I don’t have experience with the audiogod R2R… sorry I couldn’t be more help… hopefully someone with experience with both or the Audiogod R2R will speak up
Very interested in this one and I think you did a really good job discussing the whole 'All DACs sound the same' thing. My experience with changes has been real subtle, especially compared to the way many people discuss them. But once you hear the difference you know whether you're willing to go back or not.
Exactly this! Once heard it’s hard to go back to some degree ha! It’s like that nagging at the corner of your periphery… that you almost can’t put your finger on, but you know you want it lol
There are also certain headphones that are more chameleon-like than others. The ZMF Auteur and HD600 are headphones that really change dramatically depending on what you pair them with. When I paired the Auteur with the Bifrost 2, it sounded very warm and lush but really sleepy and veiled. It changed into a completely different headphone when I paired it with the Gustard R26.
@@TylersEclectic fwiw I just got the Cyan 2 and while the 'subtle changes' aspect certainly still applies (as expected), the changes with the Cyan 2 were more impactful than any previous DAC I've tried up till now. Really enjoying it so far.
Extremely harmonious and firm in all ranges; perfect distinction between the various types of sounds and musical genres; I love the switching mode...easy (with streamer by USB and CD Player by Coaxial).
Your comparison to the other Holoaudio Spring 3 and the Schiit was the most effective descriptor. That was helpful and I will be buying the Cyan 2, but only for that Spring statement. You are honest and earnest, which counts for a lot. Work a bit on comparisons regarding a tune or two. Easier for everyone. Detail, imaging all of it easier to communicate.
A good point to mention is the Cyan 2 does up to 1.1536 32 bit over USB and native DSD up to 1024x, whereas the latest flagship SMSL SU-X that came out in December does half those rates, even with the latest ESS ES9039MSPRO chipset and 768K & 512x respectively on the same inputs. The SU-X does MQA & MQA CD as well as Bluetooth, whereas the Cyan 2 does not. This has trickle-down of the Spring 3 DAC per their website. Holoaudio's discussion on NOS is very convincing as well, IMO.
It certainly seems to be in a sweet spot! I really like R2R in general and in theory. I was expecting it to be more expensive. $1200 puts it in a very interesting place.
Yeah! Exactly my thoughts! It makes “super high end” “affordable” lol. I think the biggest quirk is the auto switching factor, not something that is a problem for how I use it, but I could see it being problematic for certain situations. But the price point and performance makes me think even that quirk is easily overlooked, at least for me
@@Coneman3 depends on if you are a gear chaser or clout chaser… I just like well made quality stuff that looks good to me… and is “affordable” to me :)
I think it makes sense to aim for a DAC to stay below, say, 10 percent of the total cost of a system. Money above that will almost certainly have a lot more impact elsewhere - especially loudspeakers, headphones and amplifiers. Another reason to keep DACs on a budget is that development is ongoing and it is likely that in a few years the same performance will cost a lot less.
I misspoke, I was thinking of the Spring2, but… I think if you don’t use all the whiz bang features of the spring3 … this is dang close. I personally don’t use all the extra stuff on my spring3… so it is much closer in performance than if I did up sampling and what have you. Long story short I think the Cyan2 is a better option for most people
Very close sound signature, you do lose some performance… but the biggest difference is all the extra capabilities of the Spring3 and “better” components. Also for up sampling and complete control over the DAC with manual inputs etc. I think personally that the Cyan2 is the better option for most people just wanting to set it and forget it and have awesome performance without worrying/fussing over a DAC
Is the Cyan 2 the giant killer of today like the Adcom GDA 600 was many years ago which blew away the Theta Gen 5A, Levinson No. 36 etc.? Very interesting. By the way the Adcom GDA 600 just blew away a $4000 D/S DAC (latest technology) in a blind test. Very nice review keep them coming.
I mean for the price it’s basically a reskinned giant with less amenities if that makes sense… so potentially… not sure how it would compare to the adcom as I’ve not heard it :( Thank you for the kind words!
Great Review! So my understanding Cyan 2 has a somewhat Smooth but detailed sound? Is the sound like a tubby rich sound with high detail like burr brown chips? Thanks😃
I’d say it’s somewhat warm and detailed… I think because it has this natural sound that I confuse that with smooth. Or because it is detailed and not “harsh” or bright I think it has a “smooth” like signature to it
Is the I2S input configurable? On my current DAC l have had to swap the left and right channels in the I2S config to comform to the I2S output from my inexpensive DDC.
Great advice throughout the video, Tyler. Solid unit to buy and be done. You're saying it outperforms the TT2? The only thing that's keeping from selling the TT2 is the crossfade...
It’s on par with the TT2, but, I think it does have some characteristics that are “better” like in detail. I’d say it’s not as “smooth” or relaxed sounding as the TT2, I don’t think I’ll ever get rid of my TT2 to be clear! I love it as an AIO, the TT2 just does so much right! It’s like 9/10 in all areas if that makes sense. Where yeah specific other devices do that one thing better, the TT2 does it all very well lol 😆
Thank you for the review. Unfortunately, most of it was on build quality and not on sound quality which is much more important. I was wondering if you have experience with Denafrips DACs and would give a comparison in sound quality with them
Yeah, I was a little too lite on sound quality in the video :( I am not super familiar with Denafrips only heard some in small listening sessions and not enough to really speak on them.
@@TylersEclectic Yes, I was waiting for when you would actually talk about how it sounded and then the "sound" segment was over. My tip is to treat your room and get the set up perfect with your speakers so the imaging is crystal clear, like watching a movie when you close your eyes. Then you will experience the difference in DACs on a whole other level, which will also make it easier to talk about :) If you have already done all this and you don't experience much of a difference between DACs, then that's useful info too.
