Holo Audio Red

So you have the A2+ hooked with Holo Red via AES correct? I tested with local files and also streaming with both Roon + Tidal Connect and Volumio + Tidal Connect and it makes the same behavior. When I switch from 16bit 44kHz to 24bit 174 or 192kHz, instead of the normal "click / click" from the relay it makes 6 clicks - sometimes last two clicks are somewhere between second 10 and 20 after the song has started. like it it not locking ok to the signal. I ordered the second Holo Red to test. Can you please test this scenario? Also I suppose that there should be no difference from the Yggdrasil+ LIM to A2+ since they both share the same input card.
Also this issue does not happen with the cheapest Wiim streamer for example via COAX.
Super glad that I found you here based on your name.
At this point it's either the Holo or the Yggdrasil

Here is a video with the issue. Turn up the volume to hear the relays : https://www.youtube.com/shorts/YNe877229xo?feature=share

Adding that I also tested everything from a network perspective, cables switches etc.

 

A friend of mine just ordered another Holo Red and in the next days I just have it for testing and see if the issue is just with my Holo unit or the issue is somewhere else.

 

That's good. I do not have a problem with wi-fi in the chain but I would not use a streamer with wi-fi.
It is not the question of connectivity it is just wifi antenna inside the box, it is pure noise
My Roon Core is wifi but the Pi2AES, both of them, are wired,

 

Can you point to multiple A/B tests or measurements that show WiFi degrading the audio signal in anyway?

 

No that's not what I meant. I simply do not use anything that is not necessary and may potentially create a noise. If there is no other choice I do not think about it. But I do not need to get into testing showing that RPi wi-fi antenna does not create audible noise. I would love to see the test that would show it does not. I any digital audio system there are enough sources of noise to avoid anything that is not necessary.

 

I just ordered Holo Red. I have two Pi2AES OG with @atomicbob Nukes I have been entirely happy with the setup with RME ADI-2 Pro and Soekris 2541. So it is a bit of an itch for an "upgrade". Mercury 3 would be some upgrade but I do not need SE DAC.
I have not found even one used Holo Red so decided to buy new.
I remember I easily parted with Bryston BDP 2. almost $2k then in favor of Pi2AES, the difference was barely noticeable with my setup then. Let's see, Pi2AES may still win. But I have to hear that.

 

On the point of testing, https://archimago.blogspot.com/search?q=wifi has a couple, including this one: https://archimago.blogspot.com/2018/12/measurements-raspberry-pi-3-b-as.html

 

I ordered Holo Red and it may be, I do not know yet, some improvement over Pi2AES.
That does not take anything from the fact that there is only one product I know that IMHO revolutionized hi-fi streaming and that product is Pi2AES. Price to value in my view is so overwhelming, I compared it in the past ABing with BDP-2 ans sold BDP2 not because it was worse but because the difference was ...unconvincing. I see Mercury and Holo Red as simply a potential improvement, depending how resolving is your setup, but for me Pi2AES with a choke is a benchmark.

 

This is my first order from Kitsune and most likely the last.
Not only is 6+ weeks excessive to build relatively simple device, but after 5+ weeks I have not even received an update when I should expect the Holo Red delivery.
What is 6+weeks anyway? is it 8 or 52?
In the meantime I installed RopieeeXL on my Pi2AES v1 and it runs HQP NAA, and Roon endpoint, switching seamlessly between those two services from Roon.
I am starting to question if Red is really worth it, taking into account the price and ridiculous wait time.

 

Not the most customer friendly. But quality is worth it. Just wait for the DHL confirmation. You are likely just a few weeks away. There are many backorders.

 

I agree with this. If it’s any consolation the Red is an improvement to the Pi2AES (the benchmark) and does have the flexibility as a digital input doohickey to spdif. So probably worth the wait.


Edit: corrected typo

 

To be fair to Kitsune, it turned that they delivered in a bit less than 6 weeks! I expected to be away from the country and shipped it to my son's address, and it arrived yesterday. All is good except that a simple email with information that it was shipped would avoid all the "problems". So they did OK but a little bit more of customer focus would not hurt.