Okto dac8 stereo DAC Review

[Manuel]

Has anyone compared its sound (I don't understand measurements) with any R2R component of similar price, such as Gustard or Denafrips?

 

[Sal1950]

Has anyone compared its sound (I don't understand measurements) with any R2R component of similar price, such as Gustard or Denafrips?

Probably won't sound any different but it brings a bunch of extra excellent performing functions to the plate for
a not "high end" cost. A win-winner.

 

[dped90]

Probably won't sound any different but it brings a bunch of extra excellent performing functions to the plate for
a not "high end" cost. A win-winner.

Might you have had any experiences with the SMSL D300, or new SMSL vmv d2r DACs?

I ask this because while my budget is far above the prices of these DACs (e.g. https://www.merging.com/products/interfaces/hapi ), my speaker builder Troy Crowe uses the D300 for evaluating driver/horn combinations and/or completed speaker systems.

What might you expect of the Hapi's sound compared to those SMSL DACs?

 

[Sal1950]

Might you have had any experiences with the SMSL D300, or new SMSL vmv d2r DACs?

No sorry. My last stand alone 2ch DAC purchase was a Emotiva DC-1 which I still use for occasional
serious 2ch SQ evaluations over it's excellent headphone amp.
Otherwise today all DAC chores are handled my by Denon X4700H AVR.
They both sound find to me.

 

[dualazmak]

I just received a notice from OKTO...
Okto Research dac8 firmware v1.6 release

Spoiler

​ Dear audio enthusiasts and dac8 owners, We are thrilled to announce the release of the new firmware version v1.6. It is now available for download for both dac8 PRO and Stereo on the respective product pages, or directly via these links: dac8 PRO firmware v1.6 Release Note dac8 Stereo firmware v1.6 Release Note We apologize for the delay in releasing this update. Your patience and understanding mean a lot to us. We've worked diligently to enhance your dac8 experience, particularly by eliminating clicks when switching between PCM, DSD and DoP. To clarify the issue of clicks: while many competing DACs use analog switches to disconnect or ground the outputs during sample rate changes, we deliberately omitted such components to avoid potential sources of non-linearity. The DAC chip in the dac8 operates in synchronous mode for USB input, deriving the feedback clock from the high-precision oscillator on the DAC board. During sample rate or format changes, one master clock oscillator shuts down and the other is enabled, causing brief transitions that have been the source of clicks until now. We have employed meticulous software control to remove them altogether. The v1.6 firmware also brings an important addition: DoP decoding capability for SPDIF, AES/EBU, and TOSLINK inputs, enabling the dac8 to receive signals from SACD players. The v1.6 firmware is compatible with all dac8 Stereo and dac8 PRO units ever manufactured, and you can expect future versions to maintain this compatibility. This is part of our commitment to providing continuous support and improvements for all our products. We have invested countless hours in developing this firmware and have made extensive efforts to eliminate all previously existing bugs. Therefore, we highly recommend installing this version. If you encounter any issues or unexpected behavior, please report them to us at [email protected]. We hope this update further enhances your experience with our product, allowing you to enjoy your favorite music even more. Sincerely yours, Okto Research

 

[hampestampe]

I just received a notice from OKTO...
Okto Research dac8 firmware v1.6 release

Spoiler

​ Dear audio enthusiasts and dac8 owners, We are thrilled to announce the release of the new firmware version v1.6. It is now available for download for both dac8 PRO and Stereo on the respective product pages, or directly via these links: dac8 PRO firmware v1.6 Release Note dac8 Stereo firmware v1.6 Release Note We apologize for the delay in releasing this update. Your patience and understanding mean a lot to us. We've worked diligently to enhance your dac8 experience, particularly by eliminating clicks when switching between PCM, DSD and DoP. To clarify the issue of clicks: while many competing DACs use analog switches to disconnect or ground the outputs during sample rate changes, we deliberately omitted such components to avoid potential sources of non-linearity. The DAC chip in the dac8 operates in synchronous mode for USB input, deriving the feedback clock from the high-precision oscillator on the DAC board. During sample rate or format changes, one master clock oscillator shuts down and the other is enabled, causing brief transitions that have been the source of clicks until now. We have employed meticulous software control to remove them altogether. The v1.6 firmware also brings an important addition: DoP decoding capability for SPDIF, AES/EBU, and TOSLINK inputs, enabling the dac8 to receive signals from SACD players. The v1.6 firmware is compatible with all dac8 Stereo and dac8 PRO units ever manufactured, and you can expect future versions to maintain this compatibility. This is part of our commitment to providing continuous support and improvements for all our products. We have invested countless hours in developing this firmware and have made extensive efforts to eliminate all previously existing bugs. Therefore, we highly recommend installing this version. If you encounter any issues or unexpected behavior, please report them to us at [email protected]. We hope this update further enhances your experience with our product, allowing you to enjoy your favorite music even more. Sincerely yours, Okto Research

Just performed the update. This time it was easy, just followed the guide provided by Okto.

 

[hampestampe]

I've listened for a while now and switched between different sampling rates. I can confirm Okto have succedes to remove the "noise pops" when switching between them. So seems like they officialy just left the prototype stadium, and now got a fully functional dac on the market.

 

[Kaakatus]

I also updated my unit without any issues. Pops are definitely gone. One minor oddity is the text on Opt1 when there's no signal: "No AES Connection". For example, USB-input says "No connection" when there is no signal.