Custom output voltage still available as an off-menu option. May turn into a paid extra in future.
With balanced amplifier inputs, output pop at turn on/off should be abysmal and only related to DC offset (typically 1-2mV).
Well, this is self-answering. There is no buzzing coming from the DAC8 PRO, your amplifiers' unbalanced inputs pick up the result of equalizing ground currents that flow between themselves (through the DAC8 PRO enclosure) if you close the loop by connecting something else grounded to the additional outputs. But it seems like at least one of your amplifier models does have balanced inputs. If these are properly designed (without the "pin1 problem" that some older gear had), the issue should go away.
I must stress again that although it might work in some configurations, we strongly discourage from using the DAC8 PRO with XLR-RCA cables. Not only it makes one of the DAC8 PRO output leads shorted (by design of these cables) so the distortion skyrockets, but you also loose 1/2 of the dynamic range, some degree of EMI issues is likely to happen and additionally, pop-free turn on and off is not guaranteed.
JRiver's WASAPI works with DAC8 PRO for PCM without any drivers installed, but it requires 7.1 output channels to be selected. For some reason, JRiver doesn't allow 2-channel output setting with an 8-channel DAC with WASAPI, while on the other hand, it doesn't allow other than 2-channel setting for DSD and DoP. We need to contact JRiver to ask them whether this could be fixed. Currently, we have an alternative option for DSD in JRiver that works very well. We've provided it to cord4 already, anyone else interested please e-mail us.
View attachment 43466
Yes, that is exactly what we had in mind when implementing the AES/EBU to USB functionality. The planned Owner's manual update is going to bring some examples of usage.
Merry Christmas to everyone! DAC8 Stereo unveiling to take place within several days. Also, one more batch of DAC8 PROs is about to ship by the end of the year.