I am a happy new owner of a HOLO may KTE dac. While it sounds stupendous in NOS mode in my system with signal from Roon (without any conversion) - I cannot seem to get HQ player right for this DAC at least not in my system (MYTEK Brooklyn+ was quite the opposite HQplayer improved it considerably). Do any of you have any experience with this DAC and have the right kind of settings for me to try out? (I have of course tried some of the setting I have been able to find online). I have a Marantz amplifier which is to the warm side and two B&W 804D…thanks for any advice on this.
1 Like
Hi, I’m not sure what you are asking help with, is it not working, or, help with dialing in the sound?
It works, but ROON non converted signal to NOS sounds much better to my ears than any setting in HQ player I could find. And that surprises me both because it should be opposite according to all the reviews of the DAC and because with my MYTEK DAC HQ player was a fantastic improvement.
So I am looking for advice with people who have successfully used HQplayer with the HOLO May KTE.
@andybob has and does he might have something comment.
1 Like
I have answered to this question elsewhere already…
Hi @rasmussenmorten ,
My system is as follows:
Music Server (Roon, HQP) (i9-13900KF, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060)
Raspberry Pi NAA
Holo May KTE (USB input) NOS mode
Holo Serene KTE
Manley Labs Snapper Power Amps (x2)
Noteperfect Maestro speakers.
The output settings I use for HQP are:
SDM (DSD) 1024
1x: sinc-MGa
Nx: sinc-Lh
Modulator: AHM7EC8B
Other HQP settings:
Configuration tab
Bit rate: Auto
Rate limit: 41952000
DAC bits: 20
48k DSD - check
Auto rate family: check
Max/Startup volume: -6dB (headroom for Matrix tab EQ)
Matrix tab
Matrix pipeline enabled
Post-process
DAC correction: enabled (Holo Audio Spring 3/May)
Loudness: enabled (Bass f 150, Q 0.1, Bass level +6dB, Bass type peak, Treble f 5000, Treble level -3dB, Treble type hshelf.
Other HQP settings are defaults.
Sinc-MGa has very significant start delay. It doesn’t bother me but it could bother others.
The poor man’s house curve implemented with the Loudness function in the Matrix tab is to adjust for a perceived mid bass hole in my speakers/room and reduce brightness of tweeters slightly. Not recommended for others.
Really enjoying the sound with these settings. Haven’t compared it to straight Roon-NOS.
1 Like
Thanks for all the advice. My stereo has never sounded better. I only have one problem left. For the sake of my family it would be ideal to be able to turn the dac on and off and then the software should automatically work. My system is Mac mini (with HQplayer and Roon core) - ethernet to cheap switch - ethernet to a zen streamer and then usb cable to the Holo may. However, when I turn Holo May on and off very often HQplayer does not automatically identify the Holo and then there is no sound. Is this not supposed to work automatically and if not could Jussi perhaps sort this flaw out? Roon alone seems to work better in comparison - when I turn the Holo on and off normally Roon just works and picks up where I left it.
However, recently I also think my networks is malfunctioning so I am thinking I should change the switch which seems to be the issue. I have a question in this regard: Does it make any sense to buy audiophile ethernet cables and for example an English electric switch, which some apparently think improves the sound? I presume that the zen streamer or a Holo red streamer would remove any noice from the network anyway before the signal enters the DAC right? In that case it would be money badly spend. Any advice on this as well would be much appreciated…
All the best, Morten
1 Like
Just an observation but was losing USB connectivity when switching a DAC on after a period a recognised issue with the iFi streamer? I own a Red and Spring 3 with the enhanced USB module which did immediately fire up after shutting the DAC down for a short period. I will give it a longer stint today.
Also, for me where networking is concerned, always start simple. A standard (up to date) SOHO switch and basic CAT5 or 5E cable. Once working and stable try cables, switches and isolators in which ever order suits you. Be patient and be sure something is worth what you part with in both time and money.
Do you’ve also defined%activated your zen as Roon endpoint?
If yes, then disable it in Roon.
Other problem could be your mac. It is running always or are your starting it only for playing?
HQPlayer produces a lot of logs and here you can see, what’s going on.
I’m using the May together with the Red (Ropieee installed) connected through USB (used with HQPlayer) and through I2S (Roon directly) → the Red can used as “two endpoints” and you’ve only take care about switching the May to the correct input.
IIRC, Zen Stream has NAA software module version 3.x. And we are now on version 5.1.5…
I turn my DACs on/off a lot and keep the NAA’s (running my NAA OS) on all the time. And never have any issues when I turn on DAC again and start playing.
Just make sure the NAA+DAC combination is accessible when starting up HQPlayer server.
So you believe the zen streamers older platform may be the problem? In any case I have purchased a new switch and believe it may well be the problem! Thanks! Hqplayer now rocks on the holo may
1 Like
The old software version just defines certain behaviour and functionality.
My setup worked immediately after a 24 hour shutdown of the DAC.
1 Like
Just happened upon this post and I gave your settings a try since I am running virtually the same front end, i9-13900K, no GPU, Custom NAA, May KTE and Serene. Convolution filters and DAC correction. Runs rock solid and sounds very nice. Thanks!
I came from a similar boat…
I had a Brooklyn Bridge, Rotel 1090 pre, 2 Rotel amps and B&W 803D. Switched to a smsl d300 and a d3 for a while…
I swapped the dacs with a May KTE, the 1090 with a Serene KTE, and the 2 amps with a MC462. It was sensory overload! 
It wasn’t a bad sound… it was just different than what I was used to hearing. Everything changed dramatically, bass was tighter and less boomy. The sound stage was completely messed up! I had to start over with speaker placement, what worked well with the previous stuff but did nothing for the new stuff.
The sweet spot is DSD256 with DAC correction enabled.
If you can do that with the default filters it’s a great start… DSD512 is not a game changer at all, but it is worth trying DSD1024 with AHM7EC8B, I don’t think it’s better that 256 with fast or super, but it’s different.
You’ll find your sweet spot, it’s just takes some time and experimenting…
2 Likes