kukynas Posted July 7, 2019 Posted July 7, 2019 for those who need 8 channel D/A converter with exceptional performance for reasonable money or those seeking stereo DAC with built in streaming capabilities, pre-orders for stereo version are currently on hold due to high demand so check again in few days/weeks if you are interested https://www.oktoresearch.com/index.htm review, measurements and discussion https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/review-and-measurements-of-okto-dac8-8ch-dac-amp.7064/ 5
AudioGeek Posted July 7, 2019 Posted July 7, 2019 Looks very nice. I cant work out if it has crossover/dsp control on individual channels or this needs to be done on source software? Presume the 8 channel unit is for a multisystem setup, I remember minidsp has something similar.
kukynas Posted July 8, 2019 Author Posted July 8, 2019 Current units do not have DSP built in so it needs to be done on source side but who knows in the future, yes, multichannel or multiway systems
Guest rmpfyf Posted July 9, 2019 Posted July 9, 2019 (edited) For DSP work I’d think the Danville Systems dspMusik 2/8 is still a better bet. Still we’re getting closer to ideal, and this Octo unit is very very nice. Price is reasonable too, a nice find. Thanks for passing on. Edited July 9, 2019 by rmpfyf Dang autocorrect
kukynas Posted July 9, 2019 Author Posted July 9, 2019 1 hour ago, Suopermanni said: How much is shipping? send them enquiry via their webpage contact form and I'm pretty sure they will get back to you with shipping cost
georgehifi Posted July 10, 2019 Posted July 10, 2019 From the boys from Prague Oh dear, am I going to be struck down by the R2R gods???? https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/review-and-measurements-of-okto-dac8-8ch-dac-amp.7064/ And there's a stereo version coming. Cheers George 1
aris Posted July 17, 2019 Posted July 17, 2019 Okto say the stereo version will available in a month and cost €1089. Aris 1
Thelastjedi Posted August 4, 2019 Posted August 4, 2019 Just heard back from okto research and the total will cost $1880 AUD. Thats including shipping. Pre orders available in the upcoming weeks. 1
AudioGeek Posted August 4, 2019 Posted August 4, 2019 Thats more expensive than I was expecting, with the quality of lower priced dacs these days. Iam sure it is an amzing piece of gear. So let me ask, is this the new form/method of "snake oil"? Build an over engineered piece to obtain the best measurements possible (and all the fanfare that goes with it), then put a premium price on it. In reality, will this stereo dac sound any better than a $300 Topping dac?? Dare I say, could anyone pick a difference in a DBT? 1
aris Posted August 5, 2019 Posted August 5, 2019 The Okto Stereo DAC is attractive as it also has streaming capability via a RPi. It seems to measure better than most DACs and all things considered I think is reasonably priced compared to competition with similar functionality. I have the RME ADI-2 DAC in one of my systems and can hear differences in the various filters it supports, and between the Topping D10, so I would hazard a guess that I will be able to discern against the Okto as well. In my 2nd, less resolving system I would not be able to differentiate against most reasonably performant DACs. For me, the Okto is a reasonable consideration compared to alternatives. 1
AudioGeek Posted August 5, 2019 Posted August 5, 2019 Fair enough Aris. RME make quality gear, I own some. Not sure you need expensive highly resolving gear to hear differences between filters, but I assume it makes it easier. I take your point about additional features with filter options etc. I would put it to you that with software there are more options and many other functions like PEQ and DSP. I see Okto actually had a minidsp integrated version until it was no longer available. That would have been an awesome device for active speaker systems. To continue to play devils advocate, looking at the measurements and what is thought to be audible, is there actually going to be difference compared to cheaper dacs? People are ordering it based on measurements of other dacs (admittedly same implementation/technology) from the same company, before it is even released or been heard -for a relatively high price!! And all ready think it is wonderful. The new hype/flavour of the week now comes from measurements!! As I said - a guy raving about it in a magazine or online versus measurements which go well beyond our ability to hear/differentiate. Is this the new method of "snake oil" to sell us expensive stuff we dont need or wont necessarily make a difference?
