I'm a Pontus II owner for about 8 months. Interestingly enough, the second the first bass note hit I knew it was the Denafrips. I had no idea there was a signature sound across the brand until I heard it. A rounder, fuller, warmer bass. Mind you, my TV does not go through the DAC. It goes through a Yamaha receiver. Thanks for another great video.
Great sense of physicality from the Terminator, I would have sweared it was the May. The Mola Mola you mentioned is another very good one, very physical and nuanced in sound. All the three far from my reach, I have to stick with my Qutest (which is a nice stiching to my ears and my pockets). Nice comparison Guido, thank you for sharing
Great that you didn't mention which is which before the monitoring ! I thought the first one sounds very pleasing to the ears with a robust bass, and the second one sounds more natural or a bit more realistic with somewhat blurry bass. Of course through my gears !! I was curious about both dacs, but now I'm kind of prepared what to expect from each of them. Good job, and many many domos !
blurry may come from the lowest bass extension presence (married to the acoustics of the listening room), which comes from powerful bass range transients being present in the sound, which also create bass fullness and presence, but not necessarily the sharpest definition, because a lot is of concern to get both the deepest extension and the definition
I really appreciate the diligence you apply to your reviews. You are a fantastic source of information. I hope you are able to review the Luxman D10x one day (I have one and I'm curious to know how it compares to lower priced reference level DACs).
You were the first to bring the May to my attention. Even though you talk funny, I'm glad I finished the video. It'll be here three days after my birthday. Thanks.
I just subscribed. I love the fact that you include a sound demo and a file download for our own evaluation. Your unbiased perspective, and your highly educated audiophile sensibilities won me over. Thank you for your excellence, and please continue to provide us with reviews of high end components, and hopefully loudspeakers.
Thanks for the excellent review and sound demos. Based on the other comments, you can conclude without a doubt that sound is subjective and no two brains work the same. I was leaning towards Holo for its class-leading measurement but was surprised to find track 1 sounded less realistic straight off the bat. When track 2 came it was instant warmth and the realism of the sound of the stick coming off the drum skin was mind-blowing. The one major thing that put me off Denafrips is I am also a gamer and apparently there's a lag issue with all Denafrips that made it impossible for gaming use and that is something that is inherent so can't be fixed by firmware (from my understanding).
Thanks, I was wearing my non releaving earbuds and I could easily hear the bass detail more clearly with the denafrips dac! Maybe the fact that it has more features gives it a step up!
Great review and comparison! Although I could not agree less with your findings :) I dedicated 15 min. critically listening to sound clips back and fourth (with my Sennheiser HD 650) BEFORE proceeding to the reveal. I expected not to hear any difference but on my surprise it was very easy to hear. I liked May much more, because it sounded much more correct, especially on the cymbals! I would make an analogy with the photograph: May's presentation sounds like great photo with no filters and aftereffects and Terminators presentation is like HDR enhanced, almost over sharpened image of reality. I am a professional classical musician and 30+yrs audiophile and combined I know how softly and quietly played cymbals sound like when it IS played like on the given track. So if I could spend two times worth of my car on the DAC I would go for the MAY!
I compared the two recordings with the original file on an audio editing software (seeing the waveform and also hearing them). May is really closer to the source, while Terminator deviates more. Its bass is significantly louder than the source as well. The transients seem more clear, but they are "clearer" than the original. So, the Terminator seems to add some flavor to the sound, making the transients more sharp and the bass more warm.
I don't know what you have listened to, but Denafrips' dynamics is far superior and just what it should be. May sounds flat in comparison, with somehow artificial flavor left in mouth. Honestly, power section on the Holo is not quite up to the task and it's quite audible
I listened to the downloadable files, and I agree with your description of the Terminator Plus's timbre and detail on those surface-touch particulars, they were less THERE on the May KTE. But I also felt that the piano felt a little sharp, at least in contrast to the May KTE, which sounded a bit more rounded and natural on that instrument, at least on MY system. I felt that the bass was actually handled better on the Terminator Plus, being more textured and less bloated than the May KTE. I'm not sure which I'd pick if I was in the market for a DAC of this caliber. In my opinion there is quite a discernible difference between these two DACs. I was able to guess which was which, only from having heard descriptions of them from other reviewers. FYI: I have frequency roll-offs in both of my ears, one at 11khz and the other at 8khz, along with mild tinnitus.
Not sure I'd pick a winner based on this test through youtube, but I have to say based on what I heard I much prefer the Denafrips. The difference in the bass is palpable, but to me there's a better sense of microdynamics too and even a sense of more details retrieval. I'm suprised I heard as much difference as I did... I'm perfectly happy with my Chord Hugo TT2 though, but it nice to have knowledge of what's out there. Enjoyed this video. I'll sub for more :)
Interesting info…but way out of my price range! 😁 I do own a Pontus II, though…and I just wanted to thank you for your recent references to RiCable (in spite of the RIOT it caused in the comments. LOL!). I ordered a .5M Supreme HDMI to connect my Pi2Design Mercury Streamer (pre-ordered, should receive in early May), to my Pontus II. Can't wait for that to happen! The RiCable cable got to New Jersey SUPER fast via DHL, is impressively made and we’ll packaged! 👍🏼 ALSO, THANKS for Ponta Box! Listening as I type this. What a high-quality, enjoyable recording. SWEET! 🙂
Excellent comparison! Although both are well out of my range, I appreciated the instructive discussion. Alvin is a real sweetheart. Although I've not purchased anything from him, he still always takes the time to respond to my personal e'mails. OH, and BTW, a very big *'THANK YOU!'* for additionally putting the links now in the description below! BIG HELP since I really do want to use the ad defeating settings here, thank you Guido!
Interesting. Your description of the cymbals on the Terminator + matched exactly what I heard...with track 1. I thought the May was the more lifelike, and the Denafrips more controlled, with more of an oversampling hifi type sound.
As a Terminator+ owner I agree with the "crystal clear" highs that it reproduces. So much that I decided to add a pair of REL subwoofers. This wasn't a new decision; I've been thinking about adding a pair of REL subs even before I added the Terminator+ to my stereo set-up. I use a pair of JBL 4365 monitors with 15-inch woofers. One may think that the 15-inch woofers would handle the bass perfectly without the addition of subwoofers, but I find with proper blending of the subs it helps tremendously. Now I have the great highs and lows I've been looking for. I've heard great things about the Mola Mola DAC. Hopefully you can get your hands on one for a test run. I would be very interested in your thoughts.
@@牧園-m4x Does it "change" the DAC, no, but it does *off-set* the sound with "more proficient" bass. Thus, the brightness projected by the DAC is challenged.
Thank you for this high quality comparison. I loved the track you chose. But as most audio gear struggles whith really busy tracks (a lot of instruments at the same time), timing and dynamics, it would be great if you would large scale classical tracks and dynamics+rythm tracks (maybe big band or fusion jazz) as well.
Great review. I had a hard time deciding between the May and the Terminator. I went with the May level 2 mainly because of my Aurender ACS10 which is USB and I heard a lot of great things about the May 2&3's USB implementation. What you said about the Terminators USB short fall has made me feel better about my choice. Also what you said about the May being more bass focused also suits my system as I'm using Magnepans which always could use extra bass. For some time I was considering adding a woofer to my system but since I got the May, I've not bothered with a woofer as it raised the Magnepan's bass to an acceptable level. There is always a feeling of doubt when choosing between components of equal abilities and this review confirms that I made the right choice "for my system". So I thank you for that. I also prefer the aesthetics of the Terminator but it's about the sound not the looks that's important in a "sound" system.
