Holo audio CYAN User manual

HOLO AUDIO
青CYAN
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DAC / Preamp / Headphone Amplifier
User's Guide

Overview
"Cyan" can be equipped with two different core modules, one is PCM digital analog conversion module, and the other is DSD
digital analog conversion module. The type of core module determines the internal digital-to-analog conversion method.
However, another non-source digital analog conversion method can be supported by the internal SRC (Sampling Mode
Conversion) function. Please refer to the SRC section below for details. Optional PCM module –The internal source digital
analog conversion mode is PCM mode. When receiving DSD data, the internal will automatically convert to PCM and then
perform digital analog conversion. Due to SRC capacity limitations, the maximum can only receive DSD256. Optional DSD
module –The internal source digital analog conversion mode is DSD mode. When receiving PCM data, it will be automatically
converted into DSD and then digitally simulated. Since the DSD cannot perform digital volume control, the “green” volume
setting will be disabled and the output level will be fixed at the highest after installation of the optional DSD module. At the
same time, since the volume control cannot be performed, the headphone amplifier will be automatically turned off to prevent
the excessive volume from damaging the headphones.

Specifications
Digital inputs
COAXIAL1, COAXIAL2,
OPTICAL, AES
PCM 44.1-192K (24bit)
DSD 64X （DOP）
USB
PCM 44.1-384K (32bit)
DSD 64-256X （DOP）
DSD 64-256X （Native）with PCM Module
DSD 64-512X （Native）with DSD Module
I2S
PCM 44.1-384k (32bit)
DSD 64-256X with PCM Module
DSD 64-512X with DSD Module

Analog output
PCM 48K NOS
THD+N 0.001% @1K
SNR -125dB
Voltage Output 2.3Vrms(RCA), 4.6Vrms(XLR)
DSD 128X
THD+N 0.0007% @1K
SNR -121dB
Voltage Output 1.3Vrms(RCA), 2.6Vrms(XLR)
Headphone output
THD+N 0.0015% @1K
SNR -120dB
Low resistance (Single Ended）400mW@32Ohm load
Low resistance (Balanced）1600mW@32Ohm load
High resistance（Single Ended）180mW@300Ohm load
High resistance（Balanced）720mW@300Ohm load
Dimensions
260x281*55mm(WxLxH)
*Does not include protruding parts
Weight
5kg (11 Pounds)
Power input (configurable,
see the bottom label of the
machine)
220-230V 50/60Hz 2A (fuse type 5x20mm SB 2A)
110-115V 50/60Hz 4A (fuse type 5x20mm SB 4A)
Power consumption
30W
Accessories
Power Cable x1
USB Cable x1
Remote Control x1

Front Panel
Low-impedance/high-impedance headphone output indicator, red is the low-impedance headphone
output, and green is the high-impedance headphone output. Not lit for line output. Oversampling mode
indicator, red for oversampling (OS) and green for non-oversampling (NOS).
Balanced HP
input
Single-ended HP input
Head phone output indicator
Low resistance (red LED)
high resistance (green LED)
Oversampling mode indicator
Display
Multi-function knob

Rear Panel
AC Power Input
Digital Signal Input
Analog Signal Output

Remote Control
Mute
Display Brightness
Digital Input
Volume up
Volume down
Analog Output
Sampling mode

Settings
Settings can be applied without the remote control. This can be done by using the multi-function
knob on the front panel of the DAC.
In the default mode, rotate left and right to set the volume, short press the knob to unmute/mute. Press
and hold the knob to enter the setting mode. Press and hold the knob again to enter the next setting
mode. In the setting Mode, rotate left and right for the corresponding settings.
The order is:
“IN – Digital Input Settings”
“Out – Analog Output Settings”
“FMODE – Sample Mode Settings”
DISP –Display Brightness Settings”
Volume settings
The adjustable volume maximum is 100dB, adjustable by 0.5dB per step/increment. When the digital
volume attenuation function is turned off, this is the through mode.
Digital input settings
Select the digital source signal in "USB", "I2S", "COAX", "AES", "OPT".
Analog output settings
LINE –Line output, output on the single-ended and balanced line ports on the rear panel.
HP-LO –Headphone low-impedance output, single-ended and balanced headphone output port on the
front panel for headphones below 100 ohms.
HP-HI –Headphone high-impedance output, single-ended and balanced headphone output port on the
front panel for headphones with 100 ohm impedance or more.
Sampling mode setting Divided into two types, NOS mode and OS mode. For the selection of NOS mode
and OS mode, please refer to https://kitsunehifi.com/nosvsos/
Display brightness settings
Set the brightness of the display, a total of 6 levels of brightness. The lowest level is to completely turn off
the display.

