How many reivews do you need to get convinced about this R2R DAC?
ZP Productions -First Look 2: Holo Audio Cyan 2 First Impression
Trift shops review: Holo Audio Cyan 2 – The Best DAC I’ve Heard So Far
ZReviews – Let’s Rant about DACs (Again)
ConvinceMeAudio – Holo May KTE, are your days numbered? HoloAudio Cyan 2 DAC REVIEW
New Record Day – Who NEEDS The May Dac When We Can Have THIS?!
iiWi Reviews – Is Holo Audio Cyan 2 really that good?
The newest HoloAudio offering is the Cyan 2 DAC. We are quite proud of the Cyan 2 and confident in saying we think you will find it most impressive as well. It’s a true balanced discrete resistor ladder DAC with both PCM and DSD support packed into a smaller footprint of desktop space. The Cyan 2 has several “trickle down” technologies from it’s bigger brothers and we are excited to introduce this product at a more affordable price.
Cyan 2 “青2”, A new generation DAC of fully discrete resistor network (commonly known as R2R). Relative to its predecessor the Cyan “青”, the Cyan 2 “青2” has the following improvements:
• Equipped with R2R network and vector step resistor network at the same time. The R2R network is used for primary digital-to-analog conversion of the PCM stream, and the vector step resistor network is used for primary digital-to-analog conversion of the DSD stream.
• The new generation of de-glitch technology can provide full-amplitude de-glitch without increasing the noise floor and other adverse effects.
• Based on this new generation of technology, Cyan 2 “青2” Can provide >106db SINAD and >127db dynamic range.
• USB supports sampling rates up to DSD1024 and PCM 1.536M.
• The USB interface uses proprietary firmware with ultra-low latency, a highly reliable data transmission, ideal USB eye pattern measurements that contributes to 2-4 times higher performance than official firmware.
| DAC Type | R2R (Discrete ladder) |
| Model | Cyan2 |
| Digital input | |
| COAXIAL, OPTICAL, AES | PCM 44.1-192K (24bit) |
| DSD 64X （DOP) | |
| USB (galvanically isolated) | PCM 44.1-1.536M (32bit) |
| DSD 64-512X （DOP) | |
| DSD 64-1024X （Native) | |
| I2S (HDMI) | PCM 44.1-1.536M (32bit) |
| DSD 64-1024X | |
| Auto input selection | LED indicator lights for each sample rate type as well as for input selection.. |
| Analog Output | |
| Both otuputs can be used simultaneously | |
| PCM 48K NOS | THD+N 0.0005% @1K (-106dB) |
| DNR -127dB | |
| Voltage Output 2.5Vrms(RCA), 5.0Vrms(XLR) | |
| DSD 128X | THD+N 0.0002% @1K (-114dB) |
| DNR -115dB | |
| Voltage Output 1.25Vrms(RCA), 2.50Vrms(XLR) | |
| Physical Characteristics | |
| Dimensions (chassis) | 300x200x48mm / 11.8″ x 7.9″ x 1.9″ (WxLxH Dimensions do no include protruding parts) |
| Weight | 3.5kg / 7.72lbs |
| Power Specifications | |
| Power input (configurable) | 220-230V 50/60Hz – Fuse spec : 2A SB 5x20mm |
| 110-115V 50/60Hz – Fuse spec : 4A SB 5x20mm | |
| Power Consumption | 20W |
| Accessories | |
| Other included items | Power Cable (EU / UK ) x1 |
| USB Cable x1 | |
| No remote control available |
HDMI I2S INPUT
note: i2s is NOT the same as HDMI Audio/Video. NEVER plug HDMI devices into the i2s products like HoloAudio Cyan2. Be sure it’s i2s or IIS compliant with compatible pin out configuration.
note: i2s pin out is HoloAudio spec. Similar to PSaudio however left and right channel is swapped for DSD content.
note: i2s is not hot swappable, so never plug or unplug i2s cables when the devices are powered on. Always turn off both devices before plug/unplug of cable. And Ideal length for i2s HDMI cable is approx 0.3-0.6M or common size is 0.5M. Generally speaking the flatwire type cables are more ideal than round wire type cables for i2s protocol applications.
