Holo Audio unveils with the Spring 3 a beautiful R2R DAC based on discrete components. Custom designed, it offers incredible performances thanks to its Trickle Down technology. Its particular architecture allows it to deliver a sound restitution of an unbelievable richness and purity. It embeds two totally separate circuits, one in charge of PCM streams and the other of DSD streams. An impressive design which allows to benefit fully from the capacities of this last format.

• New generation of linear compensation technology to correct component resistance and switching problems.
• The new generation of de-glitch technology provides full bandwidth without increasing background noise.
• The Spring 3 achieves a SINAD of over 112dB and a dynamic range of >128dB, the best performance an R2R DAC can offer.
• PLL+FIFO technology for drastically reduced jitter. Use of a high-performance femtosecond VCXO as the source of the PLL clock signal.
• Proprietary firmware for the USB interface, with ultra-low latency and exceptional reliability.
• I2S input via HDMI with independent four-channel circuitry, eliminating jitter and interference problems. Configurable I2S input pinout for maximum compatibility.

Level 2 Model

The Level 2 model of this HoloAudio Spring 3 incorporates specially designed capacitors for optimal power filtering for more neutral and detailed sound reproduction. It is also equipped with a Red Label 5N transformer with copper wiring. This version also comes with a CNC-machined remote control.

R2R & DSD

The Spring 3 is one of the few balanced R2R DACs to natively support DSD streams, using directly the discrete components of the D/A conversion stage. It is also compatible with MAC (DoP), Linux (DoP) and Windows (Native and DoP) systems.

R2R Architecture

Today's delta-sigma DACs differ from R2R models, as the former technology goes through an oversampling and high-speed digital switching stage that can cause distortion and sound artifacts. The R2R structure, on the other hand, is much more direct and pure, using a high-precision resistor network that negates the problems associated with delta-sigma conversion. What's more, the HoloAudio Spring 3 is the first discrete DAC with linear compensation, providing extremely accurate sound reproduction.

The input stage of the Spring 3 uses an AOP and its output stage discrete components, the latter operating in Class A.

Incredible sound reproduction

One of the Spring 3's strengths is its ability to deliver a wide soundstage with great precision. High frequencies are particularly detailed, without being aggressive. Bass frequencies are deep and textured, but never mask the midrange.

Linear compensation

The Spring 3 incorporates an additional R2R ladder, allowing compensation of the main R2R ladder. This additional ladder works in a similar way to trimming, but without changing the value of the resistors. It is digitally controlled and effectively compensates the tolerance of the resistors. A method that allows to reach a very high level of accuracy, with an almost perfect linearity, an extremely low THD and a particularly high SNR.

HoloAudio Spring 3 review by AudioScienceReview (WolfX-700)