Soekris "dac1541": DAC/Amp - Stream of Consciousness Impressions

Discussion in 'Headphone Amplifiers and Combo (DAC/Amp) Units' started by Torq, Jul 27, 2017.

  1. soekris

    soekris MOT - Soekris Engineering

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Mar 25, 2016
    Likes Received:
    954
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Denmark
    Yes, all my dacs and dams with the new firmware use the same filter file.
     
  2. Nanekiu

    Nanekiu New

    Joined:
    Jan 3, 2016
    Likes Received:
    15
    Trophy Points:
    8
    Location:
    Trondheim Norway
    So i did the 2hz filter mod today when i received my TTL cable had a little trouble with the PL2303TA driver, (possibly counterfeit?) so it took me around 3 hours to troubleshoot/download different drivers in the end i found something that worked.
    This mod really in my opinion makes a noticeable uplift in the SQ especially in the dynamics, it does change the sound somewhat to be a little more analytical but maybe that's just the added detail.
    I really recommend people who have the dac to try it out as you can always reverse the mod by flashing a unmodified filter file.
    @soekris just wondering but is there any reason you have the 2hz DC blocking IIR filter when the sound becomes somewhat better without it or is it just a precaution?
     
  3. soekris

    soekris MOT - Soekris Engineering

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Mar 25, 2016
    Likes Received:
    954
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Denmark
    When you do end user products you need to try to protect things, that's why my DACs to example have DC blocking, world wide power supplies, short circuit protections, no aliasing noise....
     
  4. famish99

    famish99 Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Dec 26, 2017
    Likes Received:
    1,714
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Austin, TX
    Not quite as severe but along the same lines, your question was equivalent to "but if I remove the fuse it sounds better, why do you include it in the product..."
     
  5. AudioFriend

    AudioFriend Facebook Friend

    Joined:
    Aug 12, 2017
    Likes Received:
    222
    Trophy Points:
    33
    Location:
    Budapest (EU)
    It's obivious why a machine without a physical overcurrent protection is dangerous. It's much less clear how could a change in the upsampling algorithm to be dangerous. Must be a good reason for that 2hz IIR filter to be included, but I don't know what that is. Instead of a vague warning it would be nice to get some real information about what do we risk if we try Nanekiu's filter.
     
  6. soekris

    soekris MOT - Soekris Engineering

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Mar 25, 2016
    Likes Received:
    954
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Denmark
    If your software player get stuck it could give out a DC signal to the DAC, if it's not blocked somewhere it could blow your amplifier and/or speakers.... The DAC's DC Blocking filter is all done in the digital domain at high resolution.
     
  7. Nanekiu

    Nanekiu New

    Joined:
    Jan 3, 2016
    Likes Received:
    15
    Trophy Points:
    8
    Location:
    Trondheim Norway
    Hmm never knew a software player could actually send a DC signal, though i accept the risk i take by removing the 2hz IIR filter.
    The chance for the software player to generate a DC signal though happens only if it's unstable and crashes/freezes right?
     
  8. soekris

    soekris MOT - Soekris Engineering

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Mar 25, 2016
    Likes Received:
    954
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Denmark
    In principle a defect audio file could do it too.... But all your files and software are of course perfect :)

    You don't need to worry as long as there is DC protection somewhere in your chain, usually a power amplifier have protection.....
     
  9. mocenigo

    mocenigo Acquaintance

    Banned
    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2017
    Likes Received:
    26
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    Munich
    Hello, maybe @soekris can help me here. I am having a hum connecting the balanced outs of my soekris dac1541 to the balanced ins of my new balanced preamp (kind of DIY kit, however stay assured the balanced connections are according to AES standard, i.e. pin 1 to chassis ground and signal ground connected through a RCD network to the chassis ground, the latter is then connected to earth), but NOT while using the unbalanced connections. In the next few days I am getting in the mail two different ground lifting solutions to experimentn with, but I wonder how pin 1, chassis ground, signal ground and earth are connected in the DAC1541.

    Roberto
     
  10. boxerfan88

    boxerfan88 New

    Joined:
    Dec 28, 2017
    Likes Received:
    4
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    Singapore
    Try this: connect soekris unbalanced ground to preamp signal ground. It may help.

    I had similar issues with balanced connection. I just connected the soekris unbalanced RCA output to amplifier unbalanced RCA input (just one channel); and the soft buzz dropped significantly. I donno why it is so.
     