DSD natively supported
HoloAudio is the world’s first to support DSD natively on Resistor Ladder DAC, so far the only one. This is not the DSD converted to PCM before digital-analog converter, but directly by the discrete components of the DSD digital to analog converter. Supported currently on MAC (DOP)and Linux (DOP), and Windows/PC (Direct Native and DOP). Please note, the word ‘R2R’ is the name of a kind of architecture of resistor ladders. This architecture requires less resistors yet still is capable to deliver more than acceptable performance. Most DACs in the industry use this architecture. The DSD module of Spring3 does not use R2R architecture for the DSD, more specifically it uses a very specific architecture which is optimized to perform DSD to analog. So to be entirely accurate the DSD part of Spring is using resistor ladders, not R2R..
Bert Wiggerman (verified owner) –
Twee weken terug aandachtig met Rob bij MagnaHifi geluisterd naar de Holo Cyan2 DAC in combinatie met met eigen Ifi Neostreamer en later met de nieuwste Mano Ultra MK3.5 streamer. Wat een fantastische en extreem goede DAC is de Cyan2 voor het geld.! Op de Ifi Neostreamer ging het direct al heel fraai en na gewisseld te hebben naar de nieuwe Mano-Ultra MK3.5 was het wederom een grote stap voorwaarts, whauw🎼 . De keuze voor de Holo Audio Cyan 2 DAC was dan ook snel gemaakt en werd keurig binnen 3 dagen goedverpakt thuis bezorgt.
Thuis aangesloten op mijn Ifi Neostreamer via Een Wireworld Silverspere I2s kabel de Holo Cyan2 in, klonk het al direct heel erg goed in de set.
Nu twee weken verder en na de upgrade naar een veel betere audio- fuse werd het alleen nog maar beter.
Erg fraai gedetailleerd, ruimtelijk, helder en open van sound maar never never enige hardheid in het geluid te bespeuren en met tevens een prachtig vol en strak in balans zijnde laagweergave is het volop genieten.
Nu nog maar even doorsparen voor de Mano Ultra MK 3.5 want die combinatie zal het moeten gaan worden op de Holo Audio Cyan 2.
Rob erg bedankt nog voor de gastvrijheid en lekkere koffie ( met taartje) en tot hopelijk snel.
Groeten van een supertevreden nieuwe klant.
Bert
Nikolay (verified owner) –
Do not want to be too talkative with mailing often but cannot hold myself: ‘Supreme dac’:
– very detailed but not intrusive;
– supreme timber and naturalism;
– enormous soundstage – height, width, depth;
– great balance of replay.
Bran (verified owner) –
I’ve been yearning for a Holo Audio May Dac ever since it came out. Its price is a little hard for me to justify though, despite having been in love with R2R DACs for at least the past ten years and having been served very well by my Audio-gd R7 DAC for the past four. Sometime later, the Cyan 2 was released and I sat on my hands, confident that my R7 was better and that getting a Cyan 2 would at worst be a downgrade and at best be a sidegrade. Here I am, curiousity finally having gotten the better of myself and trigger pulled to find out.
And my first listening impressions tell me that it’s an upgrade. At half the price of the Audio-gd R7, to boot. (Granted, it’s not an apples to apples comparison due to the actual NOS operation of the Cyan 2 vs the simulated NOS mode of the R7.) Both have that organic and analog sounding trait of great R2R DACs, both render details exceptionally well despite operating in NOS, both present a wide soundstage where instruments are easily placed/pointed at and both exhibit high clarity and transparency. (Some care went into my PC USB setup – eg, dedicated PC for Tidal streaming, a Matrix Audio USB Card and external USB PSU, up-to-spec Supra USB cable, etc, etc).
What sets the Cyan 2 apart is the sense of palpable presence; that I’m no longer listening to a recording and that the singer actually exists between my two speakers (a pair of Purifi-6R standmounts powered by an Audio-gd Master 9 preamp and A1 power amp). Its soundstage is also deeper, with a better defined sense of instruments positioned to the front, middle or back of the soundstage. There’s also a sense of higher clarity and what must be a better reproduction of timing.
Having lived with my R7 for so long, the improvements brought by the Cyan 2 were immediately apparent. The hype was right, the Cyan 2 is the real deal. Maybe I’ll sell all the other DACs in my possession and put the money towards a May DAC. In the meantime, I will be thoroughly enjoying the Cyan 2.
