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Okto Research DAC8 PRO and DAC8 Stereo

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#221
Pavel,

I know it's not HIFI nor audiophile enough... but is there in the horizon the possibility to get HDMI input to the OKTOdac8?

I mean... I can use my PC for almost everything (movies, games, music, dirac, etc.) but it would be nice to use this DAC with another multimedia players like Xbox X, Playstation 5, etc...

I know this is possible using Oppo Bluray and Audiopraise Vanity board, but that is price-prohibitive...

Looking forward to your reply!

Cheers.
 
#222
Planning to order an Okto Dac8 Pro, but I don't know how to get the SACD signals from my Oppo BDP-105 into the Okto. The Oppo don't have USB-Output and don't send DSD through S/PDIF. SACD can only be directly passed as DSD-bitstream to HDMI-output.



Is there any one who already solved this issue?


Thank you
 
#223
DAC8 Driver/Firmware

Hi,


I'm having trouble running native DSD on a Okto DAC8 Stereo (Current firmware: 1.11). Multiple installations of the driver on the Okto website have not helped - which seems to be the DIYHNK 4.13 driver). Pavel has been unresponsive. Does anyone happen to have later version of a DIYHNK driver that they could perhaps share?


Many thanks
 
#224
Kusa said:
Hi,


I'm having trouble running native DSD on a Okto DAC8 Stereo (Current firmware: 1.11). Multiple installations of the driver on the Okto website have not helped - which seems to be the DIYHNK 4.13 driver). Pavel has been unresponsive. Does anyone happen to have later version of a DIYHNK driver that they could perhaps share?


Many thanks
Click to expand...


I have the DAC8 PRO and the latest DIYHNK driver that I have is 4.67.0.
 
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#225
mga2009 said:
Pavel,

I know it's not HIFI nor audiophile enough... but is there in the horizon the possibility to get HDMI input to the OKTOdac8?

I mean... I can use my PC for almost everything (movies, games, music, dirac, etc.) but it would be nice to use this DAC with another multimedia players like Xbox X, Playstation 5, etc...
Click to expand...
If you haven't seen the references in the ASR forum yet:
The Meridian HD 621 or UHD722 output 4 AES signals on their "MMHR" connector. A suitable break out box to 4*XLR would be CatCore - Produkte - XLR over CAT
 
#226
Has anyone used the DAC8PRO's 1x AES/EBU output as a master clock at 192kHz ?

I am able to achieve a 3rd Gen Focusrite Scarlett 8i6 slave clock LOCKED sync status at rates from [44.1-176.4]kHz, but not at 192kHz from the DAC8PRO's 1x AES/EBU output.

Thanks much.
 
#229
Hi all - I'm looking at the DAC 8 Pro for a 3 way horn speaker project:

1. Is this compatible with MAC based OS? I was thinking of getting a new iPad or tablet computer to act as my music server, to run Roon and Okto's software for the DAC 8.

2. How would I connect a single ended compression driver to the balanced input on the DAC 8?

Thanks!
 
#230
The DAC8 PRO is supposed to work on Linux, Mac and Windoze.

You can use an input buffer between the DAC8 PRO and your single ended amps.

Neurochrome Universal Buffer

The Universal Buffer is a two-channel (stereo) buffer, which can be configured to provide any of the following functions:

  • Single-ended (unbalanced, RCA) to differential (balanced, XLR) conversion.
  • Differential (balanced, XLR) to single-ended (unbalanced, RCA) conversion.
  • Straight-through buffer (single-ended to single-ended or differential to differential).
  • Signal inverter.
  • Can be configured with gain by adding two resistors.
 
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#232
Josh358 said:
Add to that 4 AES3 inputs! I have an e28, too, but I'm now running off a Lynx AES16e card, so need more than it's two channels of SPDIF.

BTW, strange as it is, the e28 uses an ES9018. The e38, which I had in for evaluation and is itself a superb DAC, uses the ES9038, and the Okto8 the ES9028, which I've read is the same as the ES9038 but with four times the current (not sure if that's correct, but it's what I read).

