Holo May KTE Edition HiFi DAC. Did it blow me away in 2024?
By Steve Huff
See my thoughts on the KTE in this video. I apologize for saying “KTA” again and again as well as mispronouncing the name “Kitsune”! I do not script these nor get into the tech details as much as I do the sound and what each piece brings to the room. Enjoy!
I have heard this DAC before, only for a very short time, in my system a couple of years ago. That system was much different than what I have here now (which sounds better) and with a much better streamer on hand. I had it for only a very short stint as it was loaned to me from a friend. This time, I wanted to really see what this DAC could do within my system now that has been fine tuned and synergized over the last year.
I spoke with Tim over at Kitsune Audio who offers up the Holo DACs and this one that I have here is the fancy KTE edition, which is tuned with hand selected parts and other goodies. If you want “the best” May DAC, the KTE does indeed use the best parts of the various versions of the DAC. Most online who own this DAC seems to have went with the KTE so this is the subject of my review.
Does this DAC hold up near the end of 2024 as we move into 2025? Well, sure it does but it depends on the sound signature you like as the MAY has a way it does sound and that signature is somewhat warm, a bit beefy and yet somewhat holographic. It flows rather than attacks. It sounds rich rather than dry and it has a big bass presence that just may liven up those bass drivers in your speakers. It’s pretty sweet.
I always see some say in audio forums that DACs are not worth the cost as tech moves on. I disagree 1000000% but hey, that is just my opinion. Everyone has one, right?
I will say tough that if you love a DAC and what it does in your system it will not degrade in sound in 5-10 years. It will sound the same. It will only be if your sound preferences CHANGE that you will want to change or upgrade your DAC. Once you find “the one” it can be with you for life, if it lasts that long. New DACs come and go but in reality, they are just different. They look different and sound different but rarely do they sound “better” because that is subjective. We each enjoy different presentations and some DACs are soft and mellow, some are sharp and with great attack, some wow with 3D and some are just plain musical. So pick what YOU like the find a DAC that does just what you like. That is the key, not always chasing the new DAC. Once you find “the one” for you it will be hard to let it go and that is when you know you found the right DAC.
So with that out of the way…how did I like the Holo May KTE and did it live up to the HYPE?
The Holy Grail of DACs in the $5-6k Range?
This DAC is gorgeous in the flesh. A two box R2R solution with the dual DAC chips (one for each channel) and dual transformers in one box and the custom made power supply in the other. I will state now that this DAC is deathly quiet as in it produces zero noise. NO hum. NO buzz. Nada. This is good as some DACs I have had here did produce a slight hum and for me this is an instant “disqualify” when it happens. Noise has no place within a high end DAC and the KTE, again, has none that I can hear. So this is great.
The black boxes with the copper sides and the copper logo on top makes this piece look every bit of the nearly $6k that it costs. It’s also heft in weight and feels like a small tank in build and heft. It’s a truly good looking and handsome DAC, one of the nicest looking I have experienced up to $10-$15k. In fact the only DAC I prefer in design is the insanely expensive Nagra Tube DAC, which comes in at just under $50,000. It’s gorgeous with its PSU and Vibration Plates. It’s sound is otherworldly, and for me it is now how all others will be judged but is that based in reality? No, not at its price point that is out of reach for 99% of us.
I will probably never hear a better DAC in my lifetime but… imagine if a DAC like the Holo May KTE could get close to the Nagra for 10X less cost? More on this later.
The Connections
The May has RCA and Balanced outputs as well as a plethora of inputs such as COAX, AES, OPTICAL and USB. In my opinion, USB is the way to go as it has a customized and bespoke USB section that in my system sounds so good. I also like using USB as it eliminates an “issue” or “feature” with this DAC that arises from the custom made and bespoke PLL. More on this later as well. There is a work around if you want to use a different input, which I will also talk about in this review.
Many passionate audio lovers have stated this DAC is pure end game, end of the line. This means that most who buy this DAC keep it and this is true as you will rarely see a used one on the market. They do show up on occasion but when you see why, the owners usually are either selling their entire system or moving up to one of those $25k+ exotic DACS like the ones from Playback Designs, MBS, DCS or even Nagra.