Hello Tyler! Nice vid. I bought a Eversolo DMP-A8 and I'd like to add the Cyan 2 to it. (Via USB or i2s output) Do you think it's worth it? I'd like to test a R2R DAC... Thanks
Yeah! It should work great actually! It adds back a lot of the features of the spring3 kte3 with preamp installed to be honest, plus it has streaming! I think that would be a dope combo!
I would say it is very dynamic, but more natural/warm… I personally found it quite excellent in its performance in dynamics and transients. Bifrost2 is a unique beast though in its sound signature
It seemed to be with my listening… but, I didn’t dive too deep into that aspect of it. Mostly just listening for enjoyment and seeing how I felt about it personally. :( sorry couldn’t be more help
What a time to be alive!!!!! Highend performance of 5 years ago is now attainable at a FRACTION of the price!! 😂😂 I 100% concur that the DAC is by FAR the least important cog in an audio chain. A "good" dac is good enough for 99% of audiofiles. -But fortunately todays "good" dac can nearly match the "best" of only a few years ago!!!
After I compared my Chord Mojo 2 with the Holo Audio Cyan 2 (after 400 hours of breaking-in) on solid state amplifier (2 decade old Audiolab 8000S) and tube amplifier (Musical Paradise MP-301 Mk III rolling NOS GE 5693 & 6L6GC) with Apple Music (USB from Mac Mini M2) and CD player (2 decade old Rotel RCD-971 HDCD) through 2 decade old B&W DM 602 and 603 bookshelves and floorstanders, may I politely disagree with the general consensus that DACs are 'least important' in an audio chain? Because the Cyan 2 inherited the FULL R2R ladder from the Holo Spring 3 as opposed to its previous iteration and a new galvanic isolated USB input, perhaps that is why @TylersEclectic is musing whether to let go of his Spring 3! Although I wanted to quickly upgrade my dated integrateds and CDP for a new fully balanced pre-power and CD transport, I am constantly held back by how musical my old system is sounding presently. Should I have upgraded without first trying out the Holo Audio Cyan 2, I reckon that I would have lost even more detail, bass texture, layering and separation of instruments, 3D soundstage and a neutral to warm overall sound presentation (which helped tamed down my current slightly bright sound system) that a better pre-power amplifier and CD transport may otherwise improve.
@@Peace_Guard Howdy! The Mojo 2 definitely is a good DAP and suits on-the-go listening. Hence, I bought the Holo Cyan 2 for my main hi-fi rig comprising of tube (El34, 6L6GC), Class AB (Audiolab 8000S) & Class D (Fosi Audio ZA3 monoblocks) amplification for my newly bought ATC SCM19 bookshelf speakers. As much as I can seek end-game with the Mojo 2 and my 20-year-old B&Ws, the new setup is simply mind-blowing! In a nutshell, the Holo Audio Cyan 2 is more musical in almost every aspect that I can safely say it is a good buy for its price!
I messed up and didn’t speak on enough of the sound characteristics, due to not wanting to fall into the exaggeration category I spoke of in the video :( that being said. Bass is controlled and tight, midrange has a nice mild warmth to it and I really enjoyed it, highs I didn’t have any issues with sibilance or harshness outside of tracks that had those signatures inherently outside of the DAC, and those that did I felt that the Cyan2 helped tame them to some degree. Sound stage is more deep than wide, but not something that was closed in. This is how I heard this DAC with my chain: Qobuz>Cyan2>Bliss/PietusMaximus>Meze Elite/ZMFs/HD800(SDR mod) Hope that helps
I actually was pairing it with the Pietus Maximus and the Holo Bliss the most. I really enjoyed it with the Maximus! Honestly the Maximus has quickly become a favorite amp of mine!
@@TylersEclectic Nice. That's what I want to hear. I've got the PM without a DAC card. Pairs well with every DAC I've tried so far. Seriously considering this Cyan 2
I ordered the Cyan 2 last week, and I'm thinking of getting a Violectric amp to go with it. I like to call that The Tyler Package, LOL. Anyways, the V222 has more than enough power for any headphone that I currently own, or plan on purchasing. Can you see any reason to upgrade to the V340 or the reissue of the V281? I feel like the V222 is plenty of amp for me, but I'm worried that I might be a little short sighted in that assessment. BTW - I currently own the ZMF VO's and The RAD-0. I think that I will probably also purchase the Atriums and The Empyrean II TIA, Kevin
Wow! That will be quite the setup! Honestly, if the V222 does everything for your needs, I can’t think of a reason to go beyond it. If the others have more features you would want maybe? It really comes down to budget, performance, features and quality of life type stuff. If the V222 hits all those things and the other versions just have “nice to haves” but you don’t find the price compelling for those nice to haves, then stick with the V222. I think you will have quite the setup with that combo though! And the Cyan is a solid DAC that I think is a great endgame set and forget about DACs for a long time lol
@@TylersEclectic Thanks for the input. Looks like I'll definitely be going for the V222, which I'll connect to the balanced output of the Cyan 2. I'll be hooking up the Cyan's single ended output to my Cayin HA 6A tube amp (it's a single ended amp, anyways). I believe that my desktop system will now be complete: PS Audio Air Lens Streamer / DDC Interface ---> I2S ----> Cyan 2 ---> my choice of tubes or solid state Now I can focus on adding a couple of headphones. I actually won some of the the money for the Cyan 2 at the casino, and I saved over $600 by getting the Cyan 2 as opposed to the Denafrips Pontus II. I will be applying that savings to the V222, so I am actually getting The Tyler Package for roughly a thousand bucks. Since I'm not spending a bunch of money in 2024, then that opens up Atrium money for 2025. I love fuzzy math. All jokes aside, I have now spent about $9k on recommendations from your videos. My wife thinks that you are a bad influence on me, LOL. You and I both have the same self diagnosed aversion to treble / brightness, so it makes sense that we would like the same types of audio equipment. I used to get listening fatigue, but, since I have found your TH-cam channel, I have been tweaking my system to be a little warmer and more natural / analog sounding. I enjoy my music a lot more than before. Thanks for your help.
