Holo Audio Serene Pre Amp

[ALUCARD19]

Has anyone had any firsthand information on the Holo Audio Serene preamp compared to the Benchmark LA4 preamp

 

[ACHiPo]

Has anyone had any firsthand information on the Holo Audio Serene preamp compared to the Benchmark LA4 preamp

Heck I'd be interested in hearing about the Benchmark as well. I am very impressed with their Class H amps!

 

[Cybermaggies]

I own both. The Benchmark LA4 is an excellent preamp and if you modify it to be powered by a quality LPS, an even better one. However, the Holo Serene Level 1 preamp in its stock form sounds better. It has a blacker background, the bass is cleaner and deeper, the transparency and detail is better and it has a warmth and musicality the Benchmark lacks. It did take about a month for the Holo to fully break in, so initially I had some doubts, but once fully broken in, it shined.

I did a test comparison against my friends Accuphase integrated(used as a preamp) when I first got it and then about a month later. In its unbroken in state, the Accuphase was the better sounding unit. It had more transparency, musicality and sense of realism. The only thing the Holo did better in the beginning was having a blacker background. The Accuphase has an excellent S/N of 117db but the Holo made it seem noisy. When I did a second comparison of the Holo to the Accuphase a month later, it matched the Accuphase in transparency, musicality, and realism and left it in the dust in background noise.



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[ACHiPo]

I own both. The Benchmark LA4 is an excellent preamp and if you modify it to be powered by a quality LPS, an even better one. However, the Holo Serene Level 1 preamp in its stock form sounds better. It has a blacker background, the bass is cleaner and deeper, the transparency and detail is better and it has a warmth and musicality the Benchmark lacks. It did take about a month for the Holo to fully break in, so initially I had some doubts, but once fully broken in, it shined.

I did a test comparison against my friends Accuphase integrated(used as a preamp) when I first got it and then about a month later. In its unbroken in state, the Accuphase was the better sounding unit. It had more transparency, musicality and sense of realism. The only thing the Holo did better in the beginning was having a blacker background. The Accuphase has an excellent S/N of 117db but the Holo made it seem noisy. When I did a second comparison of the Holo to the Accuphase a month later, it matched the Accuphase in transparency, musicality, and realism and left it in the dust in background noise.



At a

Wow that is quite something for Holo Audio to compete with Accuphase. I don’t know Accuphase well, but when I’ve heard it, it’s sounded quite good.

 

[AudioLibertarian]

I own both. The Benchmark LA4 is an excellent preamp and if you modify it to be powered by a quality LPS, an even better one. However, the Holo Serene Level 1 preamp in its stock form sounds better. It has a blacker background, the bass is cleaner and deeper, the transparency and detail is better and it has a warmth and musicality the Benchmark lacks. It did take about a month for the Holo to fully break in, so initially I had some doubts, but once fully broken in, it shined.

I did a test comparison against my friends Accuphase integrated(used as a preamp) when I first got it and then about a month later. In its unbroken in state, the Accuphase was the better sounding unit. It had more transparency, musicality and sense of realism. The only thing the Holo did better in the beginning was having a blacker background. The Accuphase has an excellent S/N of 117db but the Holo made it seem noisy. When I did a second comparison of the Holo to the Accuphase a month later, it matched the Accuphase in transparency, musicality, and realism and left it in the dust in background noise.


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Cyber,
Thanks for sharing your experience! Have you had a chance to compare the Level 1 unit to the Signature KTE version? Thanks!

 

[Cybermaggies]

Cyber,
Thanks for sharing your experience! Have you had a chance to compare the Level 1 unit to the Signature KTE version? Thanks!

I have not. The Level 1 sounds so good that I am not interested in upgrading it at this time.

 

[Audioman2023]

For those that habe the Serene, how long did it take for it to burn in and sound better? Thanks in advance.

 

[Tabl10s]

500 hours.