At long last, I’ve done it! This amplifier has finally made its way into the Headmania’s audiophile cave. I’ve heard so much about it, and I actually had the pleasure of experiencing the Holo stack firsthand at MOC 2023. You can read about my initial interaction with the stack here.
I’m brimming with anticipation and gratitude for this opportunity. A huge thanks goes out to Sandu and MagnaHifi for making this possible. Sandu from SoundNews was the one who managed to secure a loaner unit and was kind enough to share it with me for this review. By the way, you can find his review here.
Intro & Specs
First things first, let’s chat about the build quality and design. Despite its simplicity, the design appeals to me. It’s straightforward, practical, and the quality is top-notch. It’s a pleasing sight to behold, particularly next to my Rockna Wavelight DAC—they’re practically twins in terms of size! Is this fate speaking to me? A cosmic hint, perhaps? :))
Don’t get me started on the sturdy, well-built remote that echoes the same simplicity and durability as the unit itself.
Check out the video review here:
Now let’s delve into the specifications of this unit. You can find them here.
The Holo Audio Bliss KTE is a discrete, high-end pure Class A headphone amplifier, offering incredible sound quality thanks to a design based on an optimized and careful architecture, using only high-end electronic components. It also allows to develop an important power of 12W under 32Ω, making it able to accompany any headphone of the market without difficulty.
The Bliss KTE has single-ended stereo RCA and single-ended stereo XLR inputs. The device has three headphone outputs on its front panel, with single-ended Jack 3.5mm as well as balanced XLR 4 pins and Jack 4.4mm. The rear of the unit also features a single-ended stereo RCA and balanced stereo XLR output.
- 100VA DUAL O-type(not Toroid) FLATWIRE (NOT roundwire) 6N Copper custom hand made audio transformers.
- All copper wire is replaced with 1.5mm pure occ silver wire. Only KTE model
- Replaced IEC inlet connectors with pure silver/rhodium plated faston connectors at the IEC inlet.
- Fuse is upgraded with world class Red Nano fuse with gold/silver and graphene and quartz filtering materials.
- Upgraded to AudioNote Kasei capacitors.
- Custom made HoloAudio 1000V 1uF caps / Mundorf evo silver/gold caps (both are standard in the standard bliss
- Remote Control (IR) inlcuded
SPECIFICATIONS Product type Headphone- & preamplifier Inputs 1* Single-ended stereo RCA
2* Balanced stereo XLROutputs 1* Single-ended Jack 3.5mm headphone output
1* Balanced Jack 4.4mm headphone output
1* Balanced XLR 4 pins headphone output
1* Single-ended stereo RCA
1* Balanced stereo XLR4PIN XLR Output Low impedance (LO-Z) Output impedance 0Ohm, power 12Wrms @ 32Ohm High impedance (HI-Z) Output impedance 15Ohm, power 25Wrms @ 15Ohm 4.4mm Pentaconn Output Low impedance (LO-Z) Output impedance 2Ohm, power 12Wrms @ 32Ohm High impedance (HI-Z) Output impedance 17Ohm, power 25Wrms @ 15Ohm 6,35mm TRS Output Low impedance (LO-Z) Output impedance 1Ohm, power 3Wrms @ 32Ohm High impedance (HI-Z) Output impedance 8.5Ohm, power 0.6Wrms @ 15Ohm https://magnahifi.com/holoaudio-bliss-headphone-pre-amplifier-kte-kitsune-edition/#top
GENERAL Power Consumption 60W Dimensions (W*D*H) 430*300*67mm Weight 10kg Color Black and copper side panels Package 1x Holo Audio Bliss Level KTE
1x Remote Control (Aluminum CNC IR)
1x Manual
Listening Impressions and Tests
Before we dive in, let’s establish the groundwork for how this amplifier was put to the test. The system I used went as follows: PC -> Denafrips Gaia -> (i2s) > Rockna Wavelight (balanced XLR 5.8v output) > Holo Bliss KTE – > directly into headphones, and as a preamp to the Benchmark AHB2, powering both headphones and Martin Logan ESL-11A speakers. The headphones I used for this test were the Meze Elite, Hifiman HE-1000SE, Meze Liric, Hifiman Susvara, Sennheiser HD650 (Kiss Mod), Beyerdynamic DT-880 (600 ohms), LETSHUOER S12 PRO Planar In-Ears, and Jerry Harvey JH13 V2 Pro.
