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HoloAudio – SERENE Balanced discrete pre-amplifier (Level 1)
Serene is a preamplifier from HoloAudio. Serene adopts a fully balanced structure. The left and right channels completely separated form a fully balanced structure. Each channel has independent amplification modules to complete the buffering and amplification functions.
| Marque: Holo Audio |
| Product Type: Pre-Amplifiers |
HoloAudio Serene KTE
Serene is not just a preamp. It is matching the Holo MAY perfectly! So by function, it’s nothing particularly special at first glance. Fully balanced amp. And each channel has 2 discrete amp, one for buffering and one to amplify. Jeff Zhu has put tremendous amounts of time to develop this amp and has researched a way to get more detail and natural sound from a discrete transistor based amplifier. This is more comparable to tube sound however with better detail retrieval.
We have chosen specific transistors that have high performance of thermal character. So with a large amount of these transistors we have made an amp that performs extremely well by design. As we have said before, the Serene has discrete amp modules. Each module has about 50 transistors per module. This ensures superior linearity. In a tube amp, the more tubes improves linearity, but how many tubes are considered reasonable? The amount of transistors in the Serene is very high for many discrete amplifiers on the market. This is key for its performance, sound signature, albeit a bit more costly… we think one might agree it is well worth it.
Premium grade components have been carefully chosen to deliver the best possible sound signature that Holo Audio is well known for. For an example; Quality Holo Audio Caps are used and our most preferred after testing many other choices. Also a quality O-Type transformer is used for optimum audio performance and of course is properly shielded from surrounding components. Each part of this circuit design has been well sorted out and specific components paired for optimal audio performance.
REVIEWS
The Sound of Silence | Richard / New Record Day
HOLO AUDIO Serene, I Like It Like That!
Steve Guttenberg Audiophiliac
GRAMOPHONE DREAMS The Art of Cable: AudioQuest, Canare, Kondo & the HoloAudio Serene preamplifier Discover more
HIGHLIGHTS
- The Serene “晴” adopts a true and fully-balanced design from end to end, with 4 sets of channels, left and right channels each form a fully-discrete design, each channel has two fully-discrete and separate amplification modules to complete buffering and amplification (attenuation) functions. For a total of 8 amplification modules.
- The 8 amplification modules of Serene “晴” are of a fully discrete design. The shortcomings of the transistor itself are solved through structural design and implementation. Its tone can exceed the limitations of traditional transistors. Using significant amounts of paired transistors delivers superior linearity and also has the advantages of electron tubes and transistors at the same time. Its tone can exceed the limitations of traditional
- Serene’s “晴” power supply is a completely independent structure from the secondary transformer. This is a dual mono amplifier placed in a chassis, so it has a full frequency >130dB performance of channel separation, so that the sound field is perfectly reproduced.
- Serene “晴” volume control is a fully balanced stepping device controlled by relay-controlled gain stage. Relays are the finest quality with Silver Palladium (AgPd) Gold Plated contacts. For a total of 84 steps, each step is 1db volume, and provides a volume control from -78dB to +6dB. Its advantage is that it has ultra low noise and can be accurately controlled at low volume without causing the phenomenon of left and right channels having unmatched levels. The matching degree of left and right channels in all volume ranges are within +/-0.1dB.
Standard Model includes:
- 7N copper, round wire O-type transformer, which was used in the Spring 2 (non-KTE)
- Standard copper hook-up wire
- Schurter Gold Fuse, same fuse used in Spring 2/May (non-KTE)
- Standard capacitors / HoloAudio, audio grade capacitors
- CNC Aluminum Remote Control
Kitsune, KTE Edition includes:
- CNC Aluminum Remote Control
- 4pcs 5uF/350V non-polar AudioNote Kaisei capacitors
- HoloAudio, audio grade capacitors
- Flat wire o-type transformer.
- Red nano fuse (as used in HOLO Audio May KTE)
- CNC Aluminum Remote Control
- KTE badging
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Analog Input | |
| Single-ended RCA input (QTY 3) | Maximum amplitude 12Vpp Input impedance 6.8KΩ |
| Balanced XLR input (QTY 2) | Maximum amplitude 24Vpp Input impedance 13.6KΩ |
Analog Output | |
| Single-ended RCA output | Maximum amplitude 8.5Vrms Output impedance 20Ω |
| Balanced XLR output 1 | Maximum amplitude 17Vrms Output impedance 3Ω |
| Balanced XLR output 2 | Maximum amplitude 17Vrms Output impedance 40Ω |
Physical Characteristics | |
| Size | 430x300x55mm / 16.93×11.81×2.17inches (W x L x H, Dimensions do not include protruding parts） |
| Weight | 9kg/19.84lbs |
Configuration | |
| Power Input (configurable, see label on bottom of unit for specified input） | 220-230V 50/60Hz – Fuse Type 2A SB 5x20mm 110-115V 50/60Hz – Fuse Type 4A SB 5x20mm |
| Power consumption | 30W |
HEADPHONE OUTPUT
There are 2 XLR stereo pair outputs available on the Serene. XLR 1 has the lowest output impedance and is recommended to connect to your amplifier or can be used for headphones. (requires balanced cable with XLR 3-pin connector for left and one for right channel). The XLR 2 output could be used for amplifiers with an higher input impedance.
The output impedance of an ideal preamp is zero in theory. This means that regardless of the amount of current drawn by an external load, the output voltage of the preamp remains unaffected. This is an undesired effect so in most situations we prefer the preamp to have a very low output impedance.
XLR 1 = Preferred output for amplifiers and suitable for headphones
XLR 2 = Suitable to drive amplifiers (specially for higher impedance inputs)