Okto DAC8 Pro - open to new orders

[DTTOM37]

1600 euros... and people fighting for them... i wonder what the topping/smsl/etc bunch are waiting for....

would have loved to get it at 799 ... ;-)

Honestly, I can get when products which are already in the store or the warehouse get exeptional reductions ...
however, if we take into account that OKTO's supply chain were dried out during the first 2 years of these Covidean times, I feel that the 30 % premium are even more acceptable than the annual 15 % add-on to my electricity bill.

I was considering the MOTU ML5 ultralite, which in France is about 750-800 Euros, however during my time of research these units were not only made by unicorns but also of unobtainium.

 

[DTTOM37]

Just curious, what am I missing about this device that makes it so appealing? If you're just looking for a multichannel DAC, a Denon 3700 is a much better value even in preamp mode. If you're looking to make an active crossover, MiniDSP seems like a better fit. Universal Audio and RME are also proven performers in this price range. So what is it about the Okto that people are willing to take a risk on a company with such a rocky history? Surely it's not just SINAD scores?

The desired project will contain digital x-over, DSP& Room Correction via convolver, the Okto, several Class D amplifier and Dipol speaker in fully active configuration. The Okto may allow to have 2,3 or 4 way configurations.

PS: And being in Europe I feel it makes also sense to support an EU-manufacturer ....

 

[DanceOfLight]

x2. Nice display, IR volume control and trigger output are three big features missing from the pro audio DACs. Only off the shelf product with similar functionality / performance that I am aware of is the Exasound S88 and it is > $7K. You can DIY similar functionality with the pro audio DACs (see link in my signature) but at the end of the day it is not that much cheaper and requires quite a bit of work.

It is also very easy to integrate with software DSP and works perfectly on Linux. A RPi4 + CamillaDSP + Okto dac8 pro will stomp all over any miniDSP product in terms of processing power and analog performance.

I will say that once the miniDSP Flex with digital outputs is released that will be a very viable competitor to the Okto when paired with a pro audio DAC as it gives you display, source selection, IR volume control and ability to add a trigger with a Bobwire DAT1.

Michael

Thanks Michael, I'll peruse through the tutorial that you have mentioned. Looks like the solution I was looking for - thank you.

 

[mdsimon2]

Thanks Michael, I'll peruse through the tutorial that you have mentioned. Looks like the solution I was looking for - thank you.

Interested to hear what you make of it. Everything I've done with the Okto and similar multichannel DACs has been based on stereo active speakers so not multichannel input. The biggest issue I see is getting multichannel audio to the Okto, seems like you should be able to do this via some sort of streaming but I certainly haven't done it and do not know which streaming options support multichannel audio. I am pretty sure LMS / squeezelite do not support multichannel.

Michael

 

[DanceOfLight]

Interested to hear what you make of it. Everything I've done with the Okto and similar multichannel DACs has been based on stereo active speakers so not multichannel input. The biggest issue I see is getting multichannel audio to the Okto, seems like you should be able to do this via some sort of streaming but I certainly haven't done it and do not know which streaming options support multichannel audio. I am pretty sure LMS / squeezelite do not support multichannel.

Michael

Hi Michael, my current aim to get multichannel Audio (FLAC) that I have on HDD/SSD working to the Okto via USB (which I understand is possible), somewhere in the chain I'd like to introduce RoomEq as well. From the DAC8 -> analog amps -> passive speakers (Left, Right, Centre, SL , SR and sub) .

Right now all my FLACs are sitting on android phone. Phone -> USB -> SMSL SU-9n (Stereo) -> StereoAmp -> Speakers(L,R) .

Which I'd like to change to multi-channel FLAC in Linux-Box/Android -> USB -> Okto Dac8 Pro -> Multiple amps -> Speakers (L,R,C,SR,SL, Sub)

 

[MCH]

Interested to hear what you make of it. Everything I've done with the Okto and similar multichannel DACs has been based on stereo active speakers so not multichannel input. The biggest issue I see is getting multichannel audio to the Okto, seems like you should be able to do this via some sort of streaming but I certainly haven't done it and do not know which streaming options support multichannel audio. I am pretty sure LMS / squeezelite do not support multichannel.

Michael

hey Michael,
Not that i am going to get an okto soon, but my question is more general on the camilladsp side. Wouldn't a setup like this below (from Okto's website) work with a pi running camilladsp? just curious:

 

[Kal Rubinson]

The biggest issue I see is getting multichannel audio to the Okto, seems like you should be able to do this via some sort of streaming but I certainly haven't done it and do not know which streaming options support multichannel audio. I am pretty sure LMS / squeezelite do not support multichannel.