BTW, I did a careful A/B evaluation of the Okto8 Pro sample with my Yggdrdasil, and it came very, very close -- amazing since it's half the price for eight channels. In fact, the Okto came out ahead on some tracks and I think some people will prefer it -- by close, I mean hours of listening in a level matched A/B comparison and the only major difference was the infamous "Sabre glare" which sounds like a high frequency emphasis on e.g. high tesitura violin (really, I'm not sure which is correct -- they're just different). In fact I think that some of the filters on the Okto sounded more different than the two DAC's.

I didn't compare it to the e28 but the e38 Mk II is naturally enough better and I preferred the Schiit to the e38, again in a level-matched A/B comparison, so by induction, I'd say the Okto will probably sound better than our e28's. I ended up ordering the Okto, though I'll continue using the Yggy for my midrange/tweeter panels, since I prefer gentler highs and its more "analog" sound (perhaps the result of second and third order harmonic distortion, which Amir measured at -80 dB, whereas its vanishingly low in the Okto).

It's really amazing that they got this kind of performance at this price!
Click to expand...
No Schit? That's amazing performance for that 8 channel DAC. Now if only I can persuade Schitt Marketing to develop an 8 channel version of the Yggdrasil-but with master volume/mute wireless remote and output voltage ranges like the Hapi DAC. https://www.merging.com/products/interfaces/specifications#d-a8-d-a8-p-option-card
 
#233
Okto Research said:
More compact enclosure
The difference visible at the first sight is the more compact enclosure (448x183x50mm excl. feet), made from AW6082 aluminium alloy. This change only applies to the DAC8 PRO, not the upcoming DAC8 Stereo.

Dust-proof and spill-proof design with conductive cooling
Speaking of enclosure… we thought what other improvements could we make to increase the durability of the product. We wanted to get rid of the vents that allow dust to get trapped inside and pile up, eventually causing overheating and possibly even killing the electronics, not to mention an accidental spill of your favorite beverage. But our DAC module produce an amount of heat that needs to be taken care of. So instead of relying on convection, we have implemented a conductive cooling using a CNC-machined aluminium heatsink that transfers heat away from the DAC module to the enclosure. Additionally, the DAC8 PRO does monitor the temperature on the DAC module and will shut down in case of overheating.
Click to expand...

Regarding the potential for overheating, with more (?) electronics in the 8 Pro than the 8 Stereo, should not the 8 Pro have had the larger enclosure to dissipate more heat? In any case, please enumerate all of the ways the 8 Pro might overheat.

For example, if one chose the 12 volt output voltage option, might it overheat if all or most outputs delivered about what output voltage?

And/or if at the same time, high resolution audio was played for over 30 minutes?
https://www.hdtracks.com/#/album/5df1427d0bee25c09bc163fd

On another matter, can the SPDIF output of a BD player feed stereo audio to the 8 Pro via one of its AES inputs?
 
#234
@oltos

I run my DAC8 PRO consistently @ 176.4kHz and 8 outputs with no overheating problems. All rate conversions are done upstream to 176.4kHz.

S/PDIF and AES/EBU have voltage, protocol and impedance (75/110 Ohm) deltas.

There may not be a lot of field data on higher output voltage options.

Emailing OR directly may yield faster responses.
 
#235
The 8 Pro won't play the above download at its native 192kHz rate? It should according to the specs.
https://www.oktoresearch.com/dac8pro.htm

But what do you mean by "All rate conversions are done upstream to 176.4kHz."? Does that men your software player-Roon, JRiver, JPlay, et al-does the conversions? But why would you want to down sample a 192 to a 176 audio file?

So no clean way to source my BD player's audio via this DAC? Unless maybe now with the latest firmware update?
https://www.oktoresearch.com/assets/dac8stereo/fw/dac8stereo_fw_16_release_note.pdf

Or is that update only for the DAC8 Stereo?

