Okto DAC8 Pro - open to new orders

[waynel]

Thank you.
So you can confirm that the okto dac "pop" at launch and when you turn it off.
For me it is not fine if the device pretend to be use as a preamp.
My adi 2 pro and dac are dead silent when i switch them on and off , even with my speakers on. I'm not an expert but i don't understand why they don't do it on every analogique converter, for security matter...
On the mergin analogique cards they have an Auto-mute circuitry for “no-pop” power cycling. But i don't know if other manufacturer do that olso.

Hello. I own an Okto DAC8 pro but have been using the trigger to turn on the amps. As an experiment I kept the amps on and toggled the dac on and off via the remote. At my listening position I heard nothing. With my ear to the speaker I can hear a tiny click. Very low in level and no danger to speakers. The level of the click is independent of the DAC’s volume setting.
I would say no problem using the DAC8 pro directly to active speakers.

 

[dualazmak]

Agree,,, I have been using OKTO DAC8PRO since May 2020, and it causes no pop on start.

In my DSP-based multichannel multi-SP-driver multi-amplifier stereo project, however, I always perform rather safety side careful "ignition/startup sequences" and "shutdown sequences" as shared here on my project thread for maximum protection of my treasure SP drivers.

We would be better to implement protective measures for our SP drivers not only from possible pop(s) of our upstream gears but also from possible accidental sound/noise intrusion(s) which may be caused by our music player gears including PC/Mac, RPi, etc.

 

[arnaud]

Hello. I own an Okto DAC8 pro but have been using the trigger to turn on the amps. As an experiment I kept the amps on and toggled the dac on and off via the remote. At my listening position I heard nothing. With my ear to the speaker I can hear a tiny click. Very low in level and no danger to speakers. The level of the click is independent of the DAC’s volume setting.
I would say no problem using the DAC8 pro directly to active speakers.

OK! Thank you!

 

[dped90]

I am considering the Okto DAC8 Pro but my vintage amps are unbalanced RCA. The recommended approach is to use universal buffers but this would double the cost and brings it close to an exasound e68.

I'm faced with the same situation with my chosen power amps with unbalanced inputs.

On the mergin analogique cards they have an Auto-mute circuitry for “no-pop” power cycling. But i don't know if other manufacturer do that olso.

Yes! I did not know that the Merging Hapi has that auto-mute feature, Of course, the Hapi's price is a lot higher than the DAC8 Pro. Too bad there are
so few multichannel DACs.

But while they warn against miswirings, Merging doesn't specifically say that a wired unbalanced output to unbalanced input will result in more audible noise, nor, of course, would it result in any distortion or loss in frequency response. See p. 16. https://www.merging.com/uploads/assets/Installers/Firmware/Hapi-III_UserManual.pdf

 

[Kal Rubinson]

But while they warn against miswirings, Merging doesn't specifically say that a wired unbalanced output to unbalanced input will result in more audible noise, nor, of course, would it result in any distortion or loss in frequency response. See p. 16. https://www.merging.com/uploads/assets/Installers/Firmware/Hapi-III_UserManual.pdf

I use simple but proper (as specified in the Hapi manual) balanced-to-unbalanced adapters from my Hapi to my three subs without any apparent compromise.

 

[dped90]

from my Hapi to my three subs without any apparent compromise.

Presumably none either with connections so wired to amplifiers reproducing above the midbass range.

 

[Kal Rubinson]

Presumably none either with connections so wired to amplifiers reproducing above the midbass range.

Have done so only briefly without noticing any issues.

 

[carolimagni]

Also been looking at the various ways to square unbalanced inputs on a sub with an Okto. I see folks in this thread with (double!) Rythmik F18s, with those native XLR inputs available and it makes makes me a new shade of green.

I have 2 Lundahl LL1584-3FXPHM XLR to RCA unbalanced transformers on backorder to address my subwoofer. I'll also test it with my Fosi V3 amp as channels SL and SR and report any findings.

 

[DWPress]

Just use the appropriate XLR>RCA adapter as long as you don't have grounding issues. Good chance you're going to have to attenuate your sub(s) down anyway so the voltage difference usually doesn't matter.

 

[carolimagni]

Unfortunately I do have grounding issues. I was also looking at one to address a different situation in another setup too so thought it wouldn't hurt. Perhaps a rash decision, wallet-wise.