@@kevincounts5662 This made my day! Always a pleasure hearing I helped in some way. Let your wife know that my wife thinks I’m a bad influence on my own wallet too lol 😆 I apparently love expensive hobbies heh 😏 I’m still trying to do the fuzzy math on getting another camera 😅 and more lenses. Between audio, photography and gaming… I’m surprised I have any income at all ha! Hard to put a price on enjoying ones hobbies and relaxing to some favorite music on a prized audio system… something magical about it! Cheers! And I look forward to your thoughts on the new setup when you get it all put together.
Yeah NOS mode as I recall, I’m not a HQP user :( hence why I like this price point and set it up in the chain and just forget about it and let it do its thing. If you already have a spring DAC or equivalent and or something higher up the DAC chain, than I don’t think this is for you, unless you want great performance but don’t want to fuss with it. Or for a secondary setup.
@@JustinIkeda no, it just means the DAC isn’t over sampling… at least that is how I understand it? The Cyan2 thread on headfi has a bunch of posts on HQP. Im not a user of it or other over sampling software, so I’m not the best option for answering this
Fair point! I haven’t heard the latest Yggy to be fair! But size, price and to me it has better detail and a more “natural” sound, I always found the Ygg to be amazing but, too dry for my personal tastes. Why I like the TT2 over the Dave.
@@mariodrv yeah, and another one (not gonna lie hard to keep track of the versions lol 😆). I’ve also heard the new one at CanJam but, I don’t count that due to all the other factors in play (noise, distraction, music choice, headphones, etc)
I don’t think so, it’s definitely a step down from the Spring three, but for those looking for a no frills entry point or who just want a great sounding DAC that is not super expensive and still has high end performance and sound… the Cyan2 could be it! Honestly at this level it’s less about better and more about chasing preferences and use case
@TylersEclectic I was being a little over the top/click bait with the above 🤣. I had a feeling the Cyan 2 would be a no-frills attractive brick version of the Spring 3 L2. You're gonna pay for those KTE upgrades, remote, and most importantly pre-amp! I do think this fills that gap though, may as well save up and go May if making the Jump from C2, no? I saw your expanded comments on Head-Fi as well, thanks for the response!
@@Maver1ck911 no worries ha! I’d say the Spring 3 is a good upgrade to the Cyan2, more QOL stuff and better performance over all. But, the argument could be made for saving for the May as well! Though the May is a big money and size commitment lol… it’s a very large DAC when you account for both parts
Awesome video as always. Thank you! Question: I just purchased a LAiV Harmony DAC, and am awaiting delivery. Do you have any ability to see how the Cyan2 stacks up against the Harmony DAC? Was considering A/B-ing them, but you're set up to compare MUCH more efficiently/thoroughly than I am. I fully anticipate that you probably haven't heard it yet, but was hoping to entice you to ask them to put you on their "short list" for review samples. Other reviewers are placing it against Terminator II & Holo May KTE, but the highest grade I have is Pontus II, iFi iDSD NEO 2, etc... Appreciate you, no matter your response! EDIT: If it helps, my base setup: 16"MacBook Pro M1-->ROON-->iFi ZEN Stream/Omnia Stream Mini-->Pontus II/iDSD NEO--> [upgraded]Burson Soloist GT--> Susvara/Heddphone/HE6/Sennheiser HD650/Beyer T1 (ver2)
I have not heard it… I’ll see about asking if they have a demo unit they are willing to send out =) That is a dope audio chain you have! Great diversity in headphones too! 🤘
@@TylersEclectic I use mine with a bigger Ben so might have a side by side comparison between this and spring if it’s close or subtle I’m probably going to”spring” on selling my spring 3 so I can buy another set of headphones
@@marcusloo767 honestly it’s right there with the spring3… think iPhone vs iPhone pro lol 😆 unless you are using the pro features you probably wouldn’t notice a difference 😅
I 💯 did notice this! The Cyan loves hi bit rate and hz!! It is very obvious when it is just regular 16bit 44.1hz… not bad per se… but higher level audio is a big step up in performance
Hello Tyler, very informative review brother, appreciate it very much! As you are an owner of RME ADI 2 dac and i am as well for many years, i am afraid to take the R2R route, because i am listening very much to electronic music like dub techno etc and the speed and resolution of bass frequencies are something that i really value. How would you rate the cyan 2 to this area? Thank you in advance, love your reviews😊
I think this is a big step up from the “just DAC” portion of the ADI2 … the ADI2 though is super versatile though with all the EQ and pro features… as far as keeping up… the Cyan2 I think keeps up no problem. Edit: thank you for the kind words 🫶
I agree with Tyler. The Holo DAC's have better bass textures than any chip based DAC i've ever owned. It will likely sound more natural and interesting to you if that makes sense (even if electronic music never was "natural") What would matter to you though, is the different presentations of NOS and upsampling. Both sound exceptional with all kinds of electronic music, but the ladder would probably be your favorite if you like a snappy and impactful presentation. I have my Holo Spring 3 for over 2 years now, and over 95% of the time i listen to it in straight up NOS - which is what Holo Audio's owner / designer prefers and recommends. At the end of the day it is a subjective hobby / passion and your preferences matter most. Happy listening!
I have both R2R and chip based DACs. How they compare imo depends on personal preferences, the rest of the system, budget, and indeed music genre. I personally prefer R2R, but for electronic music I think the RME is a very solid solution. For this Cyan 2 not a lot of info is out there yet, but it seems to be well suited for digital signal processing (DSP at the source - computer). That could make it quite a bit more interesting for you.