It's funny when realizing I am now listening to my own audio interface D/A... But the recording is amazing and still the difference is pretty big. I love the cymbals and drums on 1, where it's moved to the background in 2. I can't say which is the best DAC, because you'd need to hear it through the studio's DAC where it was recorded. As a passive listener I'd prefer 1's engagement.
The key for me was the bass. The Holo May bass sounds much smoother and more natural. The Denafrits bass sound in my opinion is a little more impactful but harsher and becomes quickly fatiguing. When listening on my Ipad/Airpods Max setup, I actually preferred the Denafrits because of the perceived higher dynamism. However, listening to my Chord Mojo / THX amp / HD6xx, I clearly preferred the more sophisticated bass of the Holo May. The relative harshness of the Denafrits bass became obvious.
Based on earlier reviews between the two DAC's, I was kicking my self for getting Denafrips Terminator 2, and not getting the Holo Audio May KTE. I was even planning on selling my Denafrips and purchasing Holo Audio May KTE. But after listening to the two tacks using headphones, I am very happy that I did not sell the T2. I would like to thank you a lot for putting my mind at ease. For my ears the Denafrips sounds very much better with lot more clarity and lot more separation between the instruments. During the comparison, I was thinking track 1 is by Denafrips and the track 2, was by May. I was pleasantly surprised. Once again thank you very much for the video. I also have the Avatar CD player, and the combo of the T2 and Avatar is nothing like I have heard to date (Even better than PS SACD Transport outputting DSD/use same CD on both machines). I also have access to very high end audio stores and I do frequently visit them to compare my system. I have to say I heard a system worth 300k and my system sounds a lot better, not personal bias. But showers careful component selection and matching could compete or out do a poorly put together system costing considerably more. Also one more note, you purchased your May so you are sending the Denafrips back. I have learned my very costly lesson not to purchase components based on online reviews like Willsenton R800i 300B 805, Yamaha CD-S2100 SACD player and PS Audio SACD Transport. So I have learned to take all online reviews with a pinch of Salt. Only trust my ears. Thank you any away. Oh bye the way my PS Audio SACD transport is for sale if anyone is interested.
What about the differences in 3 dimensionality between the two? I have the Spring 3 KTE and I’m more than happy with it. I use it with a Danafrips Gaia DDC and it’s amazing!
Others here have mentioned the Holo as better at that. Maybe my ear is too much used to high quality analog, but it is just not as deep and wide as analog sources. Apart from that, if I have to make a choice, yes, the May was a little better but again IMO very similar apart from the elements highlighted in the video.
Both DAC's are incredible, but I feel that the wow factor of the Terminator Plus would fatigue my ears pretty quick. Maybe it's a little overly hifi... like it's trying to prove a needles point. The Holo May seems to draw you into the music and keep there for hours to seduce you til 2am.
Great review. As an old analogist that I am, used to turntables and RtR, who has never completely "digested" digital, I wanted to listen without prevention. With the limits of the medium I have (MAC / pro and 700 mb / sec dowload) I listened with good headphones and.... track 1 (IMHO) seems to me more defined in the low range, deeper, more full-bodied and better connected to the other ranges. Track 2 is better defined in the high range, perhaps more articulated, perhaps faster. I like more track 1......That said, a comment on the reliability ( in real life) of the two DACs would also be welcome. Review on their functioning, without problems, over time, ability on the recognition( one shot) of the sources (CD transport, PC / MAC, DAT ....). This - may be - is the key to choosing one or the other device.
Hi, everyone, from what i could hear the Dena is more precise, faster and also has more punch, so it doesn't seem to go down quite as low, but this is a normal perception when it's clearer in the upper ranges, Dena would be up for me more interesting right away after what I could see here through my headphones.. Thank you very much ANA DIA LOG !
So you tae the analogue sound out of the DAC, you turn it back into digital, send it to youtube to compress, then I take that into my own DAC .... and you think what I hear has anything to do with what you heard?
Great review! Very impressive sound quality. Best what I heard from internet reviews. Both HOLO and Denafrips are super. The Data 1 has impressive soundstage, bass and mid base and highs less detailed then Data 2 -Denafrips has defiantly more holographic picture with more detailed highs, the only it loosing mid base on guitar sound. P.S. It will be nice if you do video on how you incorporate the sound part. It is perfect way to understand how this two DACs will sounded in my room with my setup. I compare your data with streaming data and download data Your data sound similar to download if it has the same level of recording. Thank you. Great review!
Well, this is only my impression from the TH-cam presentation, but I much preferred the Terminator -- it seemed more precise and involving. The highs in particular seemed more detailed and in general I enjoyed it more. You might like to take a listen to a comparison of the Terminator with the Chord Dave over at Headquarter Audio, where I preferred the Dave. But the cost of the Dave is astronomical (£10K) and who am I kidding -- I'd never spend that amount on a DAC, nor even the lesser amount for the Holo May or the Terminator. I drew the line at around the £700 I spent on the Earmen Tradutto for my main system, and the Topping E30 (c £100) on my desktop system -- ironically, I listened to this video and the one at Headquarter Audio using the latter...
T+ seems emphasise micro details but it isn't coming across natural to me. It's almost like a digital layer on top especially in the highs. May seems to be more analogue sounding. I have a Pontus 2 at the moment and I'm looking at different upgrade paths. Perhaps the Venus2/Terminator 2 variant doesn't push the detail so far? Otherwise the May as a vinyl lover has gotten my attention.
Hi all ! Does anyone know if these machines will play from an iPhone ALAC file source? I currently use a SONY PHA-3 battery powered DAC into my Vinnie Rossi preamp. The Vinnie Rossi onboard DAC-2 is fantastic but won’t play from an iPhone.
Play from the phone or from the machine? Converted on the machine, the iPhone will read the file and send the digital data to the DAC, so no problem. USB is probably the easiest solution.
Thank you for your good work on audio products! Do you tested or heard the Holo Audio DAC Cyan 2? It’s way cheaper than these DACs but not soooo far away, I’ve heard.
Track 1 for me is so "meaty" crazy bass notes, but other than pretty dull, overheads have not much air to them and they are not that bright, track 2 is just on spot, very well balanced, slightly less meat, if you like more bass could poterntially be an issue, but for me balance of Track2 is TOP. Having seen, I am very impressed it was denafrips, amazing sounding thing, incredible!
I was very surprised by this. I would have bet money that Track 2 was the May. With my gear there was a distinct difference in the Bass with Track 1 being more pronounced, and also in the stage size and clarity in the upper frequencies with Track 2 being larger and clearer. Any residual desire I had for a May has well and truly been squashed now.
Hi Guido, First of all, I want to say that I learned a lot by watching your videos. I was interested in Denafrips Terminator Plus for a while, but decided to buy a Holo May KTE on your recommendations. I contacted Tim and he provided it to me in a very short time. I thank you both. My DAC is still in the burning period and ı am very very pleased with it. ı now need a streamer without a DAC to complete my setup. What would your advice be? Thank you for all your input. I am eagerly waiting for your new videos. Thanks!
Thank you very much for your words. As you probably know, I try to keep it real an honest. I am probably not the best source for streaming gear. I can just echo the quality of Lumin and Auralic streamers, which very expensive. In the end I personally went for a Peoject Stream Box S2 Ultra. Decent interface and good sonics. Generally speaking I just don't like the sound of streaming so I just don't feel motivated in that direction.
hmm....The fact that you are not that much into streaming makes you the better reviewer. :-) you're open and honest in your communication to your subscribers. Why not explain to what you hear and dislike with streaming ? just as an example. I'm very skeptical about cables. especially for cables in the digital domain. I recently bought a silver HDMI cable for my denafrips. (I2S) Why ? because a critical reviewer advised it. and guess what ?. I hear the difference, I learned !
