[Level5]

Will post some comparison/impressions with the Spring L1 vs Cyan soon!

 

[oneguy]

Pretty disappointed on how Holo Audio USA aka KitsuneHifi aka Jeff Zhu is handing my warranty/rma issues. A week gone by and I've yet to hear back from them. Also curious why its taking them so long to make more Cyan...

I’m pretty sure Jeff Zhu is not Kitsune or Holo USA. Tim is.

 

[Level5]

I’m pretty sure Jeff Zhu is not Kitsune or Holo USA. Tim is.

Indeed. I was just frustrated when I typed it at the time. All is well and Tim took care of me and renewed my fate with all of them.

 

[up late]

glad it worked out for you. i found tim responsive and pleasant to deal with. i've ruled the cyan out of consideration due to the manufacturing delay and other considerations.

 

[montanari]

To those concerned.
I've done enormous amounts of research and listening tests after David (BlueSaint) showed me the significance of DSD encoding on PCM files.

Playing PCM directly may be slightly more airy sounding and overall blended together, but in terms of sonic accuracy, it is levels behind DSD512.

DSD over DoP on JRiver Media Center is 15% better
- Note: DSD over DoP even on a MacBook will still sound better (more articulate) than standard PCM, however what you want is Native DSD Encoding.

DSD512 encoding (standard algorithm) on JRiver Media Center is 30% better.
DSD512 encoding (advanced algorithm) such as "poly-sinc-xtr-2s" from HQPlayer is 40% better.
DSD512 encoding (similar to CORD DAVE algorithm) such as "poly-sinc-xtr" from HQPlayer is 46-48% better.

Jussi Laako (Signalyst)
Developer of HQPlayer's comment on the poly-sinc-xtr filter.
https://community.roonlabs.com/t/xtr-filters-why-do-they-sound-so-good/25687

The poly-sinc-xtr filter was created by Jussi to mimic that of what was done in the Chord Dave when it comes to filtering.
UNFORTUNATELY to run this filter you will need a super computer that has 10 CPU CORES running at 90% workload in order to properly encode and play music simultaneously.
FORTUNATELY you can run the 2s version of this filter which is less computer intensive and only requires 4 CPU CORES at around 70% workload (year 2013 or higher).

The 2s version (poly-sinc-xtr-2s) is a two stage filter that jeopardizes some filtering quality in order to lower CPU workload.
The non-2s version (poly-sinc-xtr) is a single stage filter that offers better a algorithm which results in less ringing and provides better frequency response and signal attenuation.

LONGER EXPLANATION:

The highest modulation available right now is DSD512.
Both HQPlayer and JRiver Media Center offers this level of processing.
HQPlayer has multiple "FILTERING" options whereas the JRiver only has a stock profile.
The problem with stock filters is that you cannot improve sound quality by other filters that are more intensive when it comes to processing of the DSD encoded file.

A higher end filter will use more CPU processing power which results in more cores being used.
In HQPlayer there is a filter option known as poly-sinc which is one that is better than the stock filter available on JRiver Media Center.
These filters offer better linearity of the music that's being encoded/produced as well as cut off pre and post ringing you hear in music that makes it sound un-natural.
To take things even higher, poly-sinc has an extreme mode available (called poly-sinc-xtr) that takes 5 times more processing power compared to standard poly-sinc.

In order to run the poly-sinc-xtr filter, you must have very fast computer with a CPU that has 10 cores working at 90% in order to convert PCM to DSD512 using that filter. Unfortunately I don't have a computer that fast thus why I have to go with the second best option and that is to separate the conversion stream into 2 stages (2s) for oversampling instead of one. A single stage offers a better algorithm of converting the file which results in less ringing and provides better frequency-response and signal attenuation compared to a 2 stage (which jeopardizes those listed things a little in order to lower CPU workload).

END RESULT:
The setup I currently have consists of a 16 CPU CORES (AMD THREADRIPPER) in order to run POLY-SINC-XTR-MP.

Note: mp = minimum phase (adds more post echo to help with transient reproduction)
- sounds better for most modern electronic music.
- I use this very often since I feel we need some subtle post echo's in order for music to sound a little more natural.

Cheers,
Thanh

Did you try with some blind tests?
I don't hear this 30% you are talking about

 

[ZenErik]

Any Spring level 1 or 2 vs Cyan PCM impressions? Interested in picking one of those options up sooner than later.

 

[Level5]

Any Spring level 1 or 2 vs Cyan PCM impressions? Interested in picking one of those options up sooner than later.

The Cyan sounds similar to Spring but I felt like the Spring is more resolving and had more presence/texture/body.

 

[wazzupi]

The Cyan sounds similar to Spring but I felt like the Spring is more resolving and had more presence/texture/body.

Spring 1 ?

 

[Level5]

Spring 1 ?

Yup L1 via I2S

 

[omniweltall]

Yup L1 via I2S

Thanks for the great impressions so far. It is hard to find credible ones for these top mid-tier dacs.

Have you ever tried the Gumby? Gumby vs Cyan vs Spring L1 vs Soekris 1541 vs Metrum Amethyst vs RME ADI.It is very difficult to decide. There are all great options.

I'm quite surprised that you prefer RME ADI to the soekris and cyan, considering its delta-sigma as compared the latter's R2R architecture.

Which has the best:
1. Resolution
2. Soundstage/layering
3. Musicality

Which would you choose overall?

 

[omniweltall]

Also you mentioned RME ADI's resolution capability. How would it compare the Soekris 1541's? It is known for its resolution too.

 

[Level5]

Thanks for the great impressions so far. It is hard to find credible ones for these top mid-tier dacs.

Have you ever tried the Gumby? Gumby vs Cyan vs Spring L1 vs Soekris 1541 vs Metrum Amethyst vs RME ADI.It is very difficult to decide. There are all great options.

I'm quite surprised that you prefer RME ADI to the soekris and cyan, considering its delta-sigma as compared the latter's R2R architecture.

I've briefly owned the 1541 but quickly sold it because it was too dry and overly sterile for me. I then moved on to Holo Cyan and fell in love with Holo house sound and NOS overall and even though the RME is DS, its probably the best implantation I've heard.

Which has the best:
1. Resolution
2. Soundstage/layering
3. Musicality

Which would you choose overall?

It'll have to be Spring L1 and RME a close 2nd. The RME does have some really nice digital filters/EQ that you can play around with to flavor the sound to your preference, but it wont be able to replicate a true NOS nor Holo house sound.

 

[Level5]

Also you mentioned RME ADI's resolution capability. How would it compare the Soekris 1541's? It is known for its resolution too.

In terms of resolution, I would call it a draw.

 

[omniweltall]

In terms of resolution, I would call it a draw.

Thanks mate. Very useful info.

 

[up late]

production of the cyan had halted last time i enquired. that's probably why there's a lack of impressions. not sure if it's resumed tho.