Okto 8 Owner’s Thread

[phoenixdogfan]

Looks like we will now have everything but Atmos decoding over a pc. I have to think that too will come at some point.

 

[Kal Rubinson]

I do hope OKTO (Pavel) will release firmware update which will enable the aggregation of multiple DAC8PRO (through AES/EBU clocking) for all the OS platforms, i.e. Mac OS, Linux, and Windows 11.

Mytek did this a while back to run three 2-channel DACs with a dedicated ASIO driver that assigned channels to the DACs in the order of their serial numbers.

"It assigns the 5.1 channels by seniority: the DAC with the lowest serial number gets the front L/R, the next-lowest gets the center and subwoofer, and the most junior is assigned the surround L/R. In addition, the senior DAC provides the word clock to its subordinates, so it must be told to use its internal clock, and the others to use the external one."

FWIW.

 

[poopy]

I do not think so since the aggregation setting in Mac OS has already been possible by Mac OS's multiple DACs aggregation feature as shared by @mdsimon2 "in general" in his post here on my project thread.

Yes with MacOS it’s possible and I had great hope, but apparently it won’t work with JRiver

 

[dualazmak]

Yes with MacOS it’s possible and I had great hope, but apparently it won’t work with JRiver

In my case, I use DSP "EKIO" as systemwide DSP Center receiving 2-Ch audio digital signal from JRiver through VB-AUDIO MATRIX for EKIO's multichannel XO/EQ processing to feed into DAC8PRO through again VB-AUDIO MATRIX, all on Windows 11 PC (ref. here).

I do expect, therefore, OKTO DAC8PRO's coming new aggregation-enabling firmware and new ASIO driver would work perfectly on my setup with JRiver + VB-AUDIO MATRIX + DSP "EKIO", all on Windows 11 PC.

 

[Tom C]

Out of curiosity, what hardware and software would you use to decode, route, mix, and EQ 18ch surround sound?

An AVR, like most other people.

 

[mkt]

Out of curiosity, what hardware and software would you use to decode, route, mix, and EQ 18ch surround sound?

Loopback (maybe not needed but seem to help?) is handy for routing; GLM for eq. Decoding with the dolby player & renderer.

 

[Alex_Vv]

Hi all,

A newly minted (and a very happy with it ) owner of a DAC8PRO here.

I was wondering if any member of the community has tried/is actively using a recommended solution for connecting a balanced OUT of Okto to an unbalanced analog IN of an amp (active buffer like Neurochrome, as mentioned in the user's manual). I'm currently using an XLR-to-RCA cable "with pin 3 floating", and would love to hear if anyone has experience/can compare both approaches (before throwing more coin at my soundsystem).

Thanks!

Alex

 

[nagster]

I measured several types of okto research dac8 stereo SE connections. The same may be true for dac8 PRO.

 

[Alex_Vv]

Thank you @nagster ! This is informative (measurement and graphical representation of what makes intuitive sense).

I actually ended up pulling the trigger on 3 stereo active audio buffers (from AliExpress), they seem to feature the same IC as the Neurochrome one (albeit, only 2 ICs, as opposed to Neurochrome's 6... but fully assembled) -- presumably, your Topping L60 can act as an active XLR->RCA buffer?

Thanks again!

 

[Snafu]

Okto homepage:

Remote control
Previously offered Apple Remote is no longer in production. We are currently developing a custom-designed replacement. Until this is available, the dac8 Stereo can be paired
with any remote that has a minimum of seven buttons.

Any news with this Okto remote? Same info has been there like a year or so...

 

[Alex_Vv]

Okto homepage:

Remote control
Previously offered Apple Remote is no longer in production. We are currently developing a custom-designed replacement. Until this is available, the dac8 Stereo can be paired
with any remote that has a minimum of seven buttons.

Any news with this Okto remote? Same info has been there like a year or so...

since the actual Apple remote is no longer produced, you might want to consider getting one of those "clones" abundant on Amazon for ~CAD 20... or, pair an AVR remote with the Okto (that's what I did with my Denon X8500HA remote).

 

[nagster]

Topping L60 can act as an active XLR->RCA buffer?

The L70 is a HP/LINE amplifier, but it also has a BAL=>SE active conversion function.
The measured values improved slightly when set to low gain, so I replaced the graph.

 

[Snafu]

since the actual Apple remote is no longer produced, you might want to consider getting one of those "clones" abundant on Amazon for ~CAD 20... or, pair an AVR remote with the Okto (that's what I did with my Denon X8500HA remote).

Thanks. Yes, it can be used with clones etc, but i was asking about this: "We are currently developing a custom-designed replacement."

So, is there any development with Okto's own remote.

 

[Jkn01]

Hi to all

Dac8pro

I was wondering if any of you know procedure to

1/Factory reset

Or

2/ changing firmware from 1.6 to 1.5

Any info much appreciated

 

[darth]

Has anyone tried Apple Music Spatial Audio via iPhone/iPad/Android —> okto dac8 pro using a usb c to usb b cable? Is this even a possibility? What about from a MacBook?

 

[Zooqu1ko]

Has anyone tried Apple Music Spatial Audio via iPhone/iPad/Android —> okto dac8 pro using a usb c to usb b cable? Is this even a possibility? What about from a MacBook?

Sounds like they only support 2 channel headphone output.

Pricier options to get multichannel output would be a ATV4k, a Storm ISP EVO and enough DAC 8 Pro for all your speakers. Or get a ATV4k and a Smyth Realiser A16 AES - then you can use the DAC8 Pro both for headphones or for up to 16 speakers.

 

[mkt]

Has anyone tried Apple Music Spatial Audio via iPhone/iPad/Android —> okto dac8 pro using a usb c to usb b cable? Is this even a possibility? What about from a MacBook?

Works like a charm from a macbook. You can even do the aggregate device thing for even more channels (e.g., 7.1.4)

 

[mkt]

Sounds like they only support 2 channel headphone output.

Pricier options to get multichannel output would be a ATV4k, a Storm ISP EVO and enough DAC 8 Pro for all your speakers. Or get a ATV4k and a Smyth Realiser A16 AES - then you can use the DAC8 Pro both for headphones or for up to 16 speakers.

Sadly I don’t see how to use the dac8 pro for more than 8 speakers.

 

[Zooqu1ko]

Sadly I don’t see how to use the dac8 pro for more than 8 speakers.

Use 2 or more....