Holo Audio Spring or Topping D90III Sabre?

[tamzeed]

Hi all,

I have the opportunity to purchase a 6 year old Holo Audio Spring (in excellent condition) or a brand new Topping D90III Sabre. Both are priced similar at around ~$800-900. Measurements incline me towards the Topping but reviews of the Holo Audio push me towards that.

Just seeking some advice on what you guys would have gone for.

Thanks.

 

[antcollinet]

Hi all,

I have the opportunity to purchase a 6 year old Holo Audio Spring (in excellent condition) or a brand new Topping D90III Sabre. Both are priced similar at around ~$800-900. Measurements incline me towards the Topping but reviews of the Holo Audio push me towards that.

Just seeking some advice on what you guys would have gone for.

Thanks.

if the reviews are of the typical audiophile type, based on unscientific sighted listening, they can be safely ignored.

Having said that - the measurements I've seen of the Spring show it to be audibly transparent. As is the Topping. So they will objectively sound identical. (you would be unable to tell them apart if you did not know what was playing).

So choose based on other criteria - features, support, etc - including going with your heart if the spring is what you really want.

 

[tamzeed]

if the reviews are of the typical audiophile type, based on unscientific sighted listening, they can be safely ignored.

Having said that - the measurements I've seen of the Spring show it to be audibly transparent. As is the Topping. So they will objectively sound identical. (you would be unable to tell them apart if you did not know what was playing).

So choose based on other criteria - features, support, etc - including going with your heart if the spring is what you really want.

Thank you very much.

 

[kemmler3D]

To add on to @antcollinet 's comment, there are a good number of DACs that sound identical to these two at significantly lower prices. $200 or so can get you the same effective performance.

So, depending on what you're currently buying / upgrading in addition to the DAC (esp. speakers or headphones) you could optimize your allocation of budget somewhat.

Nothing wrong with getting the expensive option if you like it for other reasons, or you will use the features, but it won't have good ROI in sound quality per se.

 

[tamzeed]

To add on to @antcollinet 's comment, there are a good number of DACs that sound identical to these two at significantly lower prices. $200 or so can get you the same effective performance.

So, depending on what you're currently buying / upgrading in addition to the DAC (esp. speakers or headphones) you could optimize your allocation of budget somewhat.

Nothing wrong with getting the expensive option if you like it for other reasons, or you will use the features, but it won't have good ROI in sound quality per se.

Just to add, I currently have the SMSL SU-1 and Eversolo DMP-A6. Of these 2, I prefer the SMSL.

Had them for a while and hence was thinking about upgrading to the Holo or Topping.

 

[staticV3]

Just to add, I currently have the SMSL SU-1 and Eversolo DMP-A6. Of these 2, I prefer the SMSL.

Had them for a while and hence was thinking about upgrading to the Holo or Topping.

Consider investing in a multimeter and an audio switch box, to spare you the time and money of ever buying a new DAC again as you realize that, once level-matched and listening blind with minimal dead time, you can no longer tell the difference between any of them and can instead focus your resources on what really matters: speakers, room correction and room treatment, or headphones and EQ If you prefer that.

 

[antcollinet]

Had them for a while and hence was thinking about upgrading to the Holo or Topping.

Those dacs (Dac contained within the eversolo) are also audibly transparent. Again you'd not tell them apart if you didn't know what was playing - and you won't distinguish them either from the Holo Audio, or the Topping.

Upgrade if you like for features etc or just because you want to spend money or play with new gear. But don't expect to get an improvement on the sound. That is done.

 

[johny_2000]

I have the opportunity to purchase a 6 year old Holo Audio Spring (in excellent condition) or a brand new Topping D90III Sabre.

Given all the above about equivalent audio performance, buying a new unit is the better buy in my opinion. You'll get at least a one-year warranty, all new capacitors in the power and audio circuits, and new I/O connectors. These components may be worn out on a 6-year-old unit and ready to fail at any time.

 

[boxerfan88]

Just my opinion…

If you like warmth and added harmonics, go for Holo.

If you like transparent & clean reproduction, go for Topping.

I have Topping DM7 & Soekris R2R DACs, kinda nice to switch between them once a while.

 

[antcollinet]

If you like warmth and added harmonics, go for Holo.

The Holo doesn't have those things.

 

[boxerfan88]

The Holo doesn't have those things.

Have you listened to Holo before?
If yes, what was your impression?

 

[antcollinet]

Have you listened to Holo before?
If yes, what was your impression?

As you should know, having been here longer than I have: A device with inaudible distortion and noise, and flat frequency response (as the holo has) doesn't have a sound. No warmth (whatever you think that is) and no harmonics.

We don't need to listen to something to know that. Sighted listening can only cause perceptions of stuff that doesn't exist in the sound with such devices.

 

[boxerfan88]

As you should know, having been here longer than I have: A device with inaudible distortion and noise, and flat frequency response (as the holo has) doesn't have a sound. No warmth (whatever you think that is) and no harmonics.

We don't need to listen to something to know that. Sighted listening can only cause perceptions of stuff that doesn't exist in the sound with such devices.

Ah, ok, so you’ve never heard the Holo. Got it.

 

[antcollinet]

Ah, ok, so you’ve never heard the Holo. Got it.

Is that supposed to be some sort of "gotcha". If so, I don't think it is having the effect you're hoping it is.

 

[wizardofoz]

Depending on the end decision if you don’t get the holo send me a link to the seller and maybe ill get it

 

[leonidas]

I own the Spring 3 and I really like it. I bought it because you can get it with a preamp upgrade and that alone is great. I think it is basically a Serene without the connections.

Also, I love the fact that you can adjust the preamp volume with a remote (I sit some meters away from my amp).

And it looks so nice!

And of course it measures perfectly, there is a thread about this DAC on ASR.

I don’t hear differences between DACs and cables btw. and this is also the case with the Spring. Expectation bias and psycho accoustics sometimes make me think it sounds especially great. But when I listen to the same track with my Eversolo, it sounds pretty much the same. But nevertheless, I don’t regret buying the Spring because of the points above.

 

[MaxBuck]

The Holo Audio looks beautiful. But it's older, so its components are statistically likely to fail sooner. Those are the actual rational considerations.

Honestly, audible performance aside, I think the Holo Audio components look so damn good as to warrant a substantial price premium. But they are costly.