@@alphaniner3770 i really appreciate your comment, the best thing as always is to trial and error ... While i have tried many dacs except R2R (only cayin ru6), there is something that RME does with electronic music that i have not found yet. Btw i have the arya Stealth along with ZMF Atticus, RNHP as an amp and RME with XLR by signal projects (model lynx).
I do want a companion DAC to the bf 2. But I was thinking of going with a tube output stage DAC or a delta sigma. I'm not one to think dacs make a difference in sound but just think topology is cool. Ferot Geisheli dayzee Used benchmark dacb maybe.
I hear great things about the Geshelli… I’m doing. A video with Justin from ampsandsound soon and he is going to talk about some thing be DACs that are DIY(ish)… I’m intrigued by tube DACs as well. I think DACs make a difference… but not a massive one… transducers and amps play bigger rolls until you get to fine tuning your “endgame” setup type synergies. But, I personally just put DAC I like in chain and forget about it for my personal listening lol
I absolutely disagree with people exagerating the sound of dacs. """Trained""" ears, will hear every subtlty down to different solder. ""Normies"" simply wont. Some people can just pick it up easier.
Firstly, Holo Audio has built its brand around solid engineering to begin with. @TylersEclectic really don't have to be too technical regarding the Cyan 2 because everyone who has bought the Cyan 2 or considering buying any other Holo Audio product would have done their due diligence in understanding why Cyan 2 is released to replace its previous iteration and inheriting a FULL R2R ladder board from the Spring 3. My takeaway from Tyler's video was that he is in a dilemma whether to let go of the Spring 3 (remarkable piece of engineering) for the Cyan 2 (inferred to be another excellent engineering piece at an approachable price).
I have the holo may KTE for about a month...Build quality is great, functionality is great, sound is very much meh...Somewhere in between a Hugo TT2 and a Chord Dave..If you like the sound of Chord you will like the sound of these..I found it to be a little dry and clinical, typical chinese dac sound. Not musical at all. I am still trying to understand what all the fuss is over this dac brand.
What DAC would you prefer over these and the chord stuff? I still think the Spring and Cyan2 DAC are great, but understand that everyone has their own preferences, likes/dislikes etc. looking forward to hearing what DACs you like! Cheers thanks for taking the time to reply!
@@TylersEclectic MSB, Audio Note, Ideon, Lab12, Wavelength Audio...I could go all day. Anything but Chord and the Holo Dacs. Listen to a DAC known to be musical and then listen to that Cyan and you will see what I am referring to. Hard to explain, but it's VERY evident.
I'm bout ready to purchase Cyan 2. last question😁 How is the bass, Is it lacking or is it strong and plentiful? Does it have strong Voltage on the output for that strong punchy sound? I love strong bass when needed ...Thanks Again!
![[TH] 2024 PMSL SEA W2D5 | Fall | พลาดวันนี้ จะต้องเสียใจ](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/A5-Cuo12p6A/mqdefault.jpg)
I have a doubt between audio - gd R28 NOS and Holo Cyan 2 dac.
Please, if anyone can help with advice.
Thank you
I don’t have experience with the audiogod R2R… sorry I couldn’t be more help… hopefully someone with experience with both or the Audiogod R2R will speak up
Those Audio GD device all look so serious! I also look after them every so often looking for new gear. Did you made a decision yet?
Very interested in this one and I think you did a really good job discussing the whole 'All DACs sound the same' thing. My experience with changes has been real subtle, especially compared to the way many people discuss them. But once you hear the difference you know whether you're willing to go back or not.
Exactly this! Once heard it’s hard to go back to some degree ha! It’s like that nagging at the corner of your periphery… that you almost can’t put your finger on, but you know you want it lol
There are also certain headphones that are more chameleon-like than others. The ZMF Auteur and HD600 are headphones that really change dramatically depending on what you pair them with. When I paired the Auteur with the Bifrost 2, it sounded very warm and lush but really sleepy and veiled. It changed into a completely different headphone when I paired it with the Gustard R26.
Holy I’ve never heard such a mess
@@t.j.bennett6454 glad you enjoyed it! Cheers
@@TylersEclectic fwiw I just got the Cyan 2 and while the 'subtle changes' aspect certainly still applies (as expected), the changes with the Cyan 2 were more impactful than any previous DAC I've tried up till now. Really enjoying it so far.
Extremely harmonious and firm in all ranges; perfect distinction between the various types of sounds and musical genres; I love the switching mode...easy (with streamer by USB and CD Player by Coaxial).
Thank you for your input! I didn’t test with Coaxial, so it’s good to hear it is easy :)
Your comparison to the other Holoaudio Spring 3 and the Schiit was the most effective descriptor. That was helpful and I will be buying the Cyan 2, but only for that Spring statement. You are honest and earnest, which counts for a lot. Work a bit on comparisons regarding a tune or two. Easier for everyone. Detail, imaging all of it easier to communicate.
A good point to mention is the Cyan 2 does up to 1.1536 32 bit over USB and native DSD up to 1024x, whereas the latest flagship SMSL SU-X that came out in December does half those rates, even with the latest ESS ES9039MSPRO chipset and 768K & 512x respectively on the same inputs. The SU-X does MQA & MQA CD as well as Bluetooth, whereas the Cyan 2 does not. This has trickle-down of the Spring 3 DAC per their website. Holoaudio's discussion on NOS is very convincing as well, IMO.
Very good information here! Thank you for your post! I do need to go back to having music tracks comparison or talking points in my videos
It certainly seems to be in a sweet spot! I really like R2R in general and in theory. I was expecting it to be more expensive. $1200 puts it in a very interesting place.
