Holo May L2 vs MSB Discrete DAC vs Auralic Vega G2.1: Quick Impressions
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 3 มี.ค. 2022
- Holo May L2 vs MSB Discrete DAC vs Auralic Vega G2.1
Since MSB DACs are modular, important to mention that this was the MSB Discrete DAC + Second Discrete Power Supply + Pro ISL Input Module + Pro USB to Pro ISL Adapter.
Detailed impressions on my HeadFi thread: www.head-fi.org/threads/ampli...
#HoloAudioMay #MSBDiscreteDAC #AuralicVegaG2.1 #Audiophile - เพลง
Great review. Helped me to learn DAC. Thoroughly enjoyed.
MSB certainly makes some great products... Nagra, Berkely Reference 2, Aries cerat kassandra, and mola mola tambaqui should also be on your hit list.
I ended up with the MSB Descrete having heard both the DCS Bartok & Mola Mola Tambaqui, Bartok was too analytical while the Tambaqui was a little thin sounding. The MSB just sound natural and full of emotion which was improved when I added the 2nd PSU which really made a noticeable difference.
That's interesting! Which speakers/headphones and amp do you pair it with? I was thinking about the Mola Mola and DCS Lina, but the MSB looks really interesting.
how would you compare the Aqua La Scala MKII
Optologic Dac to these?
I've auditioned the MSB Discrete with MSB mono block amps, Pass Lab pre-amp delivering glorious soundstage & detail to the fantastic Kharma db7-s speakers.
The Discrete dac impact on system musical presentation was impressive.
I'm thinking to get the Pass Labs pre amp and XA 30.8. I never heard of Kharma speaers, sounds interesting
You did a marvelous job explaining the differences and that too for someone who just got a single session with them. I have read the written part as well and thats equally amazing.
I have a conception that laid back translates to being slow. Is this true? If so, is the MSB slower than the MAY?
Also the Weiss DAC502. May not be your exact flavour given your r2r leanings, but it is great.
Having used the MSB Discrete DAC for a few months , I would describe the Discrete as a romantic/lush sounding DAC that’s capable of sounding muscular with the right components. Just to clarify, I’ve listened to the MSB primarily on a headphone setup. Had the Chord Dave for a few months too. On my setup the Dave sounds very hyper and more analytical compared to the Discrete. The Discrete was also warmer sounding compared to the Dave.
Other streamer DACs that I have auditioned around the $9-14k range include:
1. Mola Mola Tambaqui
2. Bricasti M3H
3. T+A SD 3100HV
4. Esoteric N-05XD
5. Meitner MA3
All the above DACs play at a reasonably high level and I would suggest listening to them. Personally, the MSB Discrete won me over with its combination of sound, price , build and features.
thank you save my time
you can not test Chord Dave alone , need combine with M scaler. effect similar to MSB discrete without 2nd power supply. combo make huge different
@@ayc868 chord dave plus the m scaler price is higher than MSB discrete DAC. Too expensive. The MSB is also modular so i can upgrade it in many areas. Plus MSB can run DSD natively. Dave needs to do DSD over PCM and i never liked how it sounds
@@farinaz2000 put aside price (they are close enough to ignore). MSB sound better is the key. what MSB discrete upgrade other than 2nd power supply? I don't see any upgrade for sound quality
@@ayc868 price is not close. Discrete DAC price in Singapore with 1 power supply is $11,000. Dave is $15,000 and M Scaler is $6000 making it $21,000 total. That is a $10,000 difference.
Interesting, from what I heard from youtube the May beats the basic MSB Discrete without any optional modules. It would be interesting to hear a head to head comparison of May versus MSB Discrete with all options. Either way, at this point in time I don't think anyone who bought a Holo May could feel it was a bad deal on a price-performance basis. The basic MSB Discrete sounds too soft on transients and has less clarity than the May.
Yes indeed. It is too soft in transients.
@@amplifyaudioreviews too soft is no good?
@@ayc868 Up to you. Am not a fan of softe transients.
btw, how long have you burnt in the May? I heard from dealer you need 400 hours or so, after which there will be a 30% increase in performance.
Headphones revealed more to me. Ora graphene GQ, it's up there near electrostatic.
Nice video! The May gets so much hype but it's rarely compared against more expensive DACs so it's hard to tell what level of performance it delivers based on reports and reviews.