Suopermanni Posted August 5, 2019 Posted August 5, 2019 23 minutes ago, AudioGeek said: Fair enough Aris. RME make quality gear, I own some. Not sure you need expensive highly resolving gear to hear differences between filters, but I assume it makes it easier. I take your point about additional features with filter options etc. I would put it to you that with software there are more options and many other functions like PEQ and DSP. I see Okto actually had a minidsp integrated version until it was no longer available. That would have been an awesome device for active speaker systems. To continue to play devils advocate, looking at the measurements and what is thought to be audible, is there actually going to be difference compared to cheaper dacs? People are ordering it based on measurements of other dacs (admittedly same implementation/technology) from the same company, before it is even released or been heard -for a relatively high price!! And all ready think it is wonderful. The new hype/flavour of the week now comes from measurements!! As I said - a guy raving about it in a magazine or online versus measurements which go well beyond our ability to hear/differentiate. Is this the new method of "snake oil" to sell us expensive stuff we dont need or wont necessarily make a difference? Personally, in the case of the actual audibility of the differences between a great and a fantastic DAC, I think while small and perhaps inaudible in actual fact is more about trying to 'relieve' oneself of the sometimes ridiculous lengths we can go to achieve audio nirvana. 1
aris Posted August 5, 2019 Posted August 5, 2019 Yes, agree folks. I chose the RME for the non-DAC features and overall engineering quality from that vendor. Also same for considering the Okto. It solves a problem (albeit aesthetically for me) having RPi’s with cables and power supplies etc. and is well engineered as well as per ASR measurement. If not for the enhanced functionality I’m not sure getting the newest shiniest DAC of the day would make sense. 1
kukynas Posted August 5, 2019 Author Posted August 5, 2019 Re cost, it’s built in EU so cost would be usually x% higher than if it’s build in China in bigger volumes, second significant cost is shipping coz it’s big and heavy compared to Chinese DACs such as Topping, it’s cheaper then RME ADI-2 here in EU and for what it does I would say competitive addition to the DAC market if you already own quality DAC such as Topping or RME there’s very little point of buying this stereo version unless aestetic preference is in full size 8 channel version is different story and its target market is elsewhere
rand129678 Posted August 5, 2019 Posted August 5, 2019 3 minutes ago, kukynas said: if you already own quality DAC such as Topping or RME there’s very little point of buying this stereo version unless aestetic preference is in full size As mentioned above, there can be a practical advantage this Okto DAC (even Stereo) has over RME (for example). Okto DAC has a network input, to save on a separate streamer and/or PSU for it (and associated cables). Whether it's an advantage, of course depends on individual needs. 1
kukynas Posted August 5, 2019 Author Posted August 5, 2019 7 minutes ago, Music2496 said: As mentioned above, there can be a practical advantage this Okto DAC (even Stereo) has over RME (for example). Okto DAC has a network input, to save on a separate streamer and/or PSU for it (and associated cables). Whether it's an advantage, of course depends on individual needs. Yep 1
rand129678 Posted August 5, 2019 Posted August 5, 2019 Volumio is ok but I wonder if the end user is stuck with only Volumio. Would be awesome if the SD card were (easily) accessible, to use whatever OS is compatible with the Pi.
aris Posted August 5, 2019 Posted August 5, 2019 I am pretty sure Okto have said you can run custom Linux on the RPi. I know that I would want to
rand129678 Posted August 5, 2019 Posted August 5, 2019 (edited) 13 minutes ago, aris said: I am pretty sure Okto have said you can run custom Linux on the RPi. I know that I would want to Me too. If Volumio broke or the SD card broke, it would be a painful support process if the user couldn't easily access the SD card, so it's probably a good guess there will be easy access. Hopefully it's not an RPi3 in there, which can have issues with sample rates above PCM192kHz (DXD, DSD128 etc). Edited August 5, 2019 by Music2496
rand129678 Posted August 5, 2019 Posted August 5, 2019 (edited) 2 minutes ago, aris said: I hope its a RPi 4. Even an RPi CM3 module is very good. No issues with shared USB and ethernet, so can support even PCM768/DSD512 rates... CM3 is used in a couple streamers at the moment. https://www.raspberrypi.org/products/compute-module-3/ Edited August 5, 2019 by Music2496 1
Mickstuh Posted August 5, 2019 Posted August 5, 2019 @Thelastjedi Does that price for the Okto include GST? Thanks in advance.
Thelastjedi Posted August 5, 2019 Posted August 5, 2019 28 minutes ago, Mickstuh said: @Thelastjedi Does that price for the Okto include GST? Thanks in advance. Not to sure about that but I would assume so.
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