Mark –
Not only a very good product but also perfect service. After a problem occurred I called Rob and he managed to repair it the same day while I was waiting for it. Super service. Thnx Rob.
Mark –
Not online a very good product but also perfect service. After a problem occurred I called Rob and he managed to repair it the same day while I was waiting for it. Super service. Thnx Rob.
John (verified owner) –
I am really very pleased with the improvement it brings straight out of the box – eye opening change.
A delighted customer
Marko (verified owner) –
I have made my first “critical listening” and I have to say, that I am impressed. This DAC is another level compared to the internal DAC of Eversolo!
Especially the depth of the sound stage is impressive, with layers. I can feel the reverb of the space, the vibration of the instruments (wood of violins, cellos, drums…). Like I am standing next to the instrument and feel it.
And also what bothered my ears with Eversolo internal DAC after an hour of listening, disappeared.
Radoslav Ivanov (verified owner) –
Exceptional thing. I have ifi zen signature v2 and hegel 190… This is entirely different category, even without 250 hours of warm up. The decay notes and the absolute bass control and sounding musical…It has everything a non top end audiophile dream of. It has enaugh energy not to get you tired for hours, but keep you stuck on the speakers. I love it!
Andre (verified owner) –
Ich habe den Cyan2 seit einigen Monaten in meiner Anlage laufen (McIntosh MA12000, Monitor Audio PL500II, Hifi Rose RS250). Gerade wenn man dem CyanII hochgerechnete Signale zuspielt, scheint er akustisch ganz hervorragend. Sehr räumlich in allen Dimensionen, Grobdynamisch, wenn gefordert, genauso auf Mikrodetailebene unterwegs. Nicht so gnadenlos auflösend wie meine AKM oder ESS DAC´s, aber man bekommt die selben Informationen vermittelt. Langzeittauglich und dennoch super involvierend. Bin begeistert und träume jetzt vom May KTE ;-). Lieferung und Support von Magna 1A !!
Alexander (verified owner) –
I am very satisfied with the improvement in sound quality. The BS Node is not the best streamer, but the combination via USB provides a significant improvement, exactly what I was hoping for. With a better streamer, I can get even more out of the Cyan 2.
The improvements:
* The sounds have become more natural, precise, with significantly more detail, and are more separated in space. I now listen more to instruments rather than just sounds.
* The bass is much more controlled and detailed.
* Significantly more spatial presentation and a ‘lighter’ presentation.
Rene (verified owner) –
Ik heb deze mooie Cyan2 dac gekocht als upgrade voor mijn PS Audio DSD nuwave dac. Na het aansluiten op mijn Holo Red en via chinch op de installatie. Mijn installatie wordt van muziek voorzien vanuit een NUC waarop Roon draait. In roon aangegeven dat de RED het endpoint is en alles werd automatisch zo optimaal mogelijk ingesteld, wel headroombeheer op -3 db gezet en DSP uit. Bij de eerste noten viel meteen op dat dit een echte upgrade is, echter na 3 dagen constant laten spelen nog veel meer verbetering. Het geluidsbeeld is ruimtelijk, vol details en micro details, straalt rust uit de de achtergrond is zwart. Ook mijn hoofdtelefoon versterker aangesloten via XLR ook hier een erg grote verbetering hoorbaar.
Lewis (verified owner) –
I have now bought the cyan2 and it has been playing here since last Saturday afternoon. Fast delivery !
After about 15 minutes I realized that this is completely different from a Node 2i … more of everything and better, while it also sounds pleasant and real, cold out of the box. Now that I have been playing for more than a few days, I have the feeling that the sound has become even more “balanced”. Whether things will improve even more remains to be seen. If it stays like this it will be more than enough….
Robert (verified owner) –
Just wanted to say thank you again, the CYAN 2 has arrived and what can I say, it’s amazing!!!!