@@hansbogaert4582 good idea! The problem is that people think I am biased because I have an "analog" channel while I do enjoy quality digital playback. But you are right, it's worth a try!
Sonore man and the galvanic isolation is the clear winner. Try the galvanic solution discussed on Audiogon’s forum. You’ll be shocked what $100 can do first.
Friend, were these tests done via the same input and was May in NOS while T+ in OS which is reportedly the optimal settings on both? In other words, apples to apples..
Thanks for running this great test! When I listen to other demo's of these two Dacs on youtube it appears the TerminatorPlus cannot match the Holo May's highly impressive 3D holographic soundstage especially in the depth dimension. Perhaps the May's better bass extension/depth has something to do with it. Having said that it would be great if the next version of May got an OCXO clock as that would surely bump up its detail retrieval.
That holographic sense is one of the biggest lacking parts in digital audio IMO. Not in all recordings but a large part of them. In these dacs I hear layers, but not incredible soundstage. Obviously ones' system chain is also playing a big part in that.
@@anadialog Yeah that holographic soundstage is something I notice analogue guys talk a lot about and something that interests me also. To my ears it appears to be present to some degree in all of these three different Holo May systems: th-cam.com/video/dKNYZxTGSM8/w-d-xo.html , th-cam.com/video/R2tsBvWDfB/w-d-xo.html ,kth-cam.com/video/qyKWuu9skqE/w-d-xo.html Although as you point out, recording quality probably has a lot to do with it as well. Am not sure whether CD versions of the early Rolling Stones albums would sound like this!
The internal May upsampling is quite weak a dedicated oversampler takes it to another level. The May with HQPlayer is stunning it sounds so much better than without it and I have a tin ear
I picked out the right one from another review. The highs of the Terminator is more detailed than the May. It is more subtle on the May. But we must take the thing that fits best to the rest of the system and our own preferences.
Anyone want to dicuss the Analog to digital conversion of these great sounding music via r2r dacs, brick wall filters, delta sigma etc, does the original conversion makes all the difference, as a fairly cheap dac would sound excellent.
There is more air and roundedness in the Track 2 sample, just more life. So I guess I like the Terminator sound. The Holo Audio May sounds more boxed in to me.
Hi Guido, question hopefully you can answer, I am analyzing to buy one of these two beasts, so I would like to be sure that I could play ny SACD from my SACD player through the HDMI to I2S converter to either the May or the Terminator, which of these two are going to allow me to do this? Thanks.
Hmm. There is definitely a difference. In the bass, particularly. The May's bass is much more pronounced. When I listened to it on AMZN HD, the T2 sounded much closer to what I was hearing while streaming directly. I'm listening thru a COS Engineering D2V. It's no slouch, either. I think I may like the May sound better on this cut, but I can't help but think with “my” additional little test, that it is adding to the low end. The extra bass goes away straight from the tap.
Thank you very much for the review. Just one question… When using programs like Hqplayer, Audirvāna or Roon to upsample, do you think the Terminator will perform better with PCM or DSD? Just wondering as you said you didn’t like DSD on the USB at all… And DSD is pretty more intensive with computer resources. Thank you very much in advance. Best regards.
Yes, I was using Audirvana when I made my test with my own native dsd files via USB. So, no, I don't think so. For high-res pcm I used Qobuz trough audirvana besides my Project audio streamer. Nothing special via USB.
To me, the Holo has more air, sounds more relaxed, a little bit more natural, with slightly better imaging. The Terminator seems a little bit more compressed, less pleasing. So I would chose the Holo. P.S. Listening trough my 150$ DAC and 300$ headphones :))
I am not sure I heard what you heard or rather I couldn't agree with your description of the differences. One thing I do agree with you is the differences all lie in or are highlighted within the sound of the cymbals. To me, it was quite obvious as I felt the May's reproduction of the cymbals were louder and better separated whereas the Denafrips' were far more subtle. I suppose different people would react differently to those differences. Basically, I related the more pronounced cymbals reproduction by the May as better or extra resolution whereas I saw the subtlety reproduced by the Denafrips as warmth with a hint of softness. In that context, I find myself preferring the May as a result. Having said that, I must stress I like the look and feel of the Terminator Plus much more than the May. The May looks and feels cheap to me, but we are talking about sound quality here though.
The hifi market is so huge I need 3 lifes to get through all the brands ... When I startet with this journey I thought one of these 2 will it be, nothing better out there and not really cheap. Boy was I wrong, there is so much stuff out there in a total different price range and it is so difficult to tell it they are even close of being worth it when you have equipment like the Holo Audio May. MSB, VAC or Playbackdesigns ... are so expensive but have so good reputation it is impossible for me at the moment to even get a market overview
For some reason, in a classified forum here in Australia, there were many used Holo May for sale but none for the Denafrips Terminator plus. Some even want to trade in their May for the Terminator Plus after having listened to both. The Denafrips is more relaxing, slightly wider soundstage and non fatiguing with better bass. The Holo May bass sounds a bit boomy to me. I would vote for the Terminator Plus.
Denafrips sounded more right to me. The plucked notes were more believable and the bass seems more understandable from the Terminator. The May seemed slow for some reason, like it worked at keeping up with the music. Thanks for music demo as part of this comparison.
May ist the best you can do for analog yet highly detailed holographic presentation. Tried Rockna Wavedream,Terminator and T+A, none of that came close to holo may balance and neutrality.
Your comment about the USB input on the Denafrips is interesting. An audio engineer friend in Shenzhen made a bespoke 1541 DAC for me. He tried 3 different USB cards before he find a type that met his standards. I guess it is the most difficult input to get right.
@@fatdoi003 Thats a better choice for the price..get a good DDC and DAC and it'll be way less that these and you'll get the same quality audio. I have an Audio-gd DAC and their DDC, all-in, for under $2k easy. Trust me, the sonics are top top notch. If you know what you're doing you don't need an all in one solution.
I have a spring 3 level 1. I use the i2s input. Here’s my experience. I first didn’t like how it sounds when i first had it. Sounded harsh and boxed it in, bass was also very dry. It was when i disabled the PLL that everything opened up and it came to life. Try disabling the PLL and see if you like it. I have used the usb but i find the I2s to be slightly better..
@@anadialog I didn't know you were a team. So many Stereophile writers get embarrassed when JA1"s measurements come out. Even Amir has called out a few for recommending poorly designed gear.
On my iPad the piano sounded closer to real through terminator, same with percussion, through holo may it was all soft edges to the point of being obviously processed sound. Even before the second track played I knew that’s not quite right, pianos don’t sound like this even when playing una corda with newly felted hammers. But it was like the piece lost some cohesion in track two, the individual parts sound real but there’s that feeling of each almost having been recorded separately then mixed together. Maybe that’s how the music was actually recorded and processed. Anyway, I don’t think I would have picked the May out of those two, what would be the point of paying that kind of money for gear without full resolution capability - that should be the starting point.
Only the Spring 3 DAC (any edition) has an optional factory-installed preamplifier module, at a cost. The May DAC is meant to be paired with the Serene preamplifier, which can also be used as a headphone amplifier with an adapter!