Yeah! Exactly my thoughts! It makes “super high end” “affordable” lol. I think the biggest quirk is the auto switching factor, not something that is a problem for how I use it, but I could see it being problematic for certain situations. But the price point and performance makes me think even that quirk is easily overlooked, at least for me
Can’t be great at that price lol
@@Coneman3 depends on if you are a gear chaser or clout chaser… I just like well made quality stuff that looks good to me… and is “affordable” to me :)
Nice channel, thanks. Subscribed.
Would like a comparison with the Geshelli Labs J2S AKM 4499 with high-end Sparkos op amps
I’m interested in hearing that Geshelli JS2 as well!
Very much agree with your comment on the relatively "light effect" that a DAC brings and the over-statements coming from specialist DAC reviewers
I think it makes sense to aim for a DAC to stay below, say, 10 percent of the total cost of a system. Money above that will almost certainly have a lot more impact elsewhere - especially loudspeakers, headphones and amplifiers. Another reason to keep DACs on a budget is that development is ongoing and it is likely that in a few years the same performance will cost a lot less.
Q2: Can I plug the HDMI from my Tv to the I2S port? I’m new to this I2S concept so not sure
I have an Onkyo receiver. Would this DAC improve the sound if I pair it with my Onkyo? Thanks
I understand the marketing point of the black/copper look except when you have all silver devices 😅 shame Holo Audio doesn´t offer another option..
Thanks!
That looks nice! I was wondering when Holo would go this direction.
Are you saying there is no significant difference in sound between this and the Spring 3 KTE?
I misspoke, I was thinking of the Spring2, but… I think if you don’t use all the whiz bang features of the spring3 … this is dang close. I personally don’t use all the extra stuff on my spring3… so it is much closer in performance than if I did up sampling and what have you. Long story short I think the Cyan2 is a better option for most people
Thank you good sir.
What's the difference Cyan 2 Spring 3? Same family-sound-signature, but less details, stage and separation? Or even other sounding???
Very close sound signature, you do lose some performance… but the biggest difference is all the extra capabilities of the Spring3 and “better” components. Also for up sampling and complete control over the DAC with manual inputs etc.
I think personally that the Cyan2 is the better option for most people just wanting to set it and forget it and have awesome performance without worrying/fussing over a DAC
Great review Tyler - super interested to hear this! Also - let me know when you’re ready to sell your other DACs 😂
You got it bro!🫶
compare to spring 3 kte at 6:00, you are welcome
finally a highend dac without buttons and filters to mess around...
I’m a fan of this myself…
Is the Cyan 2 the giant killer of today like the Adcom GDA 600 was many years ago which blew away the Theta Gen 5A, Levinson No. 36 etc.? Very interesting. By the way the Adcom GDA 600 just blew away a $4000 D/S DAC (latest technology) in a blind test. Very nice review keep them coming.
I mean for the price it’s basically a reskinned giant with less amenities if that makes sense… so potentially… not sure how it would compare to the adcom as I’ve not heard it :(
Thank you for the kind words!
Great Review! So my understanding Cyan 2 has a somewhat Smooth but detailed sound? Is the sound like a tubby rich sound with high detail like burr brown chips? Thanks😃
I’d say it’s somewhat warm and detailed… I think because it has this natural sound that I confuse that with smooth. Or because it is detailed and not “harsh” or bright I think it has a “smooth” like signature to it
@@TylersEclectic That's the sound I like "Somewhat warm, Natural and detailed". I'm definitely going to try out this DAC. Thanks!😃
Is the I2S input configurable? On my current DAC l have had to swap the left and right channels in the I2S config to comform to the I2S output from my inexpensive DDC.
You know… I’m not sure…I can ask Tim over at Kitsune and see what he says
really great question, i was thinking about this as well, matching output/input pins to match function.
Cyan 2 vs Gustard R26?
Haven’t heard the Gustard R26, sorry
Great advice throughout the video, Tyler. Solid unit to buy and be done. You're saying it outperforms the TT2? The only thing that's keeping from selling the TT2 is the crossfade...
It’s on par with the TT2, but, I think it does have some characteristics that are “better” like in detail. I’d say it’s not as “smooth” or relaxed sounding as the TT2, I don’t think I’ll ever get rid of my TT2 to be clear! I love it as an AIO, the TT2 just does so much right! It’s like 9/10 in all areas if that makes sense. Where yeah specific other devices do that one thing better, the TT2 does it all very well lol 😆
Ugh I really want one now. 😂
🫶 me too bro, me too!
Thank you for the review. Unfortunately, most of it was on build quality and not on sound quality which is much more important. I was wondering if you have experience with Denafrips DACs and would give a comparison in sound quality with them
Yeah, I was a little too lite on sound quality in the video :(
I am not super familiar with Denafrips only heard some in small listening sessions and not enough to really speak on them.
@@TylersEclectic Yes, I was waiting for when you would actually talk about how it sounded and then the "sound" segment was over. My tip is to treat your room and get the set up perfect with your speakers so the imaging is crystal clear, like watching a movie when you close your eyes. Then you will experience the difference in DACs on a whole other level, which will also make it easier to talk about :) If you have already done all this and you don't experience much of a difference between DACs, then that's useful info too.
Hello Tyler!
Nice vid.
I bought a Eversolo DMP-A8 and I'd like to add the Cyan 2 to it. (Via USB or i2s output)
Do you think it's worth it?
I'd like to test a R2R DAC...
Thanks
Yeah! It should work great actually! It adds back a lot of the features of the spring3 kte3 with preamp installed to be honest, plus it has streaming! I think that would be a dope combo!
How punchy and dynamic is this DAC? I come from an OG Bifrost 2, which is a thunderous, fun-sounding DAC with punchy transients.
