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| First day at school: ASR Emitter and Okto Research DAC8 Stereo buddying up. |
We just had the visit of the founder and designers at Okto Research . Okto Research are based in Prague and have been noticed for the outstanding performance of their eight channels DAC8 . They brought their new model the DAC8 Stereo . Sound quality was as impressive as one can expect from such stellar measured performance. The design and manufacturing quality are also impeccable. The case is made of solid, CNC-machined, anodized, aluminium panels and two inserted display windows that sit flush with the front panel (that cannot be easy to do).
A few words from Pavel, founder of Okto Research:
" DAC8 Stereo is a result of many years of our pursuit to get the most from the flagship Sabre D/A chips. While it shares the analog architecture with our 8-channel model ( the DAC8 PRO ), the DAC8 Stereo combines 4+4 channels to double the dynamic range and push the measured performance to numbers we didn't expect to ever reach. It also adds Raspberry Pi 4 on top, an ubiquitous, community-supported single board computer that enables it to play audio from network storages or streaming services.
In our design process, we ended up diverting completely from the D/A chip manufacturer guidelines. The main idea behind our products is that, ultimately, it is the implementation of the chip that creates the performance and character."
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| Trying it at home on my own system too. |
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| Inserted display sits perfectly flush with front panel. |