Better than the SMSL VMV D2R, which was really hard to top…
Gheorghe Maria (verified owner) –
I started to follow reviews about R2R DAC, I knew about this principle from recent years, I knew that the proof and prices are performant, as an aside, DACs with SIGMA-DELTA, have unbeatable and affordable technical characteristics for the consumption of the common man, but in my opinion, here I am subjective, it does not sound as I want, the ROHM MUS-IC BD34301EKV32 Bit Stereo chip in my DAC SMSL D300 really does it, But my ears, my brain wants perfection. I’ve been watching HOLO Audio May, HOLO Audio Spring 3 for a while, I damn like how they are executed, the Trick principle used to encode and decode, Yes, I would need that, but my financial possibilities are exceeded. I saw in passing Holo Audio Cyan 2, acceptable as price for me, at the moment I went over it quite easily, it seemed too simplistic, I was one click away to order a Gustard R26 from a French site where I have an account. Chance, or curiosity makes me watch on Youtube a video Holo Audio Cyan 2, presented by Mr. Hans Beekhuyzen, a reliable engineer, for whom I have every respect. I saw how it is executed inside, I saw what technical characteristics it presents, I followed with interest the opinion of a specialist and YES! My light bulbs went on, my 6th sense that works for me, gave me the urge to order it, that he is solving my claims with Analog music and I was not wrong, the second choice of DAC, very, very inspired! I let it wear and I can tell you without fail, that it is the perfect choice, I really hear Analog music, UPS! :) . On PCM music files, compared to SMSL D300, it’s a bit higher, bass with more depth, just as soft, soft, pleasant. The voice seems a little bit forward, but with a more holographic presence, with more texture. Highs sound beautiful, clear, crystal sound, it was expected, my flair did not deceive me. The big surprise came when listening to DSD64, DSD128, DSD256 files. I used the “Audiophile Hi-RES System Test-DSD128 ” album for comparison. A deep, deep, powerful but soft bass at the same time. A perfect spatial separation, you close your eyes and feel the position of the musical instruments. You feel your voice in front of you, you feel every sound, every movement, you feel how space fills up, how music pours throughout the room, giving the feeling of holographic music. Here I can say that it has exceeded very, very much the possibilities of SMSL D300. I pulled myself out, completed the realization of the system as I wanted. Holo Audio Cyan 2 receives signal via USB and I connected it via XLR to SMSL H300 AMP-PRE. The Coaxial input receives signal from GEERFAB D.BOB when listening to SACD CD, or watching a Blue-ray show on Smart TV. Holo Audio Cyan 2 is a success of Holo Audio, an excellent price/quality ratio. It looks good, simple but with some enviable performance. The switch is done automatically when it senses signal on one of the inputs. The priority is the USB input, for those who use multiple inputs, the inputs that are not used at that time must be disabled. Now I want to say a few words about the Magna Hifi team. A team of specialists in the field, with a pleasant practice in communication, honest and with a lot of expertise in this field. I highly recommend purchases from this Magna Hifi online store.
Michael (verified owner) –
I hesitated for a long time before making a decision. I already had a DMP-A6 and wondered what a Cyan2 could improve upon. Jos advised giving it a try. From the first notes, it’s already clear: how much more beautiful can it sound? Much more beautiful! I’m super happy with it. Beautifully minimalist in design, and as Jos said: No unnecessary features, just pure sound quality!
Gerd (verified owner) –
Great machine – great service – I like it and that’s what counts to me.
Downside: Output are high and therefore some trouble with attenuation, but manageable LED’s a bit too bright for my liking
Chris –
The DAC arrived some days ago . First parcel/outside box was a bit banged up but all is hooked up now and runs flawlessly. I must say first impressions trump my expectations/hopes by “quite a margin”!
John (verified owner) –
Exceptionally balanced and steadfast across all frequencies; impeccable discernment among diverse sounds and musical styles; I adore the effortless switching capability, facilitated by USB streaming and TV via Toslink connection. Magna Hifi delivers top-notch service!
Knut –
I am really blown away by the Cyan 2 details and clarity even when I come from the similar priced Soekris 2541 R2R DAC
Milosz (verified owner) –
I have the Cyan 2 for several weeks – it’s nice sounding dac I’m enjoying it.
Daniel B (verified owner) –
High resolving DAC for the fraction of the price! This DAC preforms almost like an true endgame DAC. The body of the sound this dac makes is verry rich in detail and accurate. Spacial presentation is really good and if you use DSD the soundstage becomes even bigger and you get even more detail retrieval! You won’t be needing any replacement for the coming years if you buy this DAC. Oversampling is really good on this DAC.
Its also compatible with ASIO driver from holoaudio. Im verry impressed with th sound of the DAC.