I would say it is very dynamic, but more natural/warm… I personally found it quite excellent in its performance in dynamics and transients. Bifrost2 is a unique beast though in its sound signature
Is it as fast and a dynamic as your TT2 though? Very important and the weak spot of r2r dacs.
It seemed to be with my listening… but, I didn’t dive too deep into that aspect of it. Mostly just listening for enjoyment and seeing how I felt about it personally. :( sorry couldn’t be more help
@@TylersEclectic ok tnx for the feedback
So sexy it's distracting me 😉 Jokes aside, great review buddy!
What a time to be alive!!!!! Highend performance of 5 years ago is now attainable at a FRACTION of the price!! 😂😂
I 100% concur that the DAC is by FAR the least important cog in an audio chain. A "good" dac is good enough for 99% of audiofiles. -But fortunately todays "good" dac can nearly match the "best" of only a few years ago!!!
After I compared my Chord Mojo 2 with the Holo Audio Cyan 2 (after 400 hours of breaking-in) on solid state amplifier (2 decade old Audiolab 8000S) and tube amplifier (Musical Paradise MP-301 Mk III rolling NOS GE 5693 & 6L6GC) with Apple Music (USB from Mac Mini M2) and CD player (2 decade old Rotel RCD-971 HDCD) through 2 decade old B&W DM 602 and 603 bookshelves and floorstanders, may I politely disagree with the general consensus that DACs are 'least important' in an audio chain? Because the Cyan 2 inherited the FULL R2R ladder from the Holo Spring 3 as opposed to its previous iteration and a new galvanic isolated USB input, perhaps that is why @TylersEclectic is musing whether to let go of his Spring 3! Although I wanted to quickly upgrade my dated integrateds and CDP for a new fully balanced pre-power and CD transport, I am constantly held back by how musical my old system is sounding presently. Should I have upgraded without first trying out the Holo Audio Cyan 2, I reckon that I would have lost even more detail, bass texture, layering and separation of instruments, 3D soundstage and a neutral to warm overall sound presentation (which helped tamed down my current slightly bright sound system) that a better pre-power amplifier and CD transport may otherwise improve.
@@RyanChooAny details on the Mojo 2 (which I have) vs Cyan 2?
@@Peace_Guard Howdy! The Mojo 2 definitely is a good DAP and suits on-the-go listening. Hence, I bought the Holo Cyan 2 for my main hi-fi rig comprising of tube (El34, 6L6GC), Class AB (Audiolab 8000S) & Class D (Fosi Audio ZA3 monoblocks) amplification for my newly bought ATC SCM19 bookshelf speakers. As much as I can seek end-game with the Mojo 2 and my 20-year-old B&Ws, the new setup is simply mind-blowing! In a nutshell, the Holo Audio Cyan 2 is more musical in almost every aspect that I can safely say it is a good buy for its price!
Can you speak on Bass, Midrange, High/sibilance/Harsh or not? Soundstage?
I messed up and didn’t speak on enough of the sound characteristics, due to not wanting to fall into the exaggeration category I spoke of in the video :( that being said.
Bass is controlled and tight, midrange has a nice mild warmth to it and I really enjoyed it, highs I didn’t have any issues with sibilance or harshness outside of tracks that had those signatures inherently outside of the DAC, and those that did I felt that the Cyan2 helped tame them to some degree. Sound stage is more deep than wide, but not something that was closed in. This is how I heard this DAC with my chain: Qobuz>Cyan2>Bliss/PietusMaximus>Meze Elite/ZMFs/HD800(SDR mod)
Hope that helps
How does this compare to the Denafrips Ares 2 since they are around the same price?
I haven’t heard the denafrips ares 2… so can’t speak on it :(
@@TylersEclectic :(
@@waldowsxxghostxx8577 sorry mate! Wish I could have been more help
Nice Review Man. What Amps did you like it with? Do you still have the Nitsch Pietus Maximus Amp to try it on?
I actually was pairing it with the Pietus Maximus and the Holo Bliss the most. I really enjoyed it with the Maximus! Honestly the Maximus has quickly become a favorite amp of mine!
@@TylersEclectic Nice. That's what I want to hear. I've got the PM without a DAC card. Pairs well with every DAC I've tried so far. Seriously considering this Cyan 2
I ordered the Cyan 2 last week, and I'm thinking of getting a Violectric amp to go with it. I like to call that The Tyler Package, LOL.
Anyways, the V222 has more than enough power for any headphone that I currently own, or plan on purchasing. Can you see any reason to upgrade to the V340 or the reissue of the V281? I feel like the V222 is plenty of amp for me, but I'm worried that I might be a little short sighted in that assessment.
BTW - I currently own the ZMF VO's and The RAD-0. I think that I will probably also purchase the Atriums and The Empyrean II
TIA,
Kevin
Wow! That will be quite the setup! Honestly, if the V222 does everything for your needs, I can’t think of a reason to go beyond it. If the others have more features you would want maybe?
It really comes down to budget, performance, features and quality of life type stuff. If the V222 hits all those things and the other versions just have “nice to haves” but you don’t find the price compelling for those nice to haves, then stick with the V222.
I think you will have quite the setup with that combo though! And the Cyan is a solid DAC that I think is a great endgame set and forget about DACs for a long time lol
@@TylersEclectic Thanks for the input. Looks like I'll definitely be going for the V222, which I'll connect to the balanced output of the Cyan 2. I'll be hooking up the Cyan's single ended output to my Cayin HA 6A tube amp (it's a single ended amp, anyways). I believe that my desktop system will now be complete:
PS Audio Air Lens Streamer / DDC Interface ---> I2S ----> Cyan 2 ---> my choice of tubes or solid state
Now I can focus on adding a couple of headphones. I actually won some of the the money for the Cyan 2 at the casino, and I saved over $600 by getting the Cyan 2 as opposed to the Denafrips Pontus II. I will be applying that savings to the V222, so I am actually getting The Tyler Package for roughly a thousand bucks. Since I'm not spending a bunch of money in 2024, then that opens up Atrium money for 2025. I love fuzzy math.
