Holo Audio Spring 3 – R2R DAC/preamplifier based on discrete components. Custom designed, it offers incredible performance thanks to Trickle Down technology. Its special architecture allows it to reproduce sound of incredible richness and clarity. It implements two completely separate circuits, one responsible for PCM streams and the other for DSD streams. An impressive design that takes full advantage of the capabilities of this latest format. Additionally, this version features a balanced preamp with a fully discrete, relay-controlled volume control. The preamp technology is taken directly from Serene’s proprietary preamp and includes 4 modules and over a hundred transistors.
The Holo Audio Spring 3 Level 2 model features specially designed capacitors for optimal power filtering, resulting in a more neutral and detailed sound reproduction. It also features a Red Label 5N transformer with copper wires. This version also comes with a CNC machined remote control.
Spring 3 is one of the few R2R balanced DACs that supports DSD streams using the discrete components of the DAC stage directly. It is also compatible with MAC (DoP), Linux (DoP) and Windows (Native and DoP) systems.
Modern delta-sigma DACs differ from R2R models because the former technology goes through a stage of oversampling and high-speed digital switching, which can lead to distortion and audio artifacts. The R2R structure, on the other hand, is much more direct and clean, using a high-precision resistor network that negates the problems associated with delta-sigma conversion. What’s more, HoloAudio Spring 3 is the first linearly compensated discrete DAC to deliver extremely accurate audio reproduction.
One of the Spring 3’s strengths is its ability to convey a wide soundstage with high fidelity. High frequencies are particularly detailed, but not aggressive. The lows are deep and textured, but don’t mask the mids.
The Spring 3 has an additional R2R ladder built into it to compensate for the main R2R ladder. This additional ladder works similar to trimming, but without changing the resistor values. It is digitally controlled and effectively compensates for resistor tolerances. This method achieves very high levels of accuracy, almost perfect linearity, extremely low THD and especially high SNR.
Holo Audio Spring 3 Level 2 Specifications:
- Product Type: R2R DAC/Preamplifier
- Inputs: 1x USB-B/1x I2S via HDMI/1x Optical Toslink/1x AES/EBU/1x Coaxial (RCA)/1x Coaxial (BNC)
- Outputs: 1x single-ended stereo RCA/1x balanced stereo XLR
- Supported sampling rates: USB: PCM up to 32bit 1536kHz, Native DSD up to DSD1024, DSD DoP up to DSD512/USB: PCM up to 32bit 1536kHz, Native DSD up to DSD1024/Optical, Coaxial, AES/EBU: PCM up to 24bit 192 kHz, DSD DoP up to DSD64
- THD+N: 0.00032% @ PCM 48K NOS, 1K (1-110 dB)/0.00025% @ DSD128X, 1K (-112 dB)
- Dynamic Range: 127 dB @ PCM 48K NOS/115 dB @ DSD128X
- DAC Output Voltage: RCA : 2.9Vrms @ PCM 48K NOS, 1.45Vrms @ DSD128X/XLR : 5.8Vrms @ PCM 48K NOS, 2.9Vrms @ DSD128X
- Supply voltage: 110-240 VAC 50/60 Hz
- Power cable: Included
- Housing material: Aluminum
- Dimensions: 430 x 300 x 55 mm
- Weight: 8.5 kg