There are many. The obvious ones (to me) are foorbar2000, Jriver, Roon, Audirvana.

Not that i am going to get an okto soon, but my question is more general on the camilladsp side. Wouldn't a setup like this below (from Okto's website) work with a pi running camilladsp? just curious:

In theory, yes. All the camilladsp info I have seen seems to posit a two-channel input with n-channel output. Does it support multi-channel input?

 

[mdsimon2]

hey Michael,
Not that i am going to get an okto soon, but my question is more general on the camilladsp side. Wouldn't a setup like this below (from Okto's website) work with a pi running camilladsp? just curious:
View attachment 190050

Yes, that is how I use my Okto with CamillaDSP, works great.

I have an OpenDRC-DI to act as source selection and to ASRC all inputs (Raspberry Pi w/ Allo Digione HAT, AppleTV 4K, MacMini) to 96 kHz to match the Okto / CamillaDSP, I only use stereo sources so I use the AES output from the OpenDRC-DI to Okto inputs 1-2. RPi4 running CamillaDSP then takes the stereo AES input and splits it in to 8 output channels and does x-over / EQ / delay which the Okto then outputs.

Another nice feature of the Okto is that it bridges the AES input clock domain with the ESS DAC local oscillator clock domain, this means that you do not need to use any rate adjust / resampling in CamillaDSP as the Okto will maintain a constant buffer level. I do personally wish that the Okto had at least the option of an internal ASRC to automatically resample any source to the sample rate rate set on the Okto but I understand that this would upset traditional audiophiles.

All of this works great for stereo sources but getting a multichannel AES source is a bit difficult, although products like the Vanity Pro HDMI Extractor and the Meridian HD621 can do it from HDMI.

Michael

 

[mdsimon2]

In theory, yes. All the camilladsp info I have seen seems to posit a two-channel input with n-channel output. Does it support multi-channel input?

Yes, it will do multichannel input. I've used it as 8 channel ADAT source -> MOTU 896 -> CamillaDSP processing -> 8 channel analog output.

Of course that is hardware multichannel input like using the 8 channel AES input on the Okto, what I don't have experience with is playing a multichannel source in Linux and routing that to CamillaDSP. Seems like it would be a simple as using an 8 channel ALSA loopback.

Michael

 

[DTTOM37]

Just got the payment confirmation from Okto, shipment expected in 2 weeks time.

 

[Music1969]

Just got the payment confirmation from Okto, shipment expected in 2 weeks time.

2 weeks is pretty reasonable, considering they are a small company.

Significant improvement over the previous 6 months.

 

[DanceOfLight]

got a notice from Okto that mine was just shipped

 

[Music1969]

Not got a notice from Okto that mine was just shipped

Nice! Shipped within 1 week of order?

 

[DanceOfLight]

Nice! Shipped within 1 week of order?

yup, essentially

 

[DanceOfLight]

Got my Okto just a few hours ago !

one problem though - it doesnt want to work :-/ .

Setup-1
Android phone (new shiny flagship) -> OTG cable -> Okto in "Pure USB" mode = "No connection"

Setup-2
(newish Windows 10 workstation level laptop, installed with the driver that Okto provided) -> USB 2.0 cable -> Okto in "Pure USB" mode = "No connection"

application - FooBar-2K .

If I replace just the Okto with the SMSL SU-9n, the setup works!

any ideas ? pointers ?

 

[DTTOM37]

Does your Asio application see the DAC ?
Can you insert a pic of the information displayed from the OKTO?

 

[dearchap]

What DAC chip does the Okto pro use ?

 

[Snoopy]

Got my Okto just a few hours ago !

one problem though - it doesnt want to work :-/ .

Setup-1
Android phone (new shiny flagship) -> OTG cable -> Okto in "Pure USB" mode = "No connection"

Setup-2
(newish Windows 10 workstation level laptop, installed with the driver that Okto provided) -> USB 2.0 cable -> Okto in "Pure USB" mode = "No connection"

application - FooBar-2K .

If I replace just the Okto with the SMSL SU-9n, the setup works!

any ideas ? pointers ?

Try something from apple.

 

[Veri]

What DAC chip does the Okto pro use ?

ESS9028PRO.

 

[dearchap]

Nice. Anyone interested in a DIY effort around this chip ?