Internal SRC (sampling rate conversion)
Optional discrete PCM module, due to SRC chip limitations, supports DSD256 when receiving DSD
signals. If using the optional discrete DSD module instead of discrete PCM Module, the maximum support
would be DSD512 and is due to the fact that SRC is not required and all DSD is processed via the discrete
DSD module. See details below:
Mode Input Format Internal SRC
PCM No SRC
DSD Convert DSD to PCM
PCM Oversampled to 352.8K or 384K PCM
DSD Convert DSD to PCM
PCM Convert PCM to DSD
DSD No SRC
PCM Oversampled to DSD256
DSD Convert PCM to DSD
Cyan - PCM
NOS mode
OS mode
Cyan - DSD
NOS mode
OS mode

I2S Digital Input
LVDS differential transmission mode
The Physical interface is the same as HDMI and an HDMI cable can be used. However, the electrical
signal it transmits is I2S protocol, not the audio and video signals of the conventional HDMI. Please do NOT
attempt to use HDMI devices with I2S Devices as damage may occur, ie. bluray player, TV etc.
NOTE: Always have both devices powered off when plugging in or unplugging HDMI I2S cables.
Pin PCM DSD
1 I2S_DATA- DSD_DATA_L-
2 GND GND
3 I2S_DATA+ DSD_DATA_L+
4 I2S_BCK+ DSD_BCK+
5 GND GND
6 I2S_BCK- DSD_BCK-
7 I2S_LRCK- DSD_DATA_R-
8 GND GND
9 I2S_LRCK+ DSD_DATA_R+
10 I2S_MCLK+ DSD_MCLK+
11 GND GND
12 I2S_MCLK- DSD_MCLK-
13 NC NC
14 NC NC
15 NC NC
16 NC NC
17 GND GND
18 NC NC
19 GND GND

Driver Installation
Apple Mac OS X 10.6.4 and above comes with a driver, no need to install drivers. Mac OS does
not support DSD Native mode.
Linux OS also has a built-in driver and does not require a driver.
The latest Windows 10 comes with a driver, but since its own driver does not support ASIO and does not
support DSD, you need to install the driver provided by Holo Audio. The driver installation steps are as
follows.
Connect “青Cyan” to the power supply and turn it on. Connect the USB input port to the computer USB
port by using the USB cable, and select the input source as USB. Note that if the input source is not
selected as USB, the computer will not recognize the Cyan DAC USB Device properly.
When “青Cyan” is connected to the computer via USB, the Windows system will display a notification
that the new hardware is found, and the driver installation failed. Please ignore the failure notification (see
the figure below).
Locate the file named “HoloAudio_v4.35.0_2017-11-01_setup.exe” Double click or right click to open/run
the file. (Filename and version may have changed. Please refer to whatever is newest on the products
website)

The installation wizard will ask you to close other
applications before installing. If you have other
applications running, please close it and click >
"NEXT".
If necessary, select the installation folder by clicking
"Browse..." or use the default path (recommended)
and click > "Install".
…Installation is in progress...

If the message like the either one on the left pops up
during the loading process click > “Install”.
When you see the notification as shown on the left,
the driver installation is complete, click > "NEXT" to
continue.
Click > "Finish" to close the installer. The device is now
available to any application under Windows as an ASIO
and WDM audio device.

Common software settings
Windows
Default playback device settings
After installing the driver, Windows will have one more audio output device, so that the system
will have multiple audio output devices to choose from. Normal application software will be output to the
default playback device on Windows. At this time, you need to set it up to use the “green”as the default
playback device for Windows.
Right click on the sound icon in the desktop status bar,
click to select > "Play Device (P)" or press the "P" button
on the keyboard to enter the playback device control
panel, as shown below.
In the sound/playback directory, make the output device
settings, click to select >“Speaker XMOS USB Audio”,
then click the > “Set as Default (S)” button to set “Cyan”
as the system default output device.

J.River
Playback settings
The following operations are based on the J.River Media Center 20.0.27 English user interface.
Click > Tools / Options on the play page or use Ctrl+O to
enter the settings page.
Set > “Audio Device” to “HoloAudio ASIO Driver [ASIO]”.

Click > "Settings" / "Output Format"
If you want to set to PCM output, select Output
Encoding to > "None". If you want to set to DSD output,
select the corresponding DSD bit rate here.
After setting the above parameters and clicking Exit
Settings, a dialog box like the one on the left will pop
up. Click > “Save”.

Foobar2000
Playback settings
Set the required files for playing DSD files and the foobar2000 player software to download this folder first
in this network folder http://pan.baidu.com/s/1pLgseWb. After downloading the folder, extract the
compressed file and prepare for installation and setup.
Open the decompressed foobar2000 file. It is recommended to install it with the default settings until it is
completed.
Click to open the foobar2000 installation file:
Click > the "NEXT > button" to continue the
installation.

Click > the "I Agree" button to proceed with the
installation.
If necessary, select the installation folder by
clicking on "Browse..." or use the default
The installation type here selects the default
"Standard installation", do not select "Portable
installation".
Click > the "Next >" button to continue the
installation.

Here the software composition selects the
default (Full) all installation (recommended).
Click > the "Install" button to continue the
installation
…Installation is in progress...
When you see the notification as shown on the
left, the installation is complete, click > the
"Finish" button and the Foobar 2000
installation is complete.

Foobar2000 plays SACD/ISO settings
1. Install the ASIO plugin. Double-click the "foo_out_asio" file to install it with the default settings until it is complete.
The installation prompt will pop up. Click > the "Yes" button to
continue the installation.
After the installation is complete, click the "OK" button to make the
installation take effect.
The application change program will ask to restart the Foobar 2000
prompt dialog and click > the "confirm" button.
1. Install the "foo_input_sacd" file and install it with the default settings until it is complete.
The prompt dialog box shown on the left will pop up during
installation: Click > the "Yes" button to continue the installation.