Ciao Guido, thanks for this very interesting comparaison between these two well regarded DACs 🙏👍 I have recently received a Merason DAC1 🇨🇭Very analog sounding, you should give it a listen if you can. Also thank you for sharing such great recording, I’ve been a fan of Japanese jazz on the TBM label, I was not familiar with Ponta Box, I read that “Ponta” Murakami-san (drums) and Sayama-san (piano) regretfully both passed away too early RIP, I will look for their XRCDs (JVC), in the meantime I see their albums are available for streaming on Spotify (unfortunately not on Qobuz or Tidal). By the way how are you progressing on your preamp choice? Best, Joel
Thanks, yes, I keep hearing of that DAC. Interesting, thanks! Ponta Box are great. I have a few records, great big sound but the XRCD is just outstanding, especially the first track. Preamps are going good but it will take some time 😚
@@anadialog I've got also a merason dac-1 since 3 months after comparing many challenger including waveligt Rockna, denafrips, audiobyte, and ECdesign powerdac. Merason is not impressive at the first time (and may be never) but it deliver an impressive musicality which was missing in my system.
@@anadialog I agree that is can play DSD but I was under the impression that it converted DSD to PCM and then send it to the R2R ladder. where as the May has 2 DACs the R2R ladder for PCM and a separate one for DSD. Can you confirm that there is a separate DSD Dac?
Well that was pretty easy for me to assess which I liked more. The Holo is much much better. I had a Venus II and actually didn’t like it. It did kind of what the Terminator does. Too soft and too round. If you look at what Goldensound has said with his review and measurements the Denafrips use a lot of DSP that messes with the sound. That is, adds to the sound. So as a musician it doesn’t and didn’t sound natural to me. The Holo was way more natural and presented in space. It was also much more cohesive. The terminator was harder to follow. And btw as a musician the symbols are more real with the Holo. I know you might like the way it’s presented more with the terminator but symbols are not that smooth in a live setting. Live instruments are usually quite bright live. The terminator also was more forward. The Holo presented the instruments more properly in space. The differences to me are actually quite big. They are very different. Great comparison! That was wonderful Thank you so much
Denafrps+ FTW. Just more clear and transparent. l listen on electrostatics and it is easy to hear the difference. Not much difference in the bass response. Thanks for your video.
Of the test tracks? Natively the tracks come from a CD. After conversion I re-converted them in 96Khz/24bits like the files for download along with the original CD track.
I know a TH-cam comparison doesn't mean much - especially given how long the recordings were, but I felt the Denafrips was noticeably nicer somehow as, again, this isn't the best way to demo a system. Going into it I felt like I would have been leaning towards the May. I know this was an XRCD and not an SACD, and I've heard the May has an amazing DSD DAC. I wouldn't know until I've tested them both. From this VERY makeshift demo though, I did prefer the Terminator +. I'd have to try both before committing that much $$$ either though.
A really good DAC gives you EXACTLY what is being thrown into it, which means that it mercilessly reveals the flaws of the cd format (16/44,1 never was enough). If not, it's not a good DAC, but instead something comparable to Dolby or likewise. And nothing good ever comes out of polishing a turd. The difference between vinyl and cd's are; The more you spend on turntables/pre-amps the better the sound you get (Though it won't ever be perfect no matter how much you spend, but nothing will anyway) - But when it comes to cd's, spending more just reveals how much the format sucks. Unless it conceals or manipulate it, but then we have left the hifi area. Sure you won't agree, but that's okay. Stay cool Mate.
I do agree but mainly because of lousy mixing and mastering. A well-recorded and mastered CD like Ponta Box rivals with a decent record. But I see your point.
Hey Mate. Bad mastering and mixing sure ruins a lot, but the cd format in it self has flaws that not even a superb recording or a really good DAC can fix. If you have a good recording on a cd, and the same on a SACD or other high res format, and you compare them, you'll know exactly what I mean. If you dig further into things, I bet you'll come to realize that the better the DAC - the more the shortcomings of the cd format is revealed. You might get a few more details from the music, but it comes with a price higher than what's gained. I personally have come to the conclusion that investing in an expensive DAC infact is a bad deal when it comes to cd's. You're better of with a cheaper messy sounding one that drowns the flaws along with everything else. Of course I'm not recommending complete junk, but don't go too high. DAC's (for cd's) are one of those things where better actually makes things worse. At least in my opinion (which of course noone are forced to agree with). Hang on to your awesomeness. Best wishes.
@@TheSoundrookie - I think you are right. I only listen to CDs on my main system (of which many are poorly recorded/mastered) and my recent pandemic instilled 'upgrade journey' made me experience exactly what you describe. Only a few CDs where actually fun to listen to. So, I went for a 'lesser' DAC - in my case a Musician Pegasus. That machine is a lot more forgiving, and I am very happy with it in my system.
![ANA[DIA]LOG](http://yt3.ggpht.com/K0qr1ndqDdGUyxbMUYesdA0KM3wZ-_upZ4bvQR8Vi_Ie1773eXoIXY2VblfzWYRJnwxd5pVrbXw=s48-c-k-c0x00ffffff-no-rj)
I'm a Pontus II owner for about 8 months. Interestingly enough, the second the first bass note hit I knew it was the Denafrips. I had no idea there was a signature sound across the brand until I heard it. A rounder, fuller, warmer bass. Mind you, my TV does not go through the DAC. It goes through a Yamaha receiver. Thanks for another great video.
Whoever voiced the Denafrips sound created the Denafrips legacy; it's sound signature. I own the Venus II.
Listened to both for quite some time before purchasing the Terminator +. They're very close, but when combining the Gaia and T+ it tips the scales.
i'm t plus + gaia owner. Its sound amazing, a little better overall then may kte
Thanks!
Great sense of physicality from the Terminator, I would have sweared it was the May. The Mola Mola you mentioned is another very good one, very physical and nuanced in sound. All the three far from my reach, I have to stick with my Qutest (which is a nice stiching to my ears and my pockets). Nice comparison Guido, thank you for sharing
Great that you didn't mention which is which before the monitoring ! I thought the first one sounds very pleasing to the ears with a robust bass, and the second one sounds more natural or a bit more realistic with somewhat blurry bass. Of course through my gears !! I was curious about both dacs, but now I'm kind of prepared what to expect from each of them. Good job, and many many domos !
blurry may come from the lowest bass extension presence (married to the acoustics of the listening room), which comes from powerful bass range transients being present in the sound, which also create bass fullness and presence, but not necessarily the sharpest definition, because a lot is of concern to get both the deepest extension and the definition
I really appreciate the diligence you apply to your reviews. You are a fantastic source of information. I hope you are able to review the Luxman D10x one day (I have one and I'm curious to know how it compares to lower priced reference level DACs).
You were the first to bring the May to my attention. Even though you talk funny, I'm glad I finished the video. It'll be here three days after my birthday.
Thanks.
I am mainly Italian, maybe that is why
I just subscribed. I love the fact that you include a sound demo and a file download for our own evaluation. Your unbiased perspective, and your highly educated audiophile sensibilities won me over. Thank you for your excellence, and please continue to provide us with reviews of high end components, and hopefully loudspeakers.
Thank you so much David for your words...this is what keeps me going!
Thanks for the excellent review and sound demos. Based on the other comments, you can conclude without a doubt that sound is subjective and no two brains work the same. I was leaning towards Holo for its class-leading measurement but was surprised to find track 1 sounded less realistic straight off the bat. When track 2 came it was instant warmth and the realism of the sound of the stick coming off the drum skin was mind-blowing. The one major thing that put me off Denafrips is I am also a gamer and apparently there's a lag issue with all Denafrips that made it impossible for gaming use and that is something that is inherent so can't be fixed by firmware (from my understanding).
Thanks, I was wearing my non releaving earbuds and I could easily hear the bass detail more clearly with the denafrips dac! Maybe the fact that it has more features gives it a step up!
