Is Holo Audio Cyan 2 really that good?

I'll consider this DAC when they add an input selector button and charge $50 more

I have no dac, lost mine and need a new one. I can't decide what to buy to max 1500 euros to pair with my Yamaha and Sonus Faber

Aries 15th review? link?

Good thing I just bought a musician Pegasus before watching this. 😳

Funny. I was JUST about to buy a Denafrips Pontus II 15th anniversary model; bought and paid for and two hours later I get notified by seller no, they won’t ship here by Monday (3 days) and the factory won’t ship more until Feb. 24. Okay… my backup was going to be the Holo Audio Cyan 2 and… nobody stateside has them in stock and they won’t ship for weeks out of the Chinese lao gai. That’s fine. Gives me far more time to watch, listen, learn about DACs other than what Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble taught me as a kid “Ack, acka DAC, DAC dacka ack.”

Hallo, ist der Helo Audio Cyan 2 besser als Gustard R26? MfG, Ludovic

I was searching for so long for a comparison between Ares 15 and Holo C2. Thanks so much. I have s tube preamp, so I go out with RCA, and input is via USB from the laptop. Can you recommend one of them with this kind of connection? Or do you think C2 is in general the better choice?

Is there an obvious sonic difference between this DAC and other R2R DACs you have reviewed in the past...I am specifically interested how it compares to the Ladder Schumann you tested a few yrs ago...is it a big noticeable difference to you?

Greta sound, poor user friendliness - what's the point then of having all those inputs?

How would you compare Ladder Schumann to the Cyan2? I know it has been a while for you that you reviewed the Schumann, but maybe you can still have an opinion on it? Thanks..

Hello, congratulations on the review. I would like to use DMP-6 as a streamer and use Holo Cyan2 (or other external r2r dac) as a Dac, are there any significant improvements? Thank you

Excelent as always. This will help a friend deciding between 3 of those Dacs. I got the Aune/Sparkos/Power Supply thanks to your reviews. Maybe consider the Cyan but first will play with my new Rotel CD14Mkii. 🎉 Gracias!

Thanks!

It's true. I got myself one for christmas plus a Holo Audio Red. Over I2S this combo sounds almost the same as the Gustard X30 with its built-in streamer. That was a big surprise. Where is this R2R sound that people are talking about? The sound differences come from the upsampling frequency the Cyan is fed via Roon. To my taste it requires upsampling to sound clean. But in terms of resolution, space, precision, they are absolutely identical! They are indistinguishable when both get 768k PCM. The first time I can say this with DACs. The Cyan is my DAC #7 and all others sounded different. The X30 costs 500€ more than Red & Cyan and it is the more complete package. The Cyan is more open to fiddling with the source material and if upsampling at the source is given as well as a preamplifier, there is no need for a more complex device. This little thing is a killer.

Can you review Gungnir 2?

You didn't talk about the possible I2S connection, for example with Holo Red. Do you think this is not important?
Thanks

It is amazing how you describe the sometimes tiny difference between several Dac's. Thanks!

You need to get the TOPPING Centaurus DAC. It has damn near the same HOLO audio R2R Chipset* as the Cyan 2 and its only $799.

Man that input issue is a real deal breaker. How did they fuck up that bad? A dac that expensive I’m going to be running multiple devices with it but not if I constantly have to disconnect things. That sucks

How does the Cyan 2 compare to the Topping E70 Velvet?

'Like a fatty bottom' would make a great tee shirt. Love it. :)

In you're opinion do you think the normal denafrips ares 2 not the 15th edition is worth upgrading to a cyan 2 or not and better saving for something like a used Lampizator Amber

Anybody compare this to the Schitt Audio BiFrost 2/64? Please let me know below...

le seul critique qui connait son boulot a mes oreilles

Did you edit your review in the Cyan2 vs Laiv Harmony comparison? I listened to your initial video hours after you released it and it seem the comparisons havechanged a bit. In the original version you seemed more bullish about the Cyan2 vs Laiv. In your edited video, you seem more complementary of the Laiv vs Cyan 2.What’s changed my friend😮?

Received one yesterday ... don't need switching source buttons as I got a Marantz SACD30n / streamer as the solo source.
What would be a very good streamer for high-res streaming (excluding stuff like MQA) ?

just a new flavor of SPAM luncheon meat

I have been enjoying your videos for quite some time now, thank you! I noticed the output of the Holo Audio DAC is only: [Voltage Output 1.25Vrms (RCA), 2.50Vrms (XLR). May I ask if you noticed the output as being low compared to most other DACs that usually have about 2-volt output for RCA? Thanks.

Здрасти. Даваш ли за домашно тестване тези дак-ове? Срещу заплащане или в замяна за други устройства?

I'm using the iBasso D16 Taipan with iFi ICAN Pro and ZMF Caldera Closed.
Would like to replace the iBasso D16 Taipan. Would the Cyan 2 would be a good choice?
Thank you

Which streamer would you suggest? Great review. Thank you.

The version 1 was outperformed by $100 DAC's, be interesting to see if the version 2 maybe takes that up to $115. I wouldn't hold my breath though.

Thank you! I sold my Gustard r26 and bought the Cyan 2. It sounds wonderful.

How does Cyan 2 sound against Holo Audio Spring 3 KTE?

Excellent review! Informative and well described audio effects per DAC. I have the LAiV and was stunned at the resolution and soundstage. It definitely competes with more expensive DACs. I ordered a Holo Cyan 2 a couple of weeks back, which I am sure I will do a bit of comparative testing, but Cyan will be used in a different system with hot rodded Sourcepoint 8’s. Thank you for the insight!

Does anyone know if I can use Allo Shanti linear power supply as an external power on Cyan 2. thx.

The "auto-switching" is a deal-breaker for me. I often have a music server (USB), a TV set (optical) and a CD player (copper coax) simultaneously connected to my DAC and powered up. A selector switch is an essential feature.

Great review!

Cyan 2 is a DAC I was waiting for

Great review as always. Curious how it is compared with Chord Qutest? I am primarily interested in know which DAC is better for listening classical music, more complicated instrument playing music. Thank you.

I bought the Cyan based on your review (Thanks!) and it should arrive in a few weeks. I am really tempted at getting the LTA Aero DAC, though. I currently use the Gustard R26. I'm looking for a DAC to add richness, improve bass quality, and take the treble energy down a notch. Think the Cyan will pull all that off? Thanks.

Hola, podrías recomendarme algún otro DAC y reproductor disco exterior de calidad?... Estuve probando wim ultra, smsl dp5se y son reproductores con in sonido muy pobre....

Hi! What is the most "dynamic and direct, focused and etched" R2R dac that you know of?

"...It's $1200..." Aaaand... I'm out.

This is the winner at the moment and cheaper than the Qutest and the Pontus. Though I am curious how the FX Glass dac and Burson Playmate 2 with volume and remote and Audiolab M dac plus with volume and remote and the expensive AAdac with volume and remote can keep up and if these not ladder oriented dacs are as smooth and real and analog clinking 🤔

Would a comparison with A26 not be more useful, as it is more resolving than R26?

Thanks

I wish you still had the A26 to compare with. I hope Gustard will provide the latest X30Pro in future. I wonder how this DAC compares with the SMSL SU-10 or the Ladder Schumann DAC. I with no selection feature I can’t see how a CD transport’s I2S can be configured to this DAC.

Thank you for talking about the sound characteristic of the different file types. I have never heard it explain in such an understandable way before.

Speaking of CD players…. can I ask you which device you use and if you can do a review series on different CD transports, please.