Home Review Holo Audio Serene Level 1 preamplifier – Tastefully Serene

Review Holo Audio Serene Level 1 preamplifier – Tastefully Serene

4

Pros

  • Holographic
  • Vocals
  • Build
  • Price
  • Discreet

Cons

  • No direct input selection
  • No extra features like balance control
  • No built-in dac

Price: € 2849

Build quality
Usability
Sound
Price
Holo Audio Serene 1

For whom

Contents

Holo Audio Serene 1

We at Alpha Audio love uncolored, purist designs. The Holo Audio Serene Level 1 is the archetype of that. It is a device that measures up to excellence and is excellent for someone who seeks the truth and nothing but the truth. Surprisingly, that truth is not boring or analytical at least not in our set.

But make no mistake this preamp will inexorably expose any weak element in the system. If your speakers are a bit on the sharp side then this becomes even more obvious. Lesser recordings idem ditto. However, if you have top gear in the house then let the Holo Audio Serene Level 1 shine twice and your system will be next level! 

Conclusion

The saying goes that a fox loses its hair, but not its pranks. In the case of the Holo Audio Serene Level 1, this statement does not hold true, because this device has no tricks, no character of its own. It is purely an intermediary of the music. The Holo Audio Serene Level 1 brings the listener closer to the music. For better or worse. The Holo Audio Serene Level 1 lets the music pass through undistorted and uncoloured without, paradoxically, coming across as colourless. On the contrary. We are sucked into the music and often sit fixated while listening. That is the biggest compliment we can give the Holo Audio Serene Level 1.  
Amplifier type
Integrated
Bridgemode
No
Amplifier inputs
  • Analog RCA
Amplifier outputs
  • Analog RCA
Build in dac
Yes

4 COMMENTS

    • Hello Martin,

      Yes i often connect my Sonnet Morpheus dac directly to a poweramp and eventhough the volume control on the Morpheus is done very well, lossless and without losing bits, i still always prefer a preamp between my dacs and the poweramp.

      Some very expensive dacs with volume control could maybe change my mind and the Morpheus direct to poweramp is very nice indeed but given the choice, for now, i would use a seperate preamp.

      Best regards
      Geoff
      Alpha Audio

    • Hello Martin,

      Yes i often connect my Sonnet Morpheus dac directly to a poweramp and eventhough the volume control on the Morpheus is done very well, lossless and without losing bits, i still always prefer a preamp between my dacs and the poweramp.

      Some very expensive dacs with volume control could maybe change my mind and the Morpheus direct to poweramp is very nice indeed but given the choice, for now, i would use a seperate preamp.

      Best regards
      Geoff
      Alpha Audio

×