REALLY Great review!!! Thanks！
Great review and comparison! Although I could not agree less with your findings :)
I dedicated 15 min. critically listening to sound clips back and fourth (with my Sennheiser HD 650) BEFORE proceeding to the reveal. I expected not to hear any difference but on my surprise it was very easy to hear. I liked May much more, because it sounded much more correct, especially on the cymbals! I would make an analogy with the photograph: May's presentation sounds like great photo with no filters and aftereffects and Terminators presentation is like HDR enhanced, almost over sharpened image of reality. I am a professional classical musician and 30+yrs audiophile and combined I know how softly and quietly played cymbals sound like when it IS played like on the given track. So if I could spend two times worth of my car on the DAC I would go for the MAY!
awesome job. great clarity on your presentation and spot on on your sonic analysis.
Loved the reference recording you chose, sir!
I compared the two recordings with the original file on an audio editing software (seeing the waveform and also hearing them). May is really closer to the source, while Terminator deviates more. Its bass is significantly louder than the source as well. The transients seem more clear, but they are "clearer" than the original. So, the Terminator seems to add some flavor to the sound, making the transients more sharp and the bass more warm.
Denafrips is colored for sure
I don't know what you have listened to, but Denafrips' dynamics is far superior and just what it should be. May sounds flat in comparison, with somehow artificial flavor left in mouth. Honestly, power section on the Holo is not quite up to the task and it's quite audible
Yes the dynamic may be better but as another commentator said this could cause fatigue.
All that from a TH-cam video!?
@@gleamtarrest6310 No. From the recordings provided on the video description.
I listened to the downloadable files, and I agree with your description of the Terminator Plus's timbre and detail on those surface-touch particulars, they were less THERE on the May KTE. But I also felt that the piano felt a little sharp, at least in contrast to the May KTE, which sounded a bit more rounded and natural on that instrument, at least on MY system. I felt that the bass was actually handled better on the Terminator Plus, being more textured and less bloated than the May KTE. I'm not sure which I'd pick if I was in the market for a DAC of this caliber. In my opinion there is quite a discernible difference between these two DACs. I was able to guess which was which, only from having heard descriptions of them from other reviewers. FYI: I have frequency roll-offs in both of my ears, one at 11khz and the other at 8khz, along with mild tinnitus.
Both are nice 👍 2 for sound ..I usually listen 🎧 with my eyes 👀 closed for all the comparisons to be objective 😍😍😍😍
THANKS FOR SHARING THIS GUIDO 🤗😍😍😍
Another nice video!!! I can easily recognize the Terminator sound
Not sure I'd pick a winner based on this test through youtube, but I have to say based on what I heard I much prefer the Denafrips. The difference in the bass is palpable, but to me there's a better sense of microdynamics too and even a sense of more details retrieval. I'm suprised I heard as much difference as I did...
I'm perfectly happy with my Chord Hugo TT2 though, but it nice to have knowledge of what's out there.
Enjoyed this video. I'll sub for more :)
Thanks! Remember all files are available for download in high-res in the video description of my vids
Holo May it's absolutely amazing dac, his sound is so mesmerizing and magical 😍
Very nice and sweet music 😊
Interesting info…but way out of my price range! 😁 I do own a Pontus II, though…and I just wanted to thank you for your recent references to RiCable (in spite of the RIOT it caused in the comments. LOL!). I ordered a .5M Supreme HDMI to connect my Pi2Design Mercury Streamer (pre-ordered, should receive in early May), to my Pontus II. Can't wait for that to happen! The RiCable cable got to New Jersey SUPER fast via DHL, is impressively made and we’ll packaged! 👍🏼 ALSO, THANKS for Ponta Box! Listening as I type this. What a high-quality, enjoyable recording. SWEET! 🙂
mercury streamer quality is amazing, using it with bnc right now to an audial dac
Excellent comparison! Although both are well out of my range, I appreciated the instructive discussion. Alvin is a real sweetheart. Although I've not purchased anything from him, he still always takes the time to respond to my personal e'mails. OH, and BTW, a very big *'THANK YOU!'* for additionally putting the links now in the description below! BIG HELP since I really do want to use the ad defeating settings here, thank you Guido!
Thank YOU for the suggestion!
Interesting. Your description of the cymbals on the Terminator + matched exactly what I heard...with track 1. I thought the May was the more lifelike, and the Denafrips more controlled, with more of an oversampling hifi type sound.
As a Terminator+ owner I agree with the "crystal clear" highs that it reproduces. So much that I decided to add a pair of REL subwoofers. This wasn't a new decision; I've been thinking about adding a pair of REL subs even before I added the Terminator+ to my stereo set-up. I use a pair of JBL 4365 monitors with 15-inch woofers. One may think that the 15-inch woofers would handle the bass perfectly without the addition of subwoofers, but I find with proper blending of the subs it helps tremendously. Now I have the great highs and lows I've been looking for.
I've heard great things about the Mola Mola DAC. Hopefully you can get your hands on one for a test run. I would be very interested in your thoughts.
Adding subwoofers can’t correct the problem from a bright DAC.
@@牧園-m4x
Does it "change" the DAC, no, but it does *off-set* the sound with "more proficient" bass. Thus, the brightness projected by the DAC is challenged.
12:07 12:46 track 1
14:02 14:41 track 2
Thank you for this high quality comparison. I loved the track you chose. But as most audio gear struggles whith really busy tracks (a lot of instruments at the same time), timing and dynamics, it would be great if you would large scale classical tracks and dynamics+rythm tracks (maybe big band or fusion jazz) as well.
Great review. I had a hard time deciding between the May and the Terminator. I went with the May level 2 mainly because of my Aurender ACS10 which is USB and I heard a lot of great things about the May 2&3's USB implementation. What you said about the Terminators USB short fall has made me feel better about my choice. Also what you said about the May being more bass focused also suits my system as I'm using Magnepans which always could use extra bass. For some time I was considering adding a woofer to my system but since I got the May, I've not bothered with a woofer as it raised the Magnepan's bass to an acceptable level. There is always a feeling of doubt when choosing between components of equal abilities and this review confirms that I made the right choice "for my system". So I thank you for that. I also prefer the aesthetics of the Terminator but it's about the sound not the looks that's important in a "sound" system.
It's funny when realizing I am now listening to my own audio interface D/A... But the recording is amazing and still the difference is pretty big. I love the cymbals and drums on 1, where it's moved to the background in 2. I can't say which is the best DAC, because you'd need to hear it through the studio's DAC where it was recorded. As a passive listener I'd prefer 1's engagement.
The key for me was the bass. The Holo May bass sounds much smoother and more natural. The Denafrits bass sound in my opinion is a little more impactful but harsher and becomes quickly fatiguing. When listening on my Ipad/Airpods Max setup, I actually preferred the Denafrits because of the perceived higher dynamism. However, listening to my Chord Mojo / THX amp / HD6xx, I clearly preferred the more sophisticated bass of the Holo May. The relative harshness of the Denafrits bass became obvious.
frits?