I have heard the exotic level Playback Designs Dream DAC and it was of course amazing, but look at the cost, close to $30k, and out of reach of most of audio buyers. What I heard from that Dream DAC was special but so is what I hear from the KTE, just in a more subdued kind of way.
Yes, DACS can make a huge difference within a system and I can easily hear the differences between the Holo May KTE, a Denafrips Pontus 15th and this $48k Nagra Tube DAC with Power supply.
Big differences are evident and clearly heard. The only DACs that sound similar to my ear are those priced under $3k. At this price point most DACs have a similar, but not exact, sound signature. When you break out into those exotic holy grail DACs that surpass the $10k price bracket this is when you will notice some huge changes, if your system is up for it of course. I mainly listened to the Pure Audio Project Duet 15’s and Borresen X2’s during this evaluation of the May KTE. I love the Duet 15’s and they have burrowed deep into my heart and soul due to the way they bring music into the room. The X2’s are scratching that itch for me, still, for a box speaker. Big, bold and rich sound.
These were driven by my HiFi Rose RS130 and Electrocompaniet ECI 6DXII integrated amp. I also listened with the Galion TS34 which is an EL34 tube integrated. I have to say, both of these amps are pretty awesome. The TS34 is a fantastic tube integrated that works in Class A or Class A/B, take your pick.
The Sound
The May KTE has an extremely analog sound and most of the digital traces (98%) are gone when I stream using the HiFi Rose RS130, which also has this trait to some extent. This combo comes in at close to $12k (Rose and May) but I can say with confidence that it makes digital STREAMING sound just as good as almost any vinyl rig I have heard, unless I go to a memory of a $75k Vinyl rig I once heard, which was astonishing.
So yes, this May DAC delivers on that promise. It is the most non digital DAC I have heard anywhere near its price point. For an analog vibe it bests every DAC I have heard under $13k and this includes the Chord DAVE, the Weiss 501, the DCS Lina and mostly all under these very high end DACs.
The May KTE is not an in your face kind of DAC but it’s one you will fall in love with more and more over time. As I say, it is a slow burner type of audio product. With this said, it’s not a dark nor a bright sound, it still has very high resolution and clarity but has a very solid sound as well. It’s solidified, rather than thin and lean. Yes it has warmth but do not mistake this for “cloudy” or “dull” as this DAC is also exciting. dynamic and has the ability to startle you at times.
Better than “The Best”?
Let me say that the finest DAC I have ever heard is indeed the obscenely expensive Nagra Tube DAC with the Nagra power supply and anti vibration base. This DAC is as magical in sound as I could imagine, meaning I will probably never hear anything else like it in my lifetime and yes I have heard a pricey MBS DAC as well as that Dream DAC from PB. I am not saying anyone should buy these DACs as they are really made for a certain clientele but they do sound sublime.
No, the Holo May doesn’t get quite to the level of that Nagra Tube DAC set but it’s maybe 70%-75% there for almost 10X less cash outlay. When I say “70% there” I mean there are some things the Nagra does that I have never heard any DAC do, at any cost. Things that even DACs in the $25K range didn’t do like the way each instrument and sound is so easily heard with texture, nuance and layers.
The Nagra though, well, who on earth can afford a new $48k DAC setup? Not me but even so I can appreciate what it is and what it does.
Sure there are millions of millionaires in the world but it’s not a DAC everyone can or even would want to own. I found the Nagra Tube DAC I have here used and at a great price from a dealer who took it in on trade. I managed 65% off and at this price I am thrilled to the moon and back with it but I still am not so sure I can keep it as it’s so far out of my budget it is silly.
Also, I believe there are some who would even prefer the sound of the May to the Exotic DACs as the May does a thing or two better than those high dollar devices. Bass performance on the May KTE is extraordinary, maybe the best of any DAC I have tested. If you need some “juice” in your speakers, the May just MAY deliver it!
While he May KTE does have warmth, a vinyl like vibe without the noise, detail up the wazoo and a much more organic sound than most chip DACs it also brings some punch as well as a clear liquid flow.
Some may be saying “Man, just get a cheap budget DAC and save thousands” but the truth is that I have never heard any budget DAC get close to what a really well done DAC can do, never. Yes, I have had many budget DACs here (I have one here now that cost me $12 and one that costs $499) and in comparison they sound smaller, edgier and like most budget DACs, they all sound similar.