All jokes aside, I have now spent about $9k on recommendations from your videos. My wife thinks that you are a bad influence on me, LOL. You and I both have the same self diagnosed aversion to treble / brightness, so it makes sense that we would like the same types of audio equipment. I used to get listening fatigue, but, since I have found your TH-cam channel, I have been tweaking my system to be a little warmer and more natural / analog sounding. I enjoy my music a lot more than before. Thanks for your help.
@@kevincounts5662 This made my day! Always a pleasure hearing I helped in some way.
Let your wife know that my wife thinks I’m a bad influence on my own wallet too lol 😆 I apparently love expensive hobbies heh 😏
I’m still trying to do the fuzzy math on getting another camera 😅 and more lenses. Between audio, photography and gaming… I’m surprised I have any income at all ha!
Hard to put a price on enjoying ones hobbies and relaxing to some favorite music on a prized audio system… something magical about it!
Cheers! And I look forward to your thoughts on the new setup when you get it all put together.
Did you try it using HQPlayer? I think that the Cyan 2 has NOS mode.
This is definitely the area that has me looking at the Cyan2. Without HQP I anticipate it's probably more of a sidegrade for me.
Yeah NOS mode as I recall, I’m not a HQP user :( hence why I like this price point and set it up in the chain and just forget about it and let it do its thing. If you already have a spring DAC or equivalent and or something higher up the DAC chain, than I don’t think this is for you, unless you want great performance but don’t want to fuss with it. Or for a secondary setup.
Does NOS mean you can't use HQPlayer to up sample?
@@JustinIkeda no, it just means the DAC isn’t over sampling… at least that is how I understand it? The Cyan2 thread on headfi has a bunch of posts on HQP. Im not a user of it or other over sampling software, so I’m not the best option for answering this
Wonder why they avoided USB C on this one.
I wish more companies would fully switch to it myself
So it's high-end beyond the price point but also dacs' doesn't influence whole system sound that much???
Welcome to audio
How does the dac compare to the dac in the Eversolo a8 ??
I have t heard the eversolo, but man does it look compelling 🤔 need to see if I can get one in for demo
A r2r dac indeed.. Peace!
In what performance-regards, besides your personal preferences, does it outperform the Yggi? And what Yggi version?
Fair point! I haven’t heard the latest Yggy to be fair! But size, price and to me it has better detail and a more “natural” sound, I always found the Ygg to be amazing but, too dry for my personal tastes. Why I like the TT2 over the Dave.
@@TylersEclectic
Ah ok, so you heard the first version, A1?
@@mariodrv yeah, and another one (not gonna lie hard to keep track of the versions lol 😆). I’ve also heard the new one at CanJam but, I don’t count that due to all the other factors in play (noise, distraction, music choice, headphones, etc)
Cyan2 + Mjolnir3
Does this make the Spring obsolete? Does it destroy Audio GD, Denafrips Ares, and Musician Pegasus/Acquarius?
I don’t think so, it’s definitely a step down from the Spring three, but for those looking for a no frills entry point or who just want a great sounding DAC that is not super expensive and still has high end performance and sound… the Cyan2 could be it! Honestly at this level it’s less about better and more about chasing preferences and use case
@TylersEclectic I was being a little over the top/click bait with the above 🤣. I had a feeling the Cyan 2 would be a no-frills attractive brick version of the Spring 3 L2. You're gonna pay for those KTE upgrades, remote, and most importantly pre-amp! I do think this fills that gap though, may as well save up and go May if making the Jump from C2, no?
I saw your expanded comments on Head-Fi as well, thanks for the response!
@@Maver1ck911 no worries ha! I’d say the Spring 3 is a good upgrade to the Cyan2, more QOL stuff and better performance over all. But, the argument could be made for saving for the May as well! Though the May is a big money and size commitment lol… it’s a very large DAC when you account for both parts
Have you heard the Gustard r26? I’m wondering how this compares.
I have not heard it, but looks like it gets a lot of praise…
@@TylersEclectic I know you said the Cyan 2 punches above it's price, what price range would say it really competes in?
Great review! Personally, the looks are off-putting for me. I'd probably hide it in the cupboard
Aesthetics are super subjective, nothing wrong with that perspective… also why I love the form factor… much smaller
Awesome video as always. Thank you! Question: I just purchased a LAiV Harmony DAC, and am awaiting delivery. Do you have any ability to see how the Cyan2 stacks up against the Harmony DAC? Was considering A/B-ing them, but you're set up to compare MUCH more efficiently/thoroughly than I am. I fully anticipate that you probably haven't heard it yet, but was hoping to entice you to ask them to put you on their "short list" for review samples. Other reviewers are placing it against Terminator II & Holo May KTE, but the highest grade I have is Pontus II, iFi iDSD NEO 2, etc... Appreciate you, no matter your response! EDIT: If it helps, my base setup: 16"MacBook Pro M1-->ROON-->iFi ZEN Stream/Omnia Stream Mini-->Pontus II/iDSD NEO--> [upgraded]Burson Soloist GT--> Susvara/Heddphone/HE6/Sennheiser HD650/Beyer T1 (ver2)
I have not heard it…
I’ll see about asking if they have a demo unit they are willing to send out =)
That is a dope audio chain you have! Great diversity in headphones too! 🤘
does the cyan 2 oversampling? I like original.
It’s Non-Oversampling :)
@@TylersEclectic thanks, that's better
I’ve been thinking about selling my spring 3 kte as well ….