Based on earlier reviews between the two DAC's, I was kicking my self for getting Denafrips Terminator 2, and not getting the Holo Audio May KTE. I was even planning on selling my Denafrips and purchasing Holo Audio May KTE. But after listening to the two tacks using headphones, I am very happy that I did not sell the T2. I would like to thank you a lot for putting my mind at ease. For my ears the Denafrips sounds very much better with lot more clarity and lot more separation between the instruments. During the comparison, I was thinking track 1 is by Denafrips and the track 2, was by May. I was pleasantly surprised. Once again thank you very much for the video. I also have the Avatar CD player, and the combo of the T2 and Avatar is nothing like I have heard to date (Even better than PS SACD Transport outputting DSD/use same CD on both machines). I also have access to very high end audio stores and I do frequently visit them to compare my system. I have to say I heard a system worth 300k and my system sounds a lot better, not personal bias. But showers careful component selection and matching could compete or out do a poorly put together system costing considerably more. Also one more note, you purchased your May so you are sending the Denafrips back. I have learned my very costly lesson not to purchase components based on online reviews like Willsenton R800i 300B 805, Yamaha CD-S2100 SACD player and PS Audio SACD Transport. So I have learned to take all online reviews with a pinch of Salt. Only trust my ears. Thank you any away. Oh bye the way my PS Audio SACD transport is for sale if anyone is interested.
Thanks for your input. I am sure your system is better than the 300k one. Careful synergy built in time is priceless!
Holo’s USB is amazingly good!
What about the differences in 3 dimensionality between the two?
I have the Spring 3 KTE and I’m more than happy with it. I use it with a Danafrips Gaia DDC and it’s amazing!
Others here have mentioned the Holo as better at that. Maybe my ear is too much used to high quality analog, but it is just not as deep and wide as analog sources. Apart from that, if I have to make a choice, yes, the May was a little better but again IMO very similar apart from the elements highlighted in the video.
I use the GAIA with my Chord Qutest (And Plixir Elite BDC power supply for the Qutest), to great effect!!
Both DAC's are incredible, but I feel that the wow factor of the Terminator Plus would fatigue my ears pretty quick. Maybe it's a little overly hifi... like it's trying to prove a needles point.
The Holo May seems to draw you into the music and keep there for hours to seduce you til 2am.
Great review. As an old analogist that I am, used to turntables and RtR, who has never completely "digested" digital, I wanted to listen without prevention. With the limits of the medium I have (MAC / pro and 700 mb / sec dowload) I listened with good headphones and.... track 1 (IMHO) seems to me more defined in the low range, deeper, more full-bodied and better connected to the other ranges. Track 2 is better defined in the high range, perhaps more articulated, perhaps faster. I like more track 1......That said, a comment on the reliability ( in real life) of the two DACs would also be welcome. Review on their functioning, without problems, over time, ability on the recognition( one shot) of the sources (CD transport, PC / MAC, DAT ....). This - may be - is the key to choosing one or the other device.
Interesting! On first small listen I preferred the Denafrips. Which I am surprised by.
Hi, everyone,
from what i could hear the Dena is more precise, faster and also has more punch, so it doesn't seem to go down quite as low, but this is a normal perception when it's clearer in the upper ranges, Dena would be up for me more interesting right away after what I could see here through my headphones..
Thank you very much ANA DIA LOG !
Thank YOU!
great video . .thank you.
in the future (maybe) hopefully you can compare the top Musician and Audio GD DACS
So you tae the analogue sound out of the DAC, you turn it back into digital, send it to youtube to compress, then I take that into my own DAC .... and you think what I hear has anything to do with what you heard?
Great review! Very impressive sound quality. Best what I heard from internet reviews. Both HOLO and Denafrips are super. The Data 1 has impressive soundstage, bass and mid base and highs less detailed then Data 2 -Denafrips has defiantly more holographic picture with more detailed highs, the only it loosing mid base on guitar sound.
P.S. It will be nice if you do video on how you incorporate the sound part. It is perfect way to understand how this two DACs will sounded in my room with my setup. I compare your data with streaming data and download data Your data sound similar to download if it has the same level of recording.
Thank you.
Great review!
Thank you! What do you mean in the post scritptum part? Thanks 😊
Well, this is only my impression from the TH-cam presentation, but I much preferred the Terminator -- it seemed more precise and involving. The highs in particular seemed more detailed and in general I enjoyed it more.
You might like to take a listen to a comparison of the Terminator with the Chord Dave over at Headquarter Audio, where I preferred the Dave. But the cost of the Dave is astronomical (£10K) and who am I kidding -- I'd never spend that amount on a DAC, nor even the lesser amount for the Holo May or the Terminator.
I drew the line at around the £700 I spent on the Earmen Tradutto for my main system, and the Topping E30 (c £100) on my desktop system -- ironically, I listened to this video and the one at Headquarter Audio using the latter...
T+ seems emphasise micro details but it isn't coming across natural to me. It's almost like a digital layer on top especially in the highs. May seems to be more analogue sounding. I have a Pontus 2 at the moment and I'm looking at different upgrade paths. Perhaps the Venus2/Terminator 2 variant doesn't push the detail so far? Otherwise the May as a vinyl lover has gotten my attention.
Hi all !
Does anyone know if these machines will play from an iPhone ALAC file source?
I currently use a SONY PHA-3 battery powered DAC into my Vinnie Rossi preamp.
The Vinnie Rossi onboard DAC-2 is fantastic but won’t play from an iPhone.
Play from the phone or from the machine? Converted on the machine, the iPhone will read the file and send the digital data to the DAC, so no problem. USB is probably the easiest solution.
If you are only streaming Qobuz or Tidal does a DAC of this caliber make a difference? Or do you need other sources to her the difference?
IMHO a decent converter will do it. With SACD, DVD audio, HDCD, XRCD, CD and native DSD files you really want the best.
A very good question Frank! 🇺🇦🇺🇸🤜
Thank you for your good work on audio products! Do you tested or heard the Holo Audio DAC Cyan 2? It’s way cheaper than these DACs but not soooo far away, I’ve heard.
Thanks, no I haven’t!
What kind of SACD with USB or I2S output you have? Are you sure you didn't replace the tracks into the downloadable file?
No replacement. I have an Oppo105D but I use this trick to send DSD: th-cam.com/video/KAqr8MP-in4/w-d-xo.htmlsi=gu9LXmOyX3TkreFV
try reactivating plug-ins like EQ ?
Did anyone else think track 1 sounded more like a live performance than track 2? I downloaded the files to compare.
no, second track more reality and quality
@@kabardink well… for me track 2 was simply better. There was simply more life in it. That’s the way I see it
I liked track 2
Can you pls compare with MPD-8 Playback Designs?
MPD-8 is better, as it should be for 3x the price...Dummy
THIS episode!
the denafrips can further be improved by adding the DDC Denafrips Hermes or Denafrips Gaia
Apple Music lossless
Thx for the vid. Titanis 2.0 - probably not just marketing.. What about Audio - GD are u planning to try their R7HE?
Maybe, but as you probably know I am not a huge fan of digital. Every know and then I try to test something.
The terminator firmware has been upgraded since this video ,usb is equal with both machines now.
Track 1 for me is so "meaty" crazy bass notes, but other than pretty dull, overheads have not much air to them and they are not that bright, track 2 is just on spot, very well balanced, slightly less meat, if you like more bass could poterntially be an issue, but for me balance of Track2 is TOP. Having seen, I am very impressed it was denafrips, amazing sounding thing, incredible!
I was very surprised by this. I would have bet money that Track 2 was the May. With my gear there was a distinct difference in the Bass with Track 1 being more pronounced, and also in the stage size and clarity in the upper frequencies with Track 2 being larger and clearer. Any residual desire I had for a May has well and truly been squashed now.
Hi Guido,
First of all, I want to say that I learned a lot by watching your videos. I was interested in Denafrips Terminator Plus for a while, but decided to buy a Holo May KTE on your recommendations. I contacted Tim and he provided it to me in a very short time. I thank you both. My DAC is still in the burning period and ı am very very pleased with it. ı now need a streamer without a DAC to complete my setup. What would your advice be? Thank you for all your input. I am eagerly waiting for your new videos. Thanks!