  11. mocenigo

    mocenigo Acquaintance

    Banned
    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2017
    Likes Received:
    26
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    Munich
    Thank you for the hint. I did not try that, because I use the unbalanced out to a Lehmann headamp (sounds better than with the internal circuit). But I solved my problem with a transformer based professional "hum eliminator"

    Roberto
     
  12. soekris

    soekris MOT - Soekris Engineering

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Mar 25, 2016
    Likes Received:
    954
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Denmark
    Black Friday and Cyber Monday Specials

    From Friday Nov 23, 2018 to Monday Nov 26, 2018 we're having a special discount of 15% on the dac1421, dac1541, dam1921 and dam1941. See http://www.soekris.dk/ordering.html for information about where to take advantage of this special offer.
     
  13. RedLipstick

    RedLipstick Acquaintance

    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2018
    Likes Received:
    30
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    Europe
    I have an Soekris 1541 with old firmware and I'm wondering if there big differences with the new. Any one compared?
     
  14. sacredgates

    sacredgates Audio-Technica's high priest

    Contributor
    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2015
    Likes Received:
    417
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Location:
    Black Forest Germany
    Home Page:
    Not a huge difference in absolute terms... but definitely a worthwile upgrade. The filters are more refined. It´s hard to do an indepth comparison without having two dacs with both firmwares but I felt SQ went a clear step up.
    For most recordings I listen to the linear phase filter now (orange), where before I used the soft minimum phase (light off).
    @GoodEnoughGear did a comprehensive old/new filter comparison somewhere here on SBAF a while back.
    Not too hard to do the upgrade if you follow the Instructions offered by Soekris.
     
    Last edited: Jan 8, 2019
  15. RedLipstick

    RedLipstick Acquaintance

    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2018
    Likes Received:
    30
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    Europe
    @sacredgates I don't notice that much difference between the filters. Going from no filter to filter it seems to bring the details more upfront, not sure if its a volume thing though. Normally I set with the red one.

    I have been listening for while with the soekris on the Stax 007 and L-500. I think this DAC is amazing with the lambdas which are more forward and your face, with the soekris they are never bright..never shouty.. just meaty sound and enough bass which is weird thing to say about stax.

    I compared with the Bryston BDA-3 which is about a 4k dac, and the soekris just has more detail. The bass on this dac is special, hitting hard and tight. Extension isn't the best I think.

    The negative: After some time I get the feeling the sound is "traped" as in not enough airy and bit slow. Also with vocals on something like Chris Cornell live acoustic albums it lacks the highs to get the last word of vividness, specially with the 007 you also notice the sound is not really expansive, sounds more closed than with other non r2r dacs.
    The worst for me is the speed. With the guitars riffs it sounds rolled off, where with the normal dacs this normally isn't a problem.

    I'm curious if others found this with the guitars too in terms of speed and if this is general of r2r dacs. Note: I'm no way an expert in review terms so I may using the terms wrongly.
     
    Last edited: Jan 9, 2019
  16. Nanekiu

    Nanekiu New

    Joined:
    Jan 3, 2016
    Likes Received:
    15
    Trophy Points:
    8
    Location:
    Trondheim Norway
  17. Nanekiu

    Nanekiu New

    Joined:
    Jan 3, 2016
    Likes Received:
    15
    Trophy Points:
    8
    Location:
    Trondheim Norway
    Just wanted to let people know that there's been further updates to the filter i linked to above, the new.version cleans up the top end, and is a improvement to the one i previously linked to.

    Here's the link for anyone interested in trying it: https://www.diyaudio.com/forums/dig...6-filter-brewing-soekris-r2r-post5715765.html

    It's still only 44.1khz though.

    I find it to be one of the best filters i have heard for the soekris beating paul's old filters.
     
  18. Forza AudioWorks

    Forza AudioWorks MOT: Forza AudioWorks

    Joined:
    Jun 20, 2017
    Likes Received:
    384
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Poland
    Some old DAPs with PCM1704 (Old Hifiman and Monster Audio MA9 if I recall) did something like this to my ears. Less air and attack to have sound a bit muted at times, but very wet texturing on string instruments, which I enjoyed this years back.
     
  19. RedLipstick

    RedLipstick Acquaintance

    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2018
    Likes Received:
    30
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    Europe
    I now own a Gungnir Multibit A1 and I must say slow it is not :)
     
  20. Forza AudioWorks

    Forza AudioWorks MOT: Forza AudioWorks

    Joined:
    Jun 20, 2017
    Likes Received:
    384
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Poland
    I believe you :cool:
     

Share This Page