It’s that digital edge and glare that crazies like me try to eliminate within their audio systems. The May does just this and eliminates 90%+ of that digital edge and glare. Streaming from Tidal from the Rose 130 sounds like a nice clean and clear yet warm analog album being played on a $50k Vinyl Rig, without the pops and clicks or the $150 out of pocket of a great pressing.
When listening to the May KTE over the last several weeks I grew to appreciate it and it was tough to stop listening on some nights when the system was sounding so sublime. I can not state enough that this DAC will not wow you out of the gate as it doesn’t do the special effect thing like say a Chord DAVE or Weiss 501. It really won me over the more I listened as I started to hear the nuances it was delivering to my speakers.
With the Pure Audio Project Duet 15’s the sound was clear, clean and yet with midrange warmth and glow. There was air, there was body and the bass was and is incredible. The May also does well at the space thing, meaning you will hear the artists in their respective spaces pretty nicely as well as the reverb trails, cymbals that shimmer like gold and vocals that are pure magic.
Compared
It’s true that I have heard many DACs over the last three years and have reviewed about half of them. My faves in the mid to very high level of pricing have been from Denafrips, LAIV, Weiss, Nagra and even Chord with the $14k DAVE. These DACs all have a different vibe and the differences are very noticeable in a well set up system with synergy.
Compared to the Weiss DACs (501 for example which costs much more) the Holo is richer, more spatial and sounds fuller in the bass and mids, sounds more “analog” vs the more correct studio tape like nature of the Weiss. The Weiss brings more apparent details, as in they are more noticeable in and in your face. The Weiss has a very clean studio like vibe and some may prefer this.
Compared to the LAIV harmony the May has less treble energy as well as less punch and impact. The May has a vibe, a smooth operator kind of vibe and the music just seems like it flows like butter from the speakers. Listening to the May with my Pure Audio Project Duet 15’s I hear a large scale performance in my room that sounds alive and warm at the same time. Again, no real glare or edgy sounds even with old 80’s music but bad recordings were not all rosy and beautiful, the warts can show. The LAIV is the more energetic and alive sounding DAC, less analog like, though has a smaller stage. I love both of these DACs but if I had to choose one for my personal preferences, it would be the May. I prefer the larger boxes, external power supply and the black and copper colors. Both sound fantastic but again, the Laiv leans more to the Chord Dave vibe and the May more to the Nagra Tube DAC vibe, if comparing to big money DACS. The May KTE is 2X the cost of the Laiv.
Compared to the Denafrips Pontus 15th which comes in at around $2k the Holo is wider, deeper and smoother with more bass impact. The Denafrips sounds cleaner, crisper and very detailed with clean vocals. The Holo is bigger and warmer sounding but for $2k the Pontus 15th is excellent and quite superb for the cost.
Compared to a Holy Grail DAC like the $48k Nagra Tube setup, it was no contest. The Nagra, as it very well should, was just a bit more real, tangible and present. It excelled in every area such as soundstage, 3D imaging, timbre and had an even greater, more grand analog style and vibe. So yes it does get better but “be prepared to pay”.
Again, never heard music in my room like I have with the Nagra Tube DAC but I did this comparison for fun as a $50k DAC should not be compared to a $6k DAC. With all of this being said the Holo May KTE has some of this flavor but done in its own way. Think about it, the May cost $42k less than the Nagra. Crazy.
Going to the Borresen X2 speakers over the Duet 15’s I hear more of the same. Big scale, warm and rich but with details, even micro details are present here. Gone is the “in your face” presentation of some chip DACs and instead the May just lays it all out on a stage that sounds organic and beautiful. It’s not better nor is it worse, just different.
Going to the Duetto speakers from Triangle the treble is more prevalent and yet it stays smooth as silk and even more spatial. The bass is plump and rich yet tight as can be without being too constricted. There is still bloom and life, which sets this DAC apart from the rest within this price range.