Thank you very much for your words. As you probably know, I try to keep it real an honest. I am probably not the best source for streaming gear. I can just echo the quality of Lumin and Auralic streamers, which very expensive. In the end I personally went for a Peoject Stream Box S2 Ultra. Decent interface and good sonics. Generally speaking I just don't like the sound of streaming so I just don't feel motivated in that direction.
hmm....The fact that you are not that much into streaming makes you the better reviewer. :-)
you're open and honest in your communication to your subscribers. Why not explain to what you hear and dislike with streaming ?
just as an example. I'm very skeptical about cables. especially for cables in the digital domain. I recently bought a silver HDMI cable for my denafrips. (I2S)
Why ? because a critical reviewer advised it. and guess what ?. I hear the difference, I learned !
@@hansbogaert4582 good idea! The problem is that people think I am biased because I have an "analog" channel while I do enjoy quality digital playback. But you are right, it's worth a try!
Lumin U2 mini is a fantastic streamer.
Sonore man and the galvanic isolation is the clear winner. Try the galvanic solution discussed on Audiogon’s forum. You’ll be shocked what $100 can do first.
Good job. Heard some guys saying the Weiss 501 it's better....smoother. give it a try if you can
Thanks!
the Weiss is twice the price..Not in the same category.
Friend, so you'd recommend May over Terminator for straight USB connection?
Yes, but the differences are subtle
@@anadialog Thanks pal, good job on your videos
Friend, were these tests done via the same input and was May in NOS while T+ in OS which is reportedly the optimal settings on both? In other words, apples to apples..
Ciao Guido ! When will you do a Mola Mola Tambaqui test?
Thanks for running this great test! When I listen to other demo's of these two Dacs on youtube it appears the TerminatorPlus cannot match the Holo May's highly impressive 3D holographic soundstage especially in the depth dimension. Perhaps the May's better bass extension/depth has something to do with it. Having said that it would be great if the next version of May got an OCXO clock as that would surely bump up its detail retrieval.
That holographic sense is one of the biggest lacking parts in digital audio IMO. Not in all recordings but a large part of them. In these dacs I hear layers, but not incredible soundstage. Obviously ones' system chain is also playing a big part in that.
@@anadialog Yeah that holographic soundstage is something I notice analogue guys talk a lot about and something that interests me also. To my ears it appears to be present to some degree in all of these three different Holo May systems: th-cam.com/video/dKNYZxTGSM8/w-d-xo.html , th-cam.com/video/R2tsBvWDfB/w-d-xo.html ,kth-cam.com/video/qyKWuu9skqE/w-d-xo.html Although as you point out, recording quality probably has a lot to do with it as well. Am not sure whether CD versions of the early Rolling Stones albums would sound like this!
The internal May upsampling is quite weak a dedicated oversampler takes it to another level. The May with HQPlayer is stunning it sounds so much better than without it and I have a tin ear
I'm owner of t+ and kte. Denafrips for me sound more realistic and fun
I have a May KTE 3 .. always wondered about it compared to T+ ..
Well, the T+ just came out! At the right time maybe...so much good stuff about there...and arriving!
I picked out the right one from another review. The highs of the Terminator is more detailed than the May. It is more subtle on the May. But we must take the thing that fits best to the rest of the system and our own preferences.
Anyone want to dicuss the Analog to digital conversion of these great sounding music via r2r dacs, brick wall filters, delta sigma etc, does the original conversion makes all the difference, as a fairly cheap dac would sound excellent.
There is more air and roundedness in the Track 2 sample, just more life. So I guess I like the Terminator sound. The Holo Audio May sounds more boxed in to me.
Agreed about openness and high end resolution. I’ll keep my Denafrips. :-)
Hi Guido, question hopefully you can answer, I am analyzing to buy one of these two beasts, so I would like to be sure that I could play ny SACD from my SACD player through the HDMI to I2S converter to either the May or the Terminator, which of these two are going to allow me to do this? Thanks.
Hmm. There is definitely a difference. In the bass, particularly. The May's bass is much more pronounced.
When I listened to it on AMZN HD, the T2 sounded much closer to what I was hearing while streaming directly.
I'm listening thru a COS Engineering D2V. It's no slouch, either. I think I may like the May sound better on this cut, but I can't help but think with “my” additional little test, that it is adding to the low end. The extra bass goes away straight from the tap.
Thank you very much for the review. Just one question… When using programs like Hqplayer, Audirvāna or Roon to upsample, do you think the Terminator will perform better with PCM or DSD? Just wondering as you said you didn’t like DSD on the USB at all… And DSD is pretty more intensive with computer resources. Thank you very much in advance. Best regards.
Yes, I was using Audirvana when I made my test with my own native dsd files via USB. So, no, I don't think so. For high-res pcm I used Qobuz trough audirvana besides my Project audio streamer. Nothing special via USB.
I have the Terminator II and use Roon and HQPlayer. From my experience, PCM sounds better w/ the TII
To me, the Holo has more air, sounds more relaxed, a little bit more natural, with slightly better imaging. The Terminator seems a little bit more compressed, less pleasing. So I would chose the Holo.
P.S. Listening trough my 150$ DAC and 300$ headphones :))
Thanks for your input!
I am not sure I heard what you heard or rather I couldn't agree with your description of the differences. One thing I do agree with you is the differences all lie in or are highlighted within the sound of the cymbals. To me, it was quite obvious as I felt the May's reproduction of the cymbals were louder and better separated whereas the Denafrips' were far more subtle. I suppose different people would react differently to those differences. Basically, I related the more pronounced cymbals reproduction by the May as better or extra resolution whereas I saw the subtlety reproduced by the Denafrips as warmth with a hint of softness. In that context, I find myself preferring the May as a result. Having said that, I must stress I like the look and feel of the Terminator Plus much more than the May. The May looks and feels cheap to me, but we are talking about sound quality here though.
Trust me, when you have it in your hands (now sold) the Terminator seems cheap in respect to the May.
When a test of Mola Mola Tambaqui?
If they reach out...but other things are coming out...not in a rush for digital
What loudspeaker do you use
Goldenear Triton Reference
What's your DSD recorder?
The one that you recorded tapes on old video you've released?
I had a RME ADI2pro FS. Gone now.
The hifi market is so huge I need 3 lifes to get through all the brands ...
When I startet with this journey I thought one of these 2 will it be, nothing better out there and not really cheap. Boy was I wrong, there is so much stuff out there in a total different price range and it is so difficult to tell it they are even close of being worth it when you have equipment like the Holo Audio May. MSB, VAC or Playbackdesigns ... are so expensive but have so good reputation it is impossible for me at the moment to even get a market overview
True!
For some reason, in a classified forum here in Australia, there were many used Holo May for sale but none for the Denafrips Terminator plus. Some even want to trade in their May for the Terminator Plus after having listened to both. The Denafrips is more relaxing, slightly wider soundstage and non fatiguing with better bass. The Holo May bass sounds a bit boomy to me. I would vote for the Terminator Plus.
The same impression of May's bass. Even listening to youtube audio with Aiwa Exos9 4.60 Bluetooth speaker. Overall: I liked track 2 better.
Denafrips sounded more right to me. The plucked notes were more believable and the bass seems more understandable from the Terminator. The May seemed slow for some reason, like it worked at keeping up with the music. Thanks for music demo as part of this comparison.
May ist the best you can do for analog yet highly detailed holographic presentation. Tried Rockna Wavedream,Terminator and T+A, none of that came close to holo may balance and neutrality.
