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

I'm already using iFi Gemini cable and iFi micro iUSB Power. Is it the same as Wyrd?

I still don't know the cause of this clipping.

 

I don't know much about these devices, I mostly listen to CDs and when I do use a computer I use an optical connection.

 

This sounds like it might be some resampling artifact maybe. Are you using the ASIO driver in FB2K?

 

Yes ASIO.

This has never happened before with my previous/other DACs. As of this moment, my Modi Multibit is working just fine.

Don't know if this affects anything, but I have 2 ASIO drivers installed. Modi Multibit's and Soekris'.

 

I would try to remove both ASIO drivers, and run your Soekris in WASAPI mode.

Have you tried toggling the USB mode switch on the back of the