Yeah, mostly due to me not using it to its full potential…
@@TylersEclectic I use mine with a bigger Ben so might have a side by side comparison between this and spring if it’s close or subtle I’m probably going to”spring” on selling my spring 3 so I can buy another set of headphones
@@marcusloo767 honestly it’s right there with the spring3… think iPhone vs iPhone pro lol 😆 unless you are using the pro features you probably wouldn’t notice a difference 😅
@@TylersEclectic welp it’s a matter of when I sell to get this at that point lol
@@marcusloo767 same 😆
Did you notice a difference between playing hi res files and normal 44.1 16bit files? ive heard that NOS can behave worse at normal/CD sample rates
I 💯 did notice this! The Cyan loves hi bit rate and hz!! It is very obvious when it is just regular 16bit 44.1hz… not bad per se… but higher level audio is a big step up in performance
Hello Tyler, very informative review brother, appreciate it very much! As you are an owner of RME ADI 2 dac and i am as well for many years, i am afraid to take the R2R route, because i am listening very much to electronic music like dub techno etc and the speed and resolution of bass frequencies are something that i really value. How would you rate the cyan 2 to this area? Thank you in advance, love your reviews😊
I think this is a big step up from the “just DAC” portion of the ADI2 … the ADI2 though is super versatile though with all the EQ and pro features… as far as keeping up… the Cyan2 I think keeps up no problem.
Edit: thank you for the kind words 🫶
I agree with Tyler. The Holo DAC's have better bass textures than any chip based DAC i've ever owned. It will likely sound more natural and interesting to you if that makes sense (even if electronic music never was "natural")
What would matter to you though, is the different presentations of NOS and upsampling. Both sound exceptional with all kinds of electronic music, but the ladder would probably be your favorite if you like a snappy and impactful presentation. I have my Holo Spring 3 for over 2 years now, and over 95% of the time i listen to it in straight up NOS - which is what Holo Audio's owner / designer prefers and recommends.
At the end of the day it is a subjective hobby / passion and your preferences matter most.
Happy listening!
@@mcfIy that's very useful, you explained exactly what i was curious about. Thank you ! Happy listening 🎧
I have both R2R and chip based DACs. How they compare imo depends on personal preferences, the rest of the system, budget, and indeed music genre. I personally prefer R2R, but for electronic music I think the RME is a very solid solution. For this Cyan 2 not a lot of info is out there yet, but it seems to be well suited for digital signal processing (DSP at the source - computer). That could make it quite a bit more interesting for you.
@@alphaniner3770 i really appreciate your comment, the best thing as always is to trial and error ... While i have tried many dacs except R2R (only cayin ru6), there is something that RME does with electronic music that i have not found yet. Btw i have the arya Stealth along with ZMF Atticus, RNHP as an amp and RME with XLR by signal projects (model lynx).
I do want a companion DAC to the bf 2. But I was thinking of going with a tube output stage DAC or a delta sigma. I'm not one to think dacs make a difference in sound but just think topology is cool.
Ferot
Geisheli dayzee
Used benchmark dacb maybe.
I hear great things about the Geshelli… I’m doing. A video with Justin from ampsandsound soon and he is going to talk about some thing be DACs that are DIY(ish)… I’m intrigued by tube DACs as well.
I think DACs make a difference… but not a massive one… transducers and amps play bigger rolls until you get to fine tuning your “endgame” setup type synergies. But, I personally just put DAC I like in chain and forget about it for my personal listening lol
I absolutely disagree with people exagerating the sound of dacs. """Trained""" ears, will hear every subtlty down to different solder. ""Normies"" simply wont. Some people can just pick it up easier.
🤘
half arsed review. covered nothing from an engineering perspective. waste of time
I’m glad you liked it!
Firstly, Holo Audio has built its brand around solid engineering to begin with. @TylersEclectic really don't have to be too technical regarding the Cyan 2 because everyone who has bought the Cyan 2 or considering buying any other Holo Audio product would have done their due diligence in understanding why Cyan 2 is released to replace its previous iteration and inheriting a FULL R2R ladder board from the Spring 3. My takeaway from Tyler's video was that he is in a dilemma whether to let go of the Spring 3 (remarkable piece of engineering) for the Cyan 2 (inferred to be another excellent engineering piece at an approachable price).
I have the holo may KTE for about a month...Build quality is great, functionality is great, sound is very much meh...Somewhere in between a Hugo TT2 and a Chord Dave..If you like the sound of Chord you will like the sound of these..I found it to be a little dry and clinical, typical chinese dac sound. Not musical at all. I am still trying to understand what all the fuss is over this dac brand.
What DAC would you prefer over these and the chord stuff? I still think the Spring and Cyan2 DAC are great, but understand that everyone has their own preferences, likes/dislikes etc. looking forward to hearing what DACs you like! Cheers thanks for taking the time to reply!
@@TylersEclectic MSB, Audio Note, Ideon, Lab12, Wavelength Audio...I could go all day. Anything but Chord and the Holo Dacs. Listen to a DAC known to be musical and then listen to that Cyan and you will see what I am referring to. Hard to explain, but it's VERY evident.
@@jc51373 I’ll try and see about hearing one of those DACs
@@jc51373Sure, MSB will be better, but lowest model is 2,5x price of Holo's highest. So it's a strange comparison.
@@jc51373 Lowest MSB Discrete is 11x Cyan 2's price. And 2,5x May's. So yeah, it's better, but not a comparison point.
Thanks!
I'm bout ready to purchase Cyan 2. last question😁 How is the bass, Is it lacking or is it strong and plentiful? Does it have strong Voltage on the output for that strong punchy sound? I love strong bass when needed ...Thanks Again!