs a single BNC?
(The M-Scaler user manual lists Dual BNC as a possible input)

My M-Scaler is currently connected to a network streamer via a 75Ω digital cable - The streamer's SPDIF output connects to the M-Scaler BNC input 1.

I've begun looking at upgrading my network streamer. I'm wondering if I should include dual-BNC output as a "must have" feature.
One of the only network streamers that I found with this feature is the now discontinued dCS Network Bridge.
If there is a benefit to dual BNC input - can you recommend a ROON ready streamer / network bridge with that feature?

IMHO there's no benefit in using the dual bnc in. Let the Mscaler do the upscaling! In addition to this I would use a Bixpower BP90 and use the toslink optical input. This would prevent the Mscaler from passing noise through to your dac.