Holo Audio - Spring DAC - Level 3 - "Kitsune Tuned Edition" - Impressions & Reviews

That is some combo of dreams will you measure the spring, too?

 

Yes.

 

Tension and all?

(I will show myself the door )

 

I have been using this combo for quite a while, excellent sound.

 

ditto!

 

Can you use the XLR and RCA outputs at the same time?

 

Yep.

 

Got something interesting in for review today.
This is the KTE model with the integrated preamp. Initial impressions are VERY good but I'm going to let it run-in a bit before listening too much.

Unfortunately I've not got a spring 2 to compare with, but do have May. This gets quite close to the May and at the price I think it's going to be pretty killer....
Sounding absolutely beautiful

Will post some more in-depth impressions once I've spent some time with it. And will have a video coming out which will go live on release day.

 

You have a Serene as well do you not? If so, would be an interesting comparo vs. the internal preamp.

 

I do.
Though the internal preamp can't be disconnected unfortunately so can't really test DAC bypass to serene. It'd have to have the internal preamp in the path regardless.

I figure that many if not most people who get the S3 are going to opt for the preamp though so I wanted to try that model. It is wonderfully convenient having everything all in one box

 

No way to defeat/bypass the preamp? Interesting that they didn’t at least provide that option. I suppose you just wouldn’t order one with the preamp in that case, but situations change, some people may start with the internal pre, and then eventually upgrade to an external pre - you would think it would be able to be bypassed (perhaps it’s just a board that can be removed?) If this is a review unit, of course I would not expect you to do that (unless you had permission from Kitsune of course).

 

Maybe it's a variable voltage output from the DAC chips themselves like what Metrum Acoustic do with their DACs and not an actual preamp stage?. That's the only way it makes sense to me.

 

Not as far as I'm aware (though I could be wrong, I'll ask Jeff later).

The preamp module can be added later after purchase though, you don't have to buy it at the start. So I'm guessing it could also be removed.

 

It's a proper relay controlled preamp stage, not just variable output.

This was a pic from a prototype. I'll open this one up at somepoint for the video so will take pics then

 

@GoldenOne know when the release date is?

 

I emailed with Tim 2 wks ago and he indicated that it would be released this month.

Triangulating that there are only 2 days left this month with @GoldenOne 's post indicating that he rec'd a review unit today and that his video would go live on the release day... it sounds like that the date has slipped at least a week into July.

 

There isn't a fixed release date at the moment afaik.

Right now Tim is struggling a bit because his AC installation got delayed and it's currently >100F/38C where he is so....yeah, can't really get much done.

It'll probably be a few weeks from now, but don't quote me on that. (Also don't email Tim to ask about release date, he's apparently swamped with emails atm so just need to wait, won't be long now)

 

The heat dome over the Pacific Northwest is brutal. Tim is caught up without A/C at a very bad time. Our A/C is struggling to maintain a 30 °F differential. However the KTE Spring 2 is doing fine. Can only listen for a short while before sweating ears in headphones becomes too much of a distraction from the excellent sound.

 

Looks like its available to order:
https://www.kitsunehifi.com/product...a_titanis-version=spring-v3-kte-preamp-module

 

Does anybody know if power button will be on actual production Spring 3 units, or is it only on prototype? Spring 2 does not have one. I've just preordered Spring 3 KTE. Cant wait!!