TOPPING DM7 8-CH DAC : what can replace it?

[welwynnick]

The other thing about the MOTU 16A is that although it doesn't have 16 AES3 inputs - neither did the Topping DM7 either.

I'm interested in the MOTU 16A or Antelope Orion Studio for use with an AudioControl, AudioPraise or Nuprime decoder plus a PC running a convolver. So USB is fine.

 

[somebodyelse]

Yes, I think an audio interface without remote volume control is a non-starter for domestic applications.

That depends a lot on how it's being used. If you've got remote control of volume working upstream then you don't really need it on the DAC.

 

[FERCSA]

To me, what differentiates the DM7 & co. from the multichannel interfaces is the combination of 3 simple things: display, master vol control, and above all, remote control. If you are good without that, the possibilities are endless.

So true!

MOTU ... Touch Console

RME has one as well.


I had the DM7 too. It was a hard-long decision to find a replacement but after all I found a latest generation Fireface unit. Thicks a lot of boxes from my own list. There are a lot of different ins-outs. It has a display, front-facing master volume knob** and a bluetooth-over-midi volume control remote (custom made). Not to mention the hardware based EQs+effects and Room EQ (correction). Currently I'm super happy with this setup it can do anything I want.

**Just to note: If I remember correctly it's only works in CC mode but there was a promise from RME to assign this to any channel in standalone mode with a future software release. This was 1 year ago or so. I don't care to much about this since the bluetooth control works flawlessly and I didn't touched my setup since then. It's completely carefree in standalone mode.

 

[charlielaub]

Please see post #39. Or pull together a comparison.

If you would like to see more comparison information, that is understandable. But, the best approach would be to look it up, then provide it to @SeanTek so that he can add it to the list if he wants, or you can add it to your own list.

Why do I have to do the dirty work? I am not looking for a replacement for the DM7 - I own two of them.

Perhaps my approach to the DM7 is different than others. I chose it based on its price, its performance, that it has 8 analog channels, and that it works flawlessly under Linux as a DAC. So if I was looking to replace it or buy something similar I would want to know about those metrics/characteristics and the current table is just not all that useful for these sorts of comparisons. But I am perhaps an outlier in terms of my needs and desires for this sort of product.

 

[welwynnick]

Why do I have to do the dirty work? I am not looking for a replacement for the DM7 - I own two of them.

Because you appeared to expect other people to do it for you.
As it happens I've already done it for you. And it took a lot of time and effort.

 

[terryforsythe]

Why do I have to do the dirty work? I am not looking for a replacement for the DM7 - I own two of them.

Because you stated:

I would like to see a comparison of some more meaningful specs. How about SNR? Distortion? Max output voltage? Cross OS compatibility? What channels assignments and channel counts are presented under Windows and Linux ALSA? I care much more about these metrics than "Form" or "DAC Chip" or "Connectors". Also, if it is a replacement/substitute for the DM7 it probably should have 8 channels (or more) to be in the running, so not really a useful to list that characteristic. Just exclude anything with less than 8 channels.

Unless I missed it, you are the only one who asked for it. Why should someone else have do the dirty work for you? Luckily for you, though, @welwynnick was kind enough to put the time and effort into it. Did you even say "thank you"?

 

[charlielaub]

Because you stated:


Unless I missed it, you are the only one who asked for it. Why should someone else have do the dirty work for you? Luckily for you, though, @welwynnick was kind enough to put the time and effort into it. Did you even say "thank you"?

Ah. Sorry I totally missed it. Am only on mobile phone while traveling. Thanks @welwynnick I will look for your post, etc. And yes thanks for doing that

 

[four_strings_good]

Here is my El Cheapo 8-channel DAC: LINK.

"...for use with a Mac, Apple Music's spatial audio, and Rogue Amoeba's Loopback app. Total component cost was 68.99 Canadian dollars plus tax."

I have since discovered that it also works to decode Atmos content from the Apple TV app on the Mac and from MP4 files played using the QuickTime Player.

 

[FERCSA]

Here is my El Cheapo 8-channel DAC: LINK.

"...for use with a Mac, Apple Music's spatial audio, and Rogue Amoeba's Loopback app. Total component cost was 68.99 Canadian dollars plus tax."

I have since discovered that it also works to decode Atmos content from the Apple TV app on the Mac and from MP4 files played using the QuickTime Player.

Macos can aggregate outputs without any app. Did you try your setup without RA? Should work and its free.

 

[four_strings_good]

I didn’t try it without Loopback, although I don’t doubt it would work fine. I have had Loopback on both of my Macs for a long while. I like watching the meters dance

 

[SeanTek]

Here is my El Cheapo 8-channel DAC: LINK.

"...for use with a Mac, Apple Music's spatial audio, and Rogue Amoeba's Loopback app. Total component cost was 68.99 Canadian dollars plus tax."

I have since discovered that it also works to decode Atmos content from the Apple TV app on the Mac and from MP4 files played using the QuickTime Player.

That's a pretty cool hack.

Looks like the technique will work with macOS and with Linux (PipeWire), but not Windows and not mobile devices. Correct? (I suspect that there are ways to do it in Windows with custom/third-party drivers, but if it's not native there are bound to be complex audio fidelity and synchronization issues.)

 

[four_strings_good]

Thank you. You are correct as far as I know regarding Windows and mobile devices.

I haven't really played with audio in a Linux environment. It would definitely be a cool thing if this hack worked with Linux and PipeWire too.

 

[charlielaub]

Ah! So how many channels do you actually need for each speaker?

The obvious answers to your original question are the Okto DAC8, MOTU Ultralite Mk5 and RME Fireface 802 FS.

I've been compiling audio interface options for AV systems, typically with 8 or 16 analogue outputs. This is the list for 8 channels:

View attachment 400252

I noticed that you have the price of the MOTU UL mk5 at $580. That's a real bargain. Over here the price at Thomann is €799 which in dollars is about $945! Is the price really that low in the US?

 

[MCH]

I noticed that you have the price of the MOTU UL mk5 at $580. That's a real bargain. Over here the price at Thomann is €799 which in dollars is about $945! Is the price really that low in the US?

That post is from 2024. I bought mine in those days in EU for a similar price (in euros)

 

[welwynnick]

I noticed that you have the price of the MOTU UL mk5 at $580. That's a real bargain. Over here the price at Thomann is €799 which in dollars is about $945! Is the price really that low in the US?

That is GBP, not USD or EUR. In the UK it's gone up to around £690 now. Still great value. So is the 16A and Okto.