RPi4 ? Or RPi5 ?
DAC 200 (or HA 200 if you are a headphone listener) are very good ones. Not to even mention the 3100 range (which gives you two D/A conversion stage configuration options). Sure the price is closer to, and above, the Holo May range though.
If you want a DAC that has unbeatable âauthorityâ in itâs sound, I would say DAC 200 is closest to that one, if I would need to choose one word to describe it. For something softer and âmore pleasantâ in terms of sound, Holo Audio is better. This is of course also system/room matching question.
And then of course the question of feature sets. I consider DAC 200 a DSD-only, since I donât particularly fancy the chip based PCM side. So if you want R2R too, then Holo Audio is certainly the way. If youâd like a relay switched resistor ladder analog volume control, DAC 200 gives you that too (optionally, you can completely bypass it too). Plus DAC 200 gives you two analog filter stages to choose from (relay switched too).
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Is the 2 filter stage the 60 kHz and nothing? I have not tried the 60kHz filter yet.
The volume control is 1dB steps. But it works very well and Iâm enjoying it.
Otherwise, I 100% agree with all you say. The DAC200 has me forgetting how much it costs after every sample it processes.
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It is not 60 kHz or nothing. It is more like 60 kHz or 100 kHz or something like that. But yes, there are two possible analog filter paths. On my DAC 200 I have the 60 kHz setting (output to Dynaudio speakers) and on my HA 200 I have the âwideâ setting (output to Solitaire P headphones).
Both work very well.
If you need more finer grained control, you can always combine it with HQPlayer volume, where you can adjust for example in 0.01 dB steps.
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4
Does have a ânicerâ clock.
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Plus a decent headphones preamp
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Fully agree with Jussi here. I owned Spring 3 Level 2 with the best Holo Audio USB module before and upgraded it to DAC200 about a year ago. HQP oversampled DSD256 to Spring 3 is smooth and easy going sound while it still measures great. This can be difficult to achieve. But it always lacked some grunt and punch, which I tried to find with variois tweaks back then (cables etc). Only after I heard the DAC200, I knew what was missing. HQP DSD256/512 + DAC200 offers bigger, more open sound with better punch and dynamics compared to Spring 3. It has better clarity and microdetails also but it still doesnât get fatiguing at any point.
The PCM-side though, this is more difficult. With Spring 3 I used the NOS path every now and then and liked it for even more relaxing and easy going sound. Timing is always great with NOS. T+A is maybe slightly worse here with the chip based solution, which is not true NOS. Anyway the DSD-side is so good that I always use that on DAC200.
About the 60khz filter, I have always had it on like Jussi recommended. I did compare it on/off but the audible difference is extremely small if non existent.
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Re: Holo Spring 3 L2 sound. As is typical, this is system- dependent, and depends on how it is configured. For example, without the preamp option (how mine is), the Holo can sound softer if used directly with a passive volume control of some sort. In this configuration, I found that a preamp is very helpful and it sounds spectacular. I suspect the DAC200 may have a gain stage post DSD conversion, which may make it more dynamic sounding even when used without a preamp.
Likely the most useful comparison for this purpose would be the Holo Spring 3 with the preamp option vs DAC200, or even the Holo May as it has higher voltage output to play with.
The reason I didnât get the preamp option on the Holo Spring 3 was that it is not able to be bypassed when installed, and I wanted the output directly from the conversion.
I owned Spring 3 first with integrated preamp and afterwards, without it. I upgraded later to Holo Serene preamp, which I still own (but itâs for sale). I sent my Spring 3 to Magna for preamp-module removal when I got the Serene, since I didnât want two preamps in the setup. With DAC200, you can completely bypass the preamp, like I do since I use Pass Labs XP-12 as preamp nowadays.
Holo Serene helped with the dynamics and brought some grunt and power to the sound, but itâs still far away from DAC200âs livelier, more open and more dynamic presentation.
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Iâve used both connected to the same preampâs inputs side by side. In two different systemsâŚ
But as I said, the preference towards either one depends on the overall system and personal preferences.
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Have you got one? What is your opinion? 
Add: I mean the LHY network endpoint âŚ
Sounds like a Rpi based streamer.
Easy to set up and performs great.
According to Vinshine web site itâs:
- OCXO + PLL Reclocked Raspberry Pi 4 Model B
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Ok, you have not tried it yourself? I checked it, and it is an RPI based endpoint/perhaps streamer. They have a linear power supply, but there are still dc â dc converters onboard. Do not remember the exact config of RPI4, but there was an interference problem with USB and ethernet buses as they were on same computer bus of the MB? I am not fond of RPIâs as endpoint, they are too noisy, even if power fed from good linear source. Tried Pi3 and Pi4 many years ago, and dropped the project when I built my mITX pc with a separate USB controller card with total isolation from pc noise and a good clock onboard.
Was curious though, hence my question about experience from its performance
Rpi4 does not have issue with usb and lan like rpi3. My experience tells me a rpi4 with an intona to my dacs sound identical to a holo red or a fitlet 3 with spf connection as NAA
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Holo Red, with Rpi4 inside, has one of the lowest noise USB outputs @GoldenSound has measured. Itâs a perfect streamer since you can run your OS of choice on it. Dedicated HQP NAA image or something like GentooPlayer are the best options for HQP use. I have it directly connected to my T+A DAC200, without USB isolator in between.
Lowest USB noise compared to what, I could not find anything from the link in your comment? I am still very interested though in USB isolation, but think I will try some gear that convert to optic fibre, as I have done with my internal LAN Ethernet.
And I cannot run my OS on it, since I am running a pc playback setup with W11 OS, with Roon and HQP Desktop @ DSD256 with ASDM7EC Super and IIR2 filter. That would not work, unless you use a decent pc/mac with some multi-core CPU power. I do not have a USB isolator purely, it is a HiFi USB controller card with external power, internal electronic full galvanic isolation, better word clock and a shield over the entire card to keep airborne switch noise from it. I find it better engineered than jCat, SOtM, among others.
Yes I have
It sounds and performs like all the other solid Rpi based streamers/renderers ie Red/SDV3100 etc etc.
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Ok, thankx
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Iâm currently at the very top of the HQP ecosystem using the Red/Maykte/Serenekte So the dac200 & SDV3100 is very appealing to try out to see the only other high end options.
Iâve seen a few sell in the 14k range which isnât bad considering itâs a pre/dac/streamer.
Maybe the new Rockna too?