Btw, can you believe that this update allows for adding and adjusting a desirable amount of 2nd and 3rd harmonic distortion? Hmmm…….a little bit of 2nd harmonic added to “sweeten” perhaps (us horn speaker owners often find it agreeable), but why would anyone want to add 3rd harmonic, which AFAIK invariably sounds nasty?

Speaking of “sweet” sounding 300B tube like distortion, I’d like to see the look on Amirm, antcollinet, Sy, Doodski, et al when they find out about what Pavel packed into that firmware. Adding distortion? Obscenity! Ha!
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...d-measurements-of-okto-dac8-8ch-dac-amp.7064/

About output voltage, did you order your DAC8 Pro with the standard ~ 4 v range, or one of the two higher ranges?

And do you use any kind of (balanced) preamp between the DAC outputs and your amplifiers?

How long did it take for you to receive the DAC after placing the order?

What do you use to remotely control the master volume and mute?
 
#236
@oltos

The DAC8 PRO will play @ 192kHz, but my specific use case is limited to 176.4kHz.

I have CamillaDSP (upstream) do all of the rate conversions and FIR convolutions @ 176.4kHz and then output to the DAC8 PRO @ 176.4kHz. The same could be done with 192kHz (I have tested that on mine).

I can't definitively answer the S/PDIF to AES/EBU DAC8 PRO functionality because I have never used it that way. I just pointed out the deltas between the 2 interfaces. FWIW, OR doesn't advise using single ended inputs so there may be similar concerns with S/PDIF.

The stereo version appears to have 2 S/PDIF inputs so there should be no issues with that unit.

Mine is the stock 4.2V output. I will be using Neurochrome input buffers on a few channels to increase/match the voltage to my sub/bass amps.

No preamp, just the volume control in the DAC8 PRO in case there is a volume software glitch upstream.

I ordered one of the original units (during the US demo tour), so there was a long lead time when they were starting up initial production. If their website indicates they are in stock, lead times should be much shorter than the original units that weren't in stock.

I use the Apple remote control that came with the DAC8 PRO, but you can use other remotes. It is a cool/stylish remote, but can easily be lost in the couch cushions. Its smaller size is more suitable to smaller hands, not big mits.
 
#237
emailtim said:
Mine is the stock 4.2V output. I will be using Neurochrome input buffers on a few channels to increase/match the voltage to my sub/bass amps.

No preamp, just the volume control in the DAC8 PRO in case there is a volume software glitch upstream.
Click to expand...
https://neurochrome.com/products/universal-buffer

From that third curve down, it looks like the buffer will do at least up to 20dbu, or ~ 7.7 v.

https://www.sowter.co.uk/decibels.php

But are you saying that you can buy these buffers and connect them directly (balanced) to the DAC's outputs-without any attenuators? Are the buffers a higher gain or a higher voltage device?

If yes, then will you the DAC's trimmers to set the levels fed to the buffers to drive the power amps and finally the Apple remote for master volume control?

I'm wondering if makes more sense for me to buy the Merging Hapi with its high output voltage; no preamps needed.
https://www.merging.com/products/interfaces/specifications#d-a8-d-a8-p-option-card

More money and no wireless remote. Like Kal Rubinson, would have to this with JRiver.
https://www.logitech.com/en-us/prod...eyboard.920-007119.html?sp=2&searchclick=logi

And use CAT cable instead of USB to transmit JRiver decoded Dolby Digital and DTS-MA.
 
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#238
@oltos ,

Some gear (e.g. pro gear) puts out and accepts higher voltages (IcePower 1000ASP amp modules accepts up to 12.8V, Mark Levinson 380S preamp puts out up to 16VRMS). Check the voltage range on your amps to see what they (and you) need for your individual use case.

The Neurochome buffers have zero gain without the optional resistors. The optional resistor values determine the additional gain. These buffers can be used in a variety of ways including connecting single ended to balanced, balanced to single ended, balanced to balanced and single ended to single ended.

If you make an amp, you can use these inside your amp or box them separately as external inline buffers.

The DAC8 PRO has individual attenuation settings for each output channel as well as a master volume control. This allows you to level match each diver/amp combination individually.

HTH
 
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