Let me assure you, the Holo Bliss is one versatile beast of an amplifier that breathes life into a wide range of headphones. More on that soon.
You might know that I own the Benchmark AHB2, which I’ve used as a headphone amplifier for quite some time. Its control, clarity, and detail are absolutely stunning with certain headphones. However, after a while, I found it a tad too sterile with some headphones. I craved a little more soul, a little more musicality, but without necessarily tumbling into excessively colored or dull territory. I was also able to achieve this with the Passlabs HPA-1, but more on that later.
With the Holo Bliss, I believe I’ve hit the sweet spot. I’ll describe my listening experiences in more detail below.
The first thing that grabbed my attention was the absolute purity of the vocals, the stark and incredible black background, and of course, the tactile plucks of the guitar. Moreover, all of this was brilliantly integrated within an impressively deep and holographic soundstage in an entirely organic manner. The audio experience is devoid of any harshness – just pure, natural, and crystal-clear sound.
The initial guitar plucks instantly gave me chills. They were so tangible, they immediately thrilled my audiophile senses. The guitar sounds were incredibly detailed, with each pluck filled with life and vibration. The vocals smoothly blended into the scene in an impressively clear, pure, and holographic manner.
I was keen to find out if this device could really rock my world. And oh, it certainly did! It got me instinctively headbanging to the beat of the music. The drums hit with extraordinary force, showcasing amazing depth and control. Paired with the electric guitars, they created an irresistibly vibrant rhythm that was bursting with life. The electric guitars seemed to vibrate the drivers to their core, leading to a deep and electrifying auditory journey. Rock on indeed!
You know that sensation when you come across something so deeply enjoyable that you wish you could share that moment telepathically with a friend or a loved one? That’s precisely how I felt during this experience, as though I wanted to capture my feelings and perceptions like a snapshot and present them right here. I’ll strive to replicate this as accurately as I can. This song is packed with instruments, and with Bliss, each one sprung to life. You could focus on any given instrument within a large, holographic soundstage. They were all around you, so real it felt like you could extend a hand and touch them, and as you did, you found yourself vibrating to their rhythm. The percussive strikes of each instrument were delightfully gratifying, and the shift from the initial attack to a detailed, controlled decay was simply amazing. I found myself spiraling in a vortex of musical pleasure, experiencing and living every sound, every vibration.
Earth Melodies – Ekaterina Shelehova
I felt compelled to take this primal journey with Bliss, and it didn’t disappoint. It’s genuinely remarkable how this song manages to provoke such a tidal wave of emotions through its expressive, wordless vocals. And indeed, Bliss delivered the transcendent experience I was craving.
I found myself needing to close my eyes, and once more, I surpassed the boundaries of our 3-dimensional realm, merging with the space-time continuum. I voyaged back in time, witnessed the birth of the universe, ventured further into the future, and finally found myself becoming one with the cosmic vibration.
Eventually, I came back from this emotionally charged journey, tired but utterly fulfilled.
Every aspect of this song was simply captivating. You’re enveloped in a rich details coming from every direction, all radiating from a deep, black, and holographic backdrop. But now let’s touch on the bass – it’s incredibly engaging and addictive. It arrives with a serious THUMP, displaying exceptional control and delving to remarkable depths.
Nielsen: Symphony No.3 OP 27 “Expansiva”
This was nothing short of an emotional rollercoaster. The dynamic range was absolutely astonishing, effortlessly transitioning from tranquil to powerful. The expansive, holographic soundstage, combined with the exceptional imaging and the palpable vivacity of each instrument, created a layered auditory experience that practically transported me away to the concert hall.
I felt I just had to share this experience here as well. It’s in the same category as Earth Melodies I discussed earlier. I got goosebumps instantly when the vocals chimed in. I was immediately transported elsewhere. The vocals are so pure and profoundly resonant that they simply wrap around you, carrying you off into an ancient tale of hunting grounds, ancestors, gods, and the universe. It was an emotional whirlwind and, indeed, Bliss succeeded in drawing out tears.
Summary
Bass
The bass of the Bliss amplifier is an absolute thrill ride. It delivers punchy, controlled, and deep bass that ranks amongst the best I’ve experienced with solid-state headphone amplifiers. It’s an auditory treat that will keep you coming back for more.