This May KTE DAC not only looks special, it has a special kind of vibe with its sound delivery as well. Some may feel it is too warm, others may feel it is perfect. Of course your source will matter as well and many who buy the May KTE will use Roon as their choice to stream and serve. I have Roon but honestly rarely fire it up these days as I enjoy using my HiFi Rose with either Spotify Connect (yes, it sounds as good as tidal with this streamer) or Tidal using the Rose app.
When using Tidal I have the Rose 130 upsample to 192k or 384k and this sounds sublime. Some music lovers use HQ Player and a computer to serve music to the Holo but I do not. I prefer a dedicated streamer and allowing the streamer to upsample. This is the way to go for me as I have tried the HQ player. Just not an experience for me as I do not analyze my system or music when listening when I am not reviewing. I try my best to only enjoy the music. To those who use HQ Player I applaud you for your passion, as I know it can and does improve the sound even further. Bravo.
Yes, the Holo May has an upsample mode but I do not recommend it. It does not sound nearly as good as the NOS (non oversampling mode). As it is, the NOS mode sounds remarkable but it does take a small jump up in SQ with the Rose upsampling to 192 or 384K.
UH OH…
All is not perfect with the Holo May KTE.
As many have reported with the May KTE, due to its custom made PLL (most use off the shelf chips, not here) there can be delays with the DAC locking onto the signal from your source, but this will be very rare and most will never experience this. With the Electrocompaniet ECM 1 MKII Streamer I had no issues at all going into the May via COAX and there were no delays noticed.
Using the Rose 130, there would be between a 6-9 second delay before a track started and when it did come on, I lost that first 6-9 seconds of sound. This is not acceptable to me at all for any DAC no matter the price. I was told the solution is to use Roon and HQ Player, but that doesn’t work for me, as not everyone (the majority do not) uses Roon. Some just like to stream Tidal, Qobuz or even Spotify using a streamer. Some do not want to spend the fees on Roon, nor do all have stored music to serve, which is what Roon excels at.
Using any input on the May other than USB gave me these delays to the music, when using my reference streamer. There was one other solution here and that was to turn off the PLL, which can be done within the May KTE menu.
Some have told me doing this would harm the sound quality but when I tried it not only did it solve the delay issues, the sound did not suffer at all. Could be the source is doing its job well, or the Shunyata Omega cable was doing something but with PLL off and using the Rose 130 and Shunyata Coax cable the sound was now equal to or maybe ever so slightly better than the USB input, which is SUPERB. So turning off PLL was my solution and it was without compromise. This, for me, eliminated the issue 100%.
You can also set a delay time in the Rose 130 to solve this but we still would have those lag times before music starts. In the end though I settled in USB using a Mad Scientist Black Magic USB Cable.
Quality Time.
After quality time using the May here are my positive thoughts.
- It should be left on 24/7 as it will sound best this way. It does run warm but not hot.
- The sound is analog like, much more so than from any under $10k DAC I have heard.
- There is warmth in the mids, the highs are smooth yet extended, and the bass is huge and controlled.
- The unit is very well made, much more so than most DACs I have had here. Build sits with the big ones DACs.
- It’s a two box solution and one of these boxes is the power supply. I only see this in big money dacs, usually.
- It’s as quiet as a church mouse. No noise.
- The black backgrounds are stunning and allows music to flow from the speakers with an ease.
- Everything about this DAC oozes quality from the parts inside, to the connecters on the back to the design.
Here are two possible cons for some (not me):
- The PLL issue should not be a thing but turning it off, or using HQ Player with Roon you can fix it. USB does not bring the delays and sounds awesome.
- Made in China. This in itself is not a con for me but warranty repair would most likely take a while. It does have a 3 year warranty.
For under $6k this is a DAC that for my tastes in sound reproduction has bested many of the DACs I have had in here. While some have wowed me more, over time I grew tired of this “WOW” factor. The Holo May KTE is still a stunner in 2024/2025 and if you enjoy a rich analog vibe, smooth sound with warmth and heft this may be right up your alley. Dynamics are superb as well. This DAC can also rock as metal and rock have that heft needed to blow you down from your seat if desired. No, the Holo May KTE is not as all out refined, 3D or remarkable as some of the exotic DACS but who cares? This one makes beautiful music, better than most, and it’s will not set you back $50k.
Bottom Line: The Holy May KTE is my #1 pick for an along like DAC under $10k.
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