Your comment about the USB input on the Denafrips is interesting. An audio engineer friend in Shenzhen made a bespoke 1541 DAC for me. He tried 3 different USB cards before he find a type that met his standards. I guess it is the most difficult input to get right.
i think throwing this money on those DAC, the owner will throw a bit more on a DDC
@@fatdoi003 Thats a better choice for the price..get a good DDC and DAC and it'll be way less that these and you'll get the same quality audio. I have an Audio-gd DAC and their DDC, all-in, for under $2k easy. Trust me, the sonics are top top notch. If you know what you're doing you don't need an all in one solution.
I have a spring 3 level 1. I use the i2s input. Here’s my experience. I first didn’t like how it sounds when i first had it. Sounded harsh and boxed it in, bass was also very dry. It was when i disabled the PLL that everything opened up and it came to life. Try disabling the PLL and see if you like it. I have used the usb but i find the I2s to be slightly better..
Interesting, gotta try that!
Any measurements??? I didn't think so.
Nope! Not my style nor my competence, especially for digital. We have Amir for that! ;-)
@@anadialog I didn't know you were a team. So many Stereophile writers get embarrassed when JA1"s measurements come out. Even Amir has called out a few for recommending poorly designed gear.
I kept going upstairs for my headphones and coming back without them i give up 😕
Take a look at the Gold Note DS10 with the power supply.
On my iPad the piano sounded closer to real through terminator, same with percussion, through holo may it was all soft edges to the point of being obviously processed sound. Even before the second track played I knew that’s not quite right, pianos don’t sound like this even when playing una corda with newly felted hammers. But it was like the piece lost some cohesion in track two, the individual parts sound real but there’s that feeling of each almost having been recorded separately then mixed together. Maybe that’s how the music was actually recorded and processed. Anyway, I don’t think I would have picked the May out of those two, what would be the point of paying that kind of money for gear without full resolution capability - that should be the starting point.
Interesting input, thanks.
BUT, the KTE has a preamp, right? This eliminates another component, cables, power cord, iso devices...
No it's just a DAC which operates at line level and no volume knob.
Only the Spring 3 DAC (any edition) has an optional factory-installed preamplifier module, at a cost. The May DAC is meant to be paired with the Serene preamplifier, which can also be used as a headphone amplifier with an adapter!
Ciao Guido, thanks for this very interesting comparaison between these two well regarded DACs 🙏👍 I have recently received a Merason DAC1 🇨🇭Very analog sounding, you should give it a listen if you can. Also thank you for sharing such great recording, I’ve been a fan of Japanese jazz on the TBM label, I was not familiar with Ponta Box, I read that “Ponta” Murakami-san (drums) and Sayama-san (piano) regretfully both passed away too early RIP, I will look for their XRCDs (JVC), in the meantime I see their albums are available for streaming on Spotify (unfortunately not on Qobuz or Tidal). By the way how are you progressing on your preamp choice? Best, Joel
Thanks, yes, I keep hearing of that DAC. Interesting, thanks! Ponta Box are great. I have a few records, great big sound but the XRCD is just outstanding, especially the first track. Preamps are going good but it will take some time 😚
@@anadialog I've got also a merason dac-1 since 3 months after comparing many challenger including waveligt Rockna, denafrips, audiobyte, and ECdesign powerdac. Merason is not impressive at the first time (and may be never) but it deliver an impressive musicality which was missing in my system.
Clear difference between the DACS. The terminator has more body more gravitas.
I guess I must have clicked on the Digidialog channel by mistake
😂
The May supports DSD natively I think the Terminator converts DSD to PCM
No, via USB and I2s it supports it up to DSD1024.
@@anadialog I agree that is can play DSD but I was under the impression that it converted DSD to PCM and then send it to the R2R ladder. where as the May has 2 DACs the R2R ladder for PCM and a separate one for DSD. Can you confirm that there is a separate DSD Dac?
Well that was pretty easy for me to assess which I liked more. The Holo is much much better.
I had a Venus II and actually didn’t like it. It did kind of what the Terminator does. Too soft and too round. If you look at what Goldensound has said with his review and measurements the Denafrips use a lot of DSP that messes with the sound. That is, adds to the sound. So as a musician it doesn’t and didn’t sound natural to me.
The Holo was way more natural and presented in space.
It was also much more cohesive.
The terminator was harder to follow.
And btw as a musician the symbols are more real with the Holo. I know you might like the way it’s presented more with the terminator but symbols are not that smooth in a live setting. Live instruments are usually quite bright live.
The terminator also was more forward.
The Holo presented the instruments more properly in space.
The differences to me are actually quite big. They are very different.
Great comparison!
That was wonderful
Thank you so much
Thank YOU!
Denafrps+ FTW. Just more clear and transparent. l listen on electrostatics and it is easy to hear the difference. Not much difference in the bass response. Thanks for your video.
As for music, I like Apple Music lossless quality
Does anyone sit there wondering what the sample rate is???
Of the test tracks? Natively the tracks come from a CD. After conversion I re-converted them in 96Khz/24bits like the files for download along with the original CD track.
I know a TH-cam comparison doesn't mean much - especially given how long the recordings were, but I felt the Denafrips was noticeably nicer somehow as, again, this isn't the best way to demo a system. Going into it I felt like I would have been leaning towards the May. I know this was an XRCD and not an SACD, and I've heard the May has an amazing DSD DAC. I wouldn't know until I've tested them both. From this VERY makeshift demo though, I did prefer the Terminator +. I'd have to try both before committing that much $$$ either though.
Wow, surprised that I could tell a difference over TH-cam. I definitely preferred the sound of the terminator. Sounds richer and weightier.
I use strictly the USB in connection with an Innuos Zenith 3, The May is superior in using that connection.
I thought the t+ was more complete
A really good DAC gives you EXACTLY what is being thrown into it, which means that it mercilessly reveals the flaws of the cd format (16/44,1 never was enough). If not, it's not a good DAC, but instead something comparable to Dolby or likewise. And nothing good ever comes out of polishing a turd.
The difference between vinyl and cd's are; The more you spend on turntables/pre-amps the better the sound you get (Though it won't ever be perfect no matter how much you spend, but nothing will anyway) - But when it comes to cd's, spending more just reveals how much the format sucks. Unless it conceals or manipulate it, but then we have left the hifi area.
Sure you won't agree, but that's okay.
Stay cool Mate.
I do agree but mainly because of lousy mixing and mastering. A well-recorded and mastered CD like Ponta Box rivals with a decent record. But I see your point.
Hey Mate.
Bad mastering and mixing sure ruins a lot, but the cd format in it self has flaws that not even a superb recording or a really good DAC can fix. If you have a good recording on a cd, and the same on a SACD or other high res format, and you compare them, you'll know exactly what I mean. If you dig further into things, I bet you'll come to realize that the better the DAC - the more the shortcomings of the cd format is revealed. You might get a few more details from the music, but it comes with a price higher than what's gained. I personally have come to the conclusion that investing in an expensive DAC infact is a bad deal when it comes to cd's. You're better of with a cheaper messy sounding one that drowns the flaws along with everything else. Of course I'm not recommending complete junk, but don't go too high. DAC's (for cd's) are one of those things where better actually makes things worse. At least in my opinion (which of course noone are forced to agree with).
Hang on to your awesomeness.
Best wishes.
@@TheSoundrookie - I think you are right. I only listen to CDs on my main system (of which many are poorly recorded/mastered) and my recent pandemic instilled 'upgrade journey' made me experience exactly what you describe. Only a few CDs where actually fun to listen to. So, I went for a 'lesser' DAC - in my case a Musician Pegasus. That machine is a lot more forgiving, and I am very happy with it in my system.
9:32 Alvin has to be drinking at this point