Review and Measurements of Okto DAC8 8Ch DAC & Amp

[amirm]

Does anyone know if there will be a dac and preamplifier but with 2 channels?

Yes, they call that the stereo version. It costs a bit more though. Look at their website.

 

[Bliman]

Yes, they call that the stereo version. It costs a bit more though. Look at their website.

Thanks but on the site it says that it is only a dac.
Is this a typo?
And can anyone say why this version is more expensive then the 8 channel?

 

[Music1969]

DAC8 Stereo is going to contain Raspberry Pi in a same way the DAC8 DSP is. We will specify it more clearly on the website.

Hi, what are the planned formats and sample rates supported for the DAC ethernet input, with the Pi?

 

[Sal1950]

And can anyone say why this version is more expensive then the 8 channel?

Because high end audiophools judge a product by it's price tag?

 

[Kal Rubinson]

Thanks but on the site it says that it is only a dac.
Is this a typo?
And can anyone say why this version is more expensive then the 8 channel?

There are 2 8-channel DACs. The Pro has no streaming facilities and is the least expensive.

 

[Sal1950]

I am playing with a Trinnov Altitude 32 processor which is equipped to provide AES3 output (8 or 16 channels) on DB25. That is is separate from the 32 analog outputs.

Yo Kal, did you buy that $30K+ processor or is it on generous loan to Stereophile?

 

[elnan14]

I know that this is not a release version but it’s odd that there’s no ethernet port nor wifi connectivity specifications when the unit, according to okta, supports streaming and networking.

 

[phoenixdogfan]

I just exchanged messages with Pavel (from Okto Research) and he will respond tomorrow. For now, I think it has an entire minidsp in it like what is in SHD I reviewed so I suspect it will have an Ethernet port. They just redid their website and I am sure they will update it more as time goes by.

Unfortunately no Dirac Live.

 

[phoenixdogfan]

Wow, the DSP version of this looks like the end game for a home theater 2+1 setup. I may ditch my current more expensive setup for this.

Could use 4-6 channels for an active speaker system, and still have two DAC channels to drive a THX 789 for you headphone system. Could eliminate a lot of boxes.

 

[amirm]

I know that this is not a release version but it’s odd that there’s no ethernet port nor wifi connectivity specifications when the unit, according to okta, supports streaming and networking.

The DSP version has that. The one that I have won't have that feature even in production.

 

[nm4711]

And can anyone say why this version is more expensive then the 8 channel?

It is the same DAC section, but 4 channels will be used in parallel for each channel to get even better performance. So no cost saving there.
Furthermore it gets a bulid in Raspberry Pi for streaming wich raises the costs.

 

[vitalii427]

OK, thank you very much vitalii427 for your reply.
Just to understand well, you are saying that no Blu-ray disk player can output 7.1 PCM signal over coaxial or optical connection ?

Yes. SPDIF (coaxial and optical) support only stereo PCM or compressed 5.1/7.1. So no PCM 7.1 nor Dolby Atmos etc.

 

[vitalii427]

@Okto Research, what do you think about connecting the DAC8 DSP to a blu-ray disk player ?
In the case it is possible to retrieve 7.1 numerical signals at the DAC8 DSP, what about implementing dirac live to perform room correction before DAC section ?

I think it is possible to add HDMI input, but it would be limited to PCM signals up to 7.1 (no Dolby Atmos etc.)

Easier to setup RasPlex or KODI on internal Raspberry Pi and play content from NAS.

 

[Guillaume]

I think it is possible to add HDMI input, but it would be limited to PCM signals up to 7.1 (no Dolby Atmos etc.)

Easier to setup RasPlex or KODI on internal Raspberry Pi and play content from NAS.

Ok, thank you again for your explanations. I get it now.

 

[graz_lag]

Ok, thank you again for your explanations. I get it now.

Bonjour Guillaume :

Your dilemma "integration of an Hi-Fi setup" within a larger Home Theater setup is a typical one, I would like to say.
I went thru it in different occasions, me too.
IMHO, for a 5.1 or 7.1 setup, the A/V receiver is still the best option.
Severals are the machines out there that offer solid performances in Hi-Fi as well : Anthem, Arcam, Primare, Yamaha for the high-end series, among many others ...
Alternatively, a medium range A/V receiver with pre-out connections and an Hi-Fi dedicated 2.0 amplifier may let you cover the application with great satisfaction.
You may also check the technologies proposed by Teufel Audio from Germany, they propose some interesting alternatives for an Home Theater setup, including a line of active speakers with HDMI ports.

Graz

 

[Kal Rubinson]

Yo Kal, did you buy that $30K+ processor or is it on generous loan to Stereophile?

Neither. It is here for a review.

 

[Bliman]

It is the same DAC section, but 4 channels will be used in parallel for each channel to get even better performance. So no cost saving there.
Furthermore it gets a bulid in Raspberry Pi for streaming wich raises the costs.

So if I am correct, it has 8 channels so it is better in performance? And that would not be the case if it has 2 channels.

 

[Bliman]

Also to me it looks like a very interesting product.
But I would like to have much more information from it.
Like the dac 8 dsp. Does that have room correction? And how does that all work?
For example my main system is the Grace Design m902 , lyngdorf sda 2175 power amplifier, Nad c542 cd player and Dynaudio 52Se speakers and a qAcoustics subwoofer. And also not a great room.
Can I use this dac preamplifier to get a room correction and how does that work?

 

[nm4711]

So if I am correct, it has 8 channels so it is better in performance? And that would not be the case if it has 2 channels.

Yes, 4 channels will be used for each output in parallel. This increases the dynamic range, because a part of the random noise will be cancelled out when adding the output of 4 channels together.
This way they can use their existing design for the 2 channel dac and use an add on board to parallel the channls and program the DAC, so it puts out the same signal on 4 channels. If they would only use two channels of their existing design, they would give away potential and just save a few electronic components, wich wouldn't lower the price significanly.

 

[nm4711]

Like the dac 8 dsp. Does that have room correction? And how does that all work?

It uses the miniDSP nanoSHARC with the 2x8 Plugin. You can find a lot of information about it on the miniDSP website. It does not support a ready to use room correction software like Dirac in this configuration. But you can do proper equalizing and use it as an active crossover to your subwoofer.