I have an ultraRendu connected to my Matrix Element X. This connection prevents me from also connecting a Mac Mini via USB to the Matrix. So I’ve been considering devices like the Matrix X-SPDIF to tie the Mini into the Element X via USB-to-I2S. But it looks like the Holo Red could replace the ultraRendu, the ultraRendu’s power supply box, and an X-SPDIF. One box instead of 3, with fewer cables. No? I’d be interested to hear how the Holo Red compares to the ultraRendu as a streamer and USB interface.
I recently listened to both very closely. I have a second ultraRendu in my shop. I brought it into the living room and listened to it and the Red via USB to our TA-ZH1ES and then out to Woo WA33. There’s pretty much no difference. I did this after I felt the Red was broken in. It took the Red around 300 hours to settle in. I streamed to it 24x7 with the TA-ZH1ES volume down when I wasn’t listening to it.
Having tried all sorts of endpoints over the years, for the money the Red is a bargain. I don’t see any reason to buy an ultraRendu or any other multi-box solution at this price point. Is it as good as a dCS Bridge or Signature Rendu SE? No, but they are around six times the cost.
I agree with you about less cables and power supply. All of the little bits and pieces can be a pain to keep orderly.
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I’ve ordered one from Magna. I currently use iFi Zen Stream as NAA bridge with HQP-player playing to Holo Spring 3. I’m going to try the Red first with its own OS and then with HQP OS.
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Uggh. Wait is starting to get to me. A bit over 5 weeks and no news yet.
Ordered mine on February 26th…DHL says it will be at my door on April 18th. That is 51 days or 7 weeks and 2 days…
I ordered March 7th. Thanks for the info.
It arrived today…a day early!
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Quick response from Tim at Kitsunehifi that it should be here Monday. Didnt get a tracking number for some reason but he responded in 5 minutes with my info.
Red arrived yesterday evening. I didn’t have time to listen to it much yet, other than it works and I get sound out of it. The device is bigger than I thought, and much heavier. It’s built like a tank and feels very solid. Setup was also very easy. Just put the microSD card in, plug the wires, turn it on and soon it will show on LAN and you can access the setup page with Red’s ip. It’s recommended to manually assign the ip from your router’s settings so it will always be the same.
Which OS are people preferring btw? Any reason to use something like RoPiee XL? I will pretty much only use it with HQP so I will try the HQP NAA OS on it.
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Initially you need to update it through its native app. I’m pretty sure the bulk of that is not Linux updates but updates to firmware. Once you are up to date try alternatives. Thing is the native App is pretty good and I’m going to go out on a limb and say that as a Roon endpoint it is fine. I haven’t really tried it’s other functionality but might be soon.
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Yes it offered three updates straight out of the box. It’s now at 2023.4.15 version which should be the newest one.
That is what I am using. In fact, I never even tried with the supplied microSD card…
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Well at this point I’m already packing up my Zen Stream. Most importantly, Red works better with HQP and my Spring 3. HQP always finds the Spring 3 now while with ZS I had to carefully start the equipment in correct order so that the HQP would see my DAC over the network. Even that didn’t always work and I had to reboot the ZS again.
The difference in sound quality isn’t huge but still audible to me. IMHO Red offers more refined and holographic presentation. Better depth and just a tad smoother sound quality than ZS. I’ve only played with USB connection for now.
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Finally have my Red Streamer. DHL transferred to USPS and it took a lap around the State before coming to me.
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It isn’t clear to me that the benefits of DDC filtering are enabled when using Red as a streamer, or only when converting from USB?
I hope not either/or an endpoint for Roon or a DDC, like my Singxer SU-6, which strips out anomalies that can obscure fine details in the music. Both, or only one at a time?
Only one at a time is my understanding. From the website:
To activate the DDC function the Red must be turned off/on while the USB source is connected. to re-enable the Streaming function, disconnect the USB source and turn the Red off/on again.
It isn’t two devices in one even though it operates that way. The benefits that make it a decent DDC also lend themselves to its qualities as a streamer.
So I finally received my RED that I ordered in February. I thought I would try it on my DS DAC MK I before swapping it (and the bridge card) for my new DS DAC MK II. I connected it to the DS via I2S, and the first five or six seconds of music from Roon were amazing - vibrant, spacious, deep bass, better imaging…and then the music stopped. I tried a few things like rebooting, restarting Roon, etc. to no avail. I’d never run into this problem using the Bridge II, so I was reluctant to write it off to network issues.
BUT - after trying several different “fixes” to no avail, I unplugged my Intel NUC ROCK, my Synology NAS and RED network cables from my system network switch and put them all on their own 8-port gigabit switch. Problem solved!
I don’t know if it’s a buffer on the network side that’s present in the Bridge II and not in the RED, or what - but isolating these connections on their own switch solved the problem permanently.
I thought I’d share with the community in case anyone else experiences the stopping and cutouts I was upon initial installation.
I will say that the sound quality of both Qobuz and music stored on the NAS is now substantially better than it was with via the Bridge II. Can’t wait to get my MK II DAC hooked up!
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The Bridge II was a terrible product…the sound quality of my system went up when I took it out of the box and used I2S in instead. Heck, even USB in was better on the DirectStream DAC.
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Having had both DS MK1 (with and without BII, transformer upgrades and VOCM) and MK2 (I believe I am the only person currently to have sold a MK2), I am glad I moved on to another DAC that has a well considered ethernet implementation. Less fiddly bits like streamers, DDC’s, LPS, and associated cabling is somehow a bit liberating.
The MK2 sounds good, but it still has a bit to go before it’s stable. I have faith in Ted Smith for the audio software (FPGA). It remains to be seen if the UI team can deliver their part.
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