Should SBAF buy a Holo Spring 3 KTE for a loaner?

Discussion in 'Loaner Requests' started by rhythmdevils, Feb 2, 2022.

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Should SBAF buy a Holo Spring 3 KTE for a loaner?

  1. Yes

    44.4%
  2. No, save the money for something more interesting

    38.9%
  3. Steal the money and buy myself new dildos

    16.7%
  1. dasman66

    dasman66 Self proclaimed lazy ass - friend

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    Which is why some would be interested in hearing it... is there really value for the money? Spring3KTE with a preamp is ~$4k delivered. The Spring2KTE was around $2800 delivered (I was ready to order when he stopped making them, was lucky to find one used from a friend here).

    I keep hearing how great Spring3 is, and I like the idea of having the preamp... but $4k... I was really hoping Kitsune would provide a loaner unit, but he's probably selling enough of them that he doesn't need to.
     
  2. Pancakes

    Pancakes Friend

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    Not for me (because I own it) but I think the group may benefit from trying the Abyss Diana series. The V2 to my ears is an HD600 (perhaps 650/6XX? Dunno never heard them) taken to the extreme.
     
  3. Vtory

    Vtory Audiophile™

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    Those who really want to hear Holo Spring: Please reply to this thread to show strong commitment like we typically do in the interest check or sign up thread. Clicking yes don't seem a good way to measure solid willingness.

    For the reference, so far 4 members (Spr3 owners excluded) showed commitment in this thread. Three of them seem strong. We may need A LOT MORE (16 or so because of uncertainty headroom) like them to make this tour happen.

    No idea about how much fund SBAF is currently having. If we have seriously rich fund, then I may not object loudly.

    PS. I'm also with Pancakes. Interested in Diana and any recent iterations of 1266, too. If either of those two has a tour, I will 100% sign up. I generally prefer tours being something entirely new in experience (good vs bad aside).
     
  4. Greg121986

    Greg121986 Almost "Made"

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    I say get it, but maybe avoid the preamp for cost saving? I'd like to see some measurements and additional opinions on this DAC with a wider variation of hardware.

    With that said, I already have one. I have an opinion on it based on what I've done with it so far. I'd like to see what other people can come up with, too.
     
  5. ColtMrFire

    ColtMrFire Writes better fan fics than you

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    Interested in a loaner.
     
  6. blubliss

    blubliss Friend

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    Very interested in loaner.
     
  7. neogeosnk

    neogeosnk Friend

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    Interested in listening to it but maybe not a buy for sbaf as newer stuff like sonnet Pasithea or mojo 2 that I would rather listen to. Did vote yes but probably would say no now.
     
  8. DrForBin

    DrForBin Friend

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    hello,

    i voted no as this is at a nearly fantasy price point, for me at least. however, if SBAF can easily flip it at the end of a loaner tour, go for it. i would not be signing up, as i do not possess any other gear that would do this justice.
    cheers!
     
  9. earnmyturns

    earnmyturns Smartest friend

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    I voted "no." I own a May KTE (you know it) and a Spring 2 KTE. The May excels in technicalities (to my ears) and is the only DAC I've used with my headphone gear that brings it into the neighborhood of my best speaker system (Linn Klimax Organik DSM + ATC SCM40As) in terms of tight, controlled transients and placement that brings me into my favorite live venues. OTOH, the Spring 2 KTE with similar headphone gear is like a warm bath after a very cold outdoors: relaxing, enclosing, dreamy. I've not heard the Spring 3, but from various reports it seems like a compromise: neither as lovely as the Spring 2 nor as sculptural as the May. Maybe I'm wrong, this is all so subjective, but I'd rather explore different dimensions than Holo's design tradeoffs.
     
  10. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    How about an Abyss Diana Phi used instead? If there's interest maybe I'll start another poll haha
     
  11. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Rich LOL! When's the last time you heard me beg to cover an expensive headphone lost in the mail which was my fault? Or ask you guys to gift me a spinny thing under my desk so I could get a cardio workout while I worked?
     
  12. crenca

    crenca Friend

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    I think ChaCha looked into getting a Abyss loaner about a year ago, but the company are not pleasant to deal with and it did not happen. I fully support getting a Diana Phi as I am keen to hear it but it will have to be an outright buy.
     
  13. DrForBin

    DrForBin Friend

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    hello,
    a Diana (any iteration) would be a winner in my book. sad that the makers are just not nice.
    cheers!
     
  14. Pancakes

    Pancakes Friend

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    TMR has a V2 on the bay for $2300. It's pretty new based on the updated pads they released a couple of months ago. Shame they won't do a loaner. I like the products but the general attitude of the business rubs me the wrong way (talking in general not specifically about loaners).
     
  15. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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  16. crazychile

    crazychile Eastern Iowa's Spiciest Pepper

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    I changed my vote to yes. If enough people commit to justify it I definitely want to hear it. I know most of us have headphone related stuff as a top priority, but I like seeing stuff out on loan that can apply to 2 channel. Big amps get too expensive to ship, so I'm interested in DACs and preamps. I'm partial to ones with balanced connections.
     
  17. nishan99

    nishan99 Friend

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    I'm more interested in investigating Kennerton stuff. Abyss headphones already have a lot of impressions of them online. (plus f**k those pretentious assholes)
     
  18. penguins

    penguins Friend, formerly known as fp627

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    Yes, but ONLY if SBAF does not lose $ more than a small amount of money on this or whatever small amount we would normally lose on a "cheap" loaner tour.

    If we get it, I would like to sign up for a loaner tour slot to hear it one final time before making the final choice on a May or a Wavedream this year. One final listen as I've heard both DACs a few times before but the sound of my setup has changed a bit since I last heard both DACs. Will be fed via pi2aes I2S output mostly with a brief comparison against computer USB output to see if Holo claims about this super duper USB input are true.

    If it matters, I currently have a Spring 2 and have heard the Spring 1 as well. Another thing I will provide my feedback for is whether or not the May is worth it over the Spring 1 or 2, especially in the used market, in my own opinion + value of dollars.
     
    Last edited: Feb 4, 2022
  19. tommytakis

    tommytakis MOT: E.T.A Headphones

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    I have mixed feelings about the spring 3. I heard the Spring 3 KTE recently at a local meet with @Jh4db536 and a couple of friends, and I was very disappointed with the sound through USB. Waaay too laid back and sleepy for my taste. Then we tried it with CDT, then the dac really woke up. Sounded like a completely different dac. Very aggressive and forward, just the way I like it.

    If I were to mainly use it for usb, I think I would rather use something like bifrost 2 or Gungnir Multibit over spring 3.
     
  20. jexby

    jexby Posole Prince

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    all tastes differ, but you may be the rare person on the planet thinking the Spring3 KTE usb is laid back or sleepy.
    I wonder what USB firmware version was installed on that Spring3 KTE or if something at the source of USB was off.

    having owned and used USB bifrost2 and gungnir, the liveliness, accuracy, imaging and blackness of the Spring3 KTE is beyond either of those two DACs.
     

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