Regarding MSB, I recently acquired my first, the Analog DAC with the v2 network renderer and power base, and I love it! I have been a long time fan of dCS and have a Bartok as well, but am now looking for a Discrete to potentially unseat it. I would say the dCS sounds more real, but the MSB more musical and emotional if I'm honest. Notes just project out into the room more and there's a fluidity that is almost intoxicating. dCS also requires careful system matching or it can sound slightly hard in the upper midrange/lower treble. I prefer the MSB in one system and the dCS in the other.
I kim, what do you mean the dCS need careful matching? I was looking at the Lina and even maybe a used Rossini, but that's interesting if you have an intake. Thanks :-)
What was the source? The May needs external upsampling to take it to the next level
I am personally using the vega g2 (not g2.1) and I love them!
wonder how this dac compares to the aqua la scala mkll
What is sound characteristics of MSB DAC?
I think it’s worth noting that DAC technology is changing faster than anything else in Hifi audio. New chips are constantly coming out and everyone has a different way of implanting them. Spending a lot on a DAC without having great room treatment wouldn’t be wise.
Holoaudio May KTE mated to Red streamer, particularly like the fact that May has two I2S inputs.
Tested the MSB Discrete (single power supply, ProISL/ProUSB modules) against the May L3. The MSB beats the May L3 with ease on all parameters BUT it’s twice the price.
MSB Discrete is superb but the May L3 is extremely good for the price.
How much better can these super expensive DACs get?
For example the Benchmark DAC3 is considered a great DAC which is transparent.
Not saying that , DAC don’t sound different they all do.
But if these expensive DACs sound that much better, then one is lying.
When I say lying, one must be enhancing the audio somehow.
I think you have an interesting point. Many hifi reviewers and audiophiles claim a particular component or speaker is neutral with no added color. If they all sound different, then they cannot be neutral otherwise they would all sound the same.
What I’m saying is not the gospel, but IMO, I would say all hifi gear that sounds different must have some form of color or it’s manufacturer signature. I hear some say certain brands have a house sound, meaning the brand has a sound signature that you can hear throughout all of it’s model tier.
Then, we don’t truly know what the original recording sounded like in the studio or recordings from live venues? Our gear could be coloring the recording, but as long as we like what we are hearing, then we are good!
Try Empire Ears Odin, Fir M5, 64 audio nio and ikko oh7 these are the best bass iems.
And sennheiser ie 900 and ie 600
Speakers reveal differences more than headphones? I’m sorry what?
Did you upgrade to level 3 with the May? What's that long farting sound at time stamp 3:17?😂😅
Noticed in your previous videos you have a denafrips DAC in your collection. May I ask what kind of sound profile the denafrips has and which model it is?
he probably won't want to admit about the denifrips compared to the msb
Have you listened to the Mola Mola Tambaqui?... After listening to the Tambaqui, I sold my Vega G2/Leo GX combo.
The Tambaqui won me over the dCS Bartok and the Chord Dave (with or without M-Scaler)...I preferred the dCS over the Dave.
I have heard the Tambaqui is fantastic
May L2 vs L1 vs Spring 3 KTE for best value?
I have the Spring 3 KTE DAC and the reviewer of Golden Sound advises the Spring 3 KTE is about 90% of the May’s sound quality. My apologies if he didn’t word it exactly as stated, but I think I recall him saying something like that. I haven’t compared the May in my setup to confirm. I decided not to pay double the price if I wasn’t going to get double the performance. The Golden Sound has a very detailed review of the Spring 3 on TH-cam.
Holo spring 3 KTE upgrade to SR purple fuse will give ur dac a upgrade. To more open sound stage , detail can give it try
You should try an Audio Music DAC/1 at £18k.
Vega G2.1 sounds way better with Aries G2.1 streamer & Leo clock.. It's been designed to sound at its best as a stack with all the other Auralic components. As a stand alone streamer/DAC it's not offering it's best capabilities
How about Vega 2.1 and Sirius 2.1 set? I'm ordered last week Vega 2.1 and Anthem P2, hopefully in a short period I'll buy Sirius 2.1 ...but it is a worth to upgrade?
@@novakeryk For sure it is worth it ! Sirius is the best addition to the Vega, better than Leo ..
@@nikosbellos3336 thank you for a good tip :)
I so much want to buy an Aqua La Scala mkll but it doen't have an optical tosslink input and only has one coaxial input...
why can't I have a really good DAC with at least the following digital inputs:
one coaxial
one optical
one usb
R2R bit too laid back.
Review schiit Loki max
Why is your moustache in focus in this video lol
It was probably filmed in Mo-vember.