Cyan 2

Reviewer: Frederic Beudot
Digital Source: Aurender A10 streamer + Denafrips Pontus DAC, LHY SW6 network switch, Jay's Audio CDT2 Mk2
Analog Source: VPI Scout 1.1, Zu-DL103 MkII, Genesis Phono Gold
Amplifier: Triode Labs 2A3i, Enleum Amp 23R
Speakers: Ocellia Calliope .21 Twin Signature, Rogers LS 3/5a, Zu Essence
Cables: Zu Varial, Ocellia RCA cables, Zu Event MkII speaker cables
Power Cords: Zu Mother, Ocellia power cables, Absolute Fidelity power cables
Powerline conditioning: Isotek Nova
Sundry accessories: Isolpads under electronics, GIK Audio room treatment
Room size: 18'x14'x10' (music room)
Review component retail: $1'198

DAC reviews are very much like cables. Especially with entry-level gear built from widely shared parts, differences are often subtle. When we actually hear them, they more often than not are dismissed as the figments of a florid imagination of a biased reviewer. Yet now and then a component surfaces that garners unusual consensus; one of those brand makers which really changes the trajectory of its creator. It happened to Denafrips whose Terminator then Pontus DACs validated the potential of discrete resistor-ladder DACs over delta-sigma chips while showing that Chinese manufacture could mean very high quality and reasonable prices without classic distribution channels. Denafrips have surfed that early wave ever since but competition hasn't exactly slept at the beach. Recently Srajan reviewed newcomer Laiv Audio's Harmony DAC to great praise. In many ways the Harmony surpassed his Terminator Plus at 1/3rd the price. LTA too are rolling out their long-awaited DAC based on a chip's resistor ladder to very high expectations since they are known for novel circuitry blending the musical qualities of tubes and solid state.

Today's review won't deal with a complete newcomer. Holo Audio have been around for a few years and their top-line May DAC is highly regarded as one of the most transparent and dynamic that money can buy. Their newest is the Cyan 2 which I believe will be Holo's breakout product to move their name to more prominence amongst the nobility of DAC makers – but with a price tag accessible to most audiophiles. The Cyan 2 is a trickle-down version of their Spring and May models ranging from $2'200 out to $5'600 depending on options. It adjusts a few strategic features and parts to hit an aggressive $1'200 price point in desktop not full-width size. At 8lbs, construction is solid with an elegant copper/black theme that cleverly avoids the gold extravagance we still see in some Chinese kit. It's eye-catching without being garish. The front may raise some aesthetic objections as every possible sample rate is engraved in white with bright white indicator LED. The overall impression is more in line with professional kit not the more sober visuals of the rest of this deck but I didn't find it objectionable. The LED are bright though. If you listen in the dark, they could be unwelcome yet can't be dimmed or extinguished.

Speaking of sample rates, the Cyan 2 is as future proof as you'll ever need. It supports PCM 1'532 at 32 bits and DSD at 1'024, not that you can easily source material at either rate though you could resample in player software if you felt the need to assess whether it makes a difference. My review limited itself to 24/192 PCM and DSD 128 for high res then majored on a large collection of CD from the last ~40 years. In addition to supporting every format, the front panel also includes LED to indicate the active input. What it doesn't have are controls to change the source. Because it doesn't include a remote either, it relies on automatic signal detection to change inputs. It's the one 'flaw' I could find in an otherwise superb piece of equipment.

Automatic input detection often suffers delays, noise or brief distortion. It's why I'm no fan for higher-end audio hence glad to report that with the Holo I heard no such thing. But that's because it doesn't really switch inputs. Rather, it latches onto the first electrically active input it detects then won't let go until that's fully powered down. For example, when my Aurender server connected via USB, I could not then put a CD in the transport connected via HDMI, hit play and hear anything. The Cyan 2 remains doggedly on USB until I turn off the Aurender. At that point the Cyan 2 detects the 'new' source and switches over to I²S. It's also not enough to switch a source to sleep mode aka standby. The Cyan 2 continues to detect its presence and holds onto that no matter what signal you play over another connected source. Changing input requires all other sources to be off. In practice the Cyan 2 is a single-input DAC. That could be quite frustrating with older music servers like mine which require a solid 10-min. reboot, the main reason why I very rarely turn it off. I understand Holo's choice to remove buttons and still accommodate different sources. It was part of the trade-offs to meet the aggressive price point. In the end it simply wasn't very practical for me and I'd much rather have standard control over inputs even if it means paying a bit more But as always your mileage may vary. If you don't juggle sources over a listening session as I often do, the Cyan 2's implementation works well indeed.