HOLO Audio Spring DAC: Affordable discrete R2R Multibit Dac, could be a winner.


Many manufacturers are going back to R2R Multibit d/a conversion, a good portion of audiophiles are saying it sounds better than the cheaper d/a conversion of Delta Sigma, (1 bit), Bitstream, Saber. etc.
And it says it uses dual R2R’s Multibits to support DSD natively!!? 

Product Description:This new DAC.”Spring” is the first design of a new era, a milestone for HOLO Audio’s own Jeff Zhu. It’s a full discrete R2R type of audio decoder and does not have off the shelf-DAC chip! This is a bespoke custom-designed core DAC module and truly a breakthrough with technology for any DAC chip today. The Spring is here to achieve new heights, new dynamics and simply a full spectrum of audio to please the aural senses. This Dac has been called the poor mans Total Dac / MSB / Wavedream / Chord Dave Etc. It plays with the big boys.

https://kitsunehifi.com/product/springdacbase/

Looks amazing inside for $1,700. Schiit Yaggi better watch out!!!!



Cheers George
128x128georgehifi
Looking good Gary, looks like you upgraded to the silver power transformer and the AES to the Audio Note or did you already have the silver power transformer? It would be interesting to see how it now compares to the Metrum Pavane etc. thanks for providing your feedback as there are very few reviews/comparisons available. That said, I have placed an order for the level 3 version....

The Spring dac does not come with digital volume control and requires a preamp according to its designer. He must have very good reasons to not include a digital volume control.
Because all digital domain volume controls "bit strip" if not used at or above 75% of full volume.
EG: The lower you go the more they strip, 16bit, 14bit, 12bit resolution.
That’s why it’s best to leave them at full and use a 10kohm passive preamp, like the $49 Schiit Sys. If your poweramp is 47kohm input impedance or higher.
http://schiit.com/products/sys

Cheers George
Comments from Jeff Zhu :-

".....I can’t say it’s 1 or 2 DACs inside. Physically, it is 1 DAC module, but it works in 2 different modes. Each mode uses different part of the module and also shared some parts. Spring is a 24bit DAC, bit23 is msb (most significant bit) and bit0 is lsb (least significant bit). Yes, you are right, more bits can be used for digital volume control. But Spring is a pure DAC without digital volume. Actually digital volume is no match for a good resistor attenuator. That’s why we need a dedicated pre-amp, rather than use digital volume in a DAC....."
Jon,
My friend will audition the Spring DAC in his main system. It will be used with his Absolare Altius preamplifier. If I’m able to hear it in my system it will used with the Coincident Statement Line Stage. Either will most definitely reveal the innate sound character of this DAC.
Charles,