Midrange
The midrange performance is nothing short of spectacular. It’s richly detailed, impeccably pure and clean, offering a natural presentation that highlights exceptional vocal renditions and vivid, lively textures. Vocals feel incredibly authentic and full-bodied, as if the voice originates within you. Wind instruments like flutes, clarinets, trumpets, and horns resonate with realism, showcasing the breathwork of the artists. The result? An immersive experience that will let you lose yourself in your favorite vocals and instruments.
Treble
The treble maintains an impressive level of detail. It’s snappy, sparkling, and at times, tactile, yet never comes across as harsh. The purity is unmistakable, leaning towards a more neutral presentation.
Transparency
The Bliss amplifier provides an impressively ‘black’ background, akin to an OLED monitor’s pure blacks and infinite contrast. Sounds seem to appear out of nowhere, granting each note its individual presence and revealing more nuanced details. It’s among the cleanest class A amplifiers I’ve listened to.
Dynamics/Energy
When it comes to dynamics, each note from Bliss is a veritable firecracker. It showcases an excellent attack and precisely controlled decay, resulting in a music experience teeming with energy, great dynamics, and micro-dynamics. Each note is pulsating with life.
Tonality/Realism
Bliss excels in delivering a natural tonality, thanks to its superb purity. It gracefully avoids any harshness, infusing your favorite songs with a renewed sense of life and realism. With this remarkable quality, it unveils the true essence of the music, gives an impression of realism, creating an enchanting and immersive listening experience.
Soundstage/Imaging
Bliss truly excels in the soundstage department, offering one of the most immersive experiences I’ve encountered with solid-state headphone amplifiers. Its soundstage is deep, holographic, and delightfully layered, beckoning you to lose yourself in its captivating realm. The attention to detail is simply astounding, with each note defined by clear leading edges. This level of precision creates an exceptionally immersive experience, allowing you to completely immerse yourself in the magic of your music. Prepare to be enchanted and transported to a whole new dimension of auditory bliss. The realism and lifelike presentation of the soundstage are so remarkable that I found myself repeatedly checking to ensure that the speakers weren’t accidentally playing along or that I didn’t have someone else in the room with me.
Taking Bliss and a Variety of Headphones for a Spin
As you’ve no doubt noticed, I’ve put Bliss through its paces with a veritable buffet of headphones. And let me tell you, it performed admirably with all and exceptionally with most of them. The audio experience with Meze Elite, Hifiman HE1000SE, Meze Liric, and Sennheiser HD650 was simply spectacular. Bliss breathed new life into the music on these headphones, a feat I found utterly captivating.
Now, ever the adventurous audiophile, I decided to push the envelope with the Beyerdynamic DT880, boasting a hefty 600 ohms. Guess what? Bliss didn’t disappoint here either. It’s quite rare to find amplifiers that can effectively drive these headphones while also offering a musical, engaging, and natural sound. Yet Bliss found itself in this exclusive club, keeping the company of such esteemed names as Passlabs HPA-1 and Ferum OOR. With the DT880’s single-ended, non-removable stock cable, I found myself nudging the volume near the amplifier’s max output. The other two did manage a slightly superior volume and headroom with the DT880 on single-ended, but Bliss did a good job as well.
Did I stop there? Of course not! I also threw the IEMs mentioned earlier into the mix, and Bliss continued to impress. The uber-sensitive IEMs operated in complete silence, devoid of any intrusive noise. And those delightful audio qualities I’ve been raving about above? All present and accounted for, as clear as day.
Bliss and Hifiman Susvara
As mentioned earlier, Bliss shines with most headphones. However, when it comes to the Hifiman Susvara, it doesn’t hit quite the same high notes. Now, don’t get me wrong, it’s still a good match, just not the best I’ve experienced. It indeed outperforms the Benchmark AHB2 when directly connected to my Rockna Wavelight DAC. For those who are wondering, wavelight has 5.8v on the balanced XLR outputs. With the AHB2 and Susvara combo, the sound was a tad sterile, lacking the full expression of Susvara’s impressive bass, and had a narrower soundstage.
When paired with Bliss, these shortcomings are largely resolved. You’ll enjoy deeper bass, a stronger punch, more natural tonality, and a more holographic soundstage. That being said, I sensed I was approaching the amp’s power ceiling. Susvara has potential for even more slam, improved dynamics, and greater headroom, as I’ve experienced with setups like the dual Benchmark AHB2 in bridge mode or the Trafomatic Primavera. Then again, look at the prices and the sizes for those amps : 15000$ for Primavera, 7000$ for 2xAHB2. The Ferum OOR also offered a bit more headroom and a bit more slam, but it wasn’t as clean and detailed compared to the Bliss.
Holo Bliss as PRE
This is also an area where I have found Bliss to shine. I started using it as pre for Susvara. The problems that I had in terms of tonality, narrow soundstage, lack of slam by using one Benchmark AHB2 directly with the Rockna Wavelight Dac were mostly solved. Somehow, BLISS managed to infuse the sound with the great characteristics it brings to the table as a headphone amplifier. The soundstage increased in size and holography, the music was more natural, considerable less sterile and overall livelier. Also the bas gained in depth and punch and overall the dynamics improved, also offering more headroom. I think that with Susvara I prefer Bliss as pre-amplifer to AHB2.
Next up, I tested Bliss with my Martin Logan ESL-11 Impressions speakers, again using the Benchmark AHB2 as the speaker amplifier. Once more, Bliss did not disappoint, delivering improvements that left me genuinely impressed. The enhancements were akin to those noted previously, but even more pronounced. Bliss brought a new level of energy and control to the music, while refining the details and presenting them in a purer, more organic way. The soundstage bloomed, becoming larger and offering a more holographic audio experience. Furthermore, the sound adopted a more natural character, with vocals rendered with enhanced presence, exhibiting an astounding level of purity and clarity.
Compared to Pass Labs HPA-1
Now that we’ve reviewed the Bliss, I bet you’re all wondering how it stacks up against the Pass Labs HPA-1, another amplifier I recently covered. To begin with, both hold a special place in my heart and top my recommendations list for Solid State Headphone amplifiers.
The HPA-1 carries an unmistakably organic feel. Its bass notes burrow a tad deeper, the vocals possess a somewhat raw or guttural quality, and the textural elements feel so close, they could be part of you. The soundstage? It’s like plunging into an auditory ocean, a bit deeper than you’ll find with Bliss. When paired with the Meze Elite, it’s a match made in audiophile heaven. There’s a distinct magic to the HPA-1 sound, one reminiscent of top-tier tube amps.
Now, don’t take that to mean the Bliss is a slouch. On the contrary! It leans more towards a very clean & pure neutral presentation. It’s like opening or even removing the window between you and the sound. You just step into your music. Bliss also has a bit better control, speed and details. The soundstage on Bliss may not match the depth of HPA-1, but let me assure you, it’s still among the best I’ve encountered in solid state headphone amps. Interestingly, the Hifiman HE-1000SE appeared to resonate more with Bliss, while the Meze Elite which seemed to have a special bond with the HPA-1. In both cases, I think the amplifiers were playing on each headphone’s strengths. Also, don’t get me wrong, Bliss was also an amazing match with Elite and still gets the magic out of them, but HPA-1 manages to do that a bit better, doubling down on the strengths of the elite (soundstage, bass depth, textures, vocals), while Bliss managed to double down on the strengths of HE1000SE (control, speed, attack).
Despite their differences, both amps retain a natural tonality, and both transport you into your music, but with different approaches. HPA-1 is more organic with very detailed and lively textures, while Bliss sounds natural through the pure way it manages to deliver the music, by adding no grain, no harshness and creating sounds out of an incredible deep background.
The versatility trophy goes to Bliss. It flaunts an impressive repertoire, sounding amazing with a broad range of headphones—from sensitive IEMs to power-demanding and high impedance models. It also scores extra points for its balanced headphone connectivity options (unlike the single-ended HPA-1), three distinct headphone outputs upfront, and a handy remote. So, if you’re using it as a pre-amplifier, you can tweak the volume on your speaker system with absolute ease.
The final verdict? It’s a tough call, as both amps are stellar performers. Depending on your specific headphone match, listening circumstances, and personal preferences, either could be a knockout choice.
Conclusion
The Holo Bliss offered me an unforgettable journey in my audiophile adventure. It delivered an exceptional listening experience, handling a variety of headphones with grace and mastery. This amplifier truly lives up to its name, offering a blissful encounter with music that made every moment of testing and listening an absolute pleasure. Its performance, versatility, and sound quality make it a standout choice for any music lover or audio enthusiast.
It definitely goes to the top of my recommendations when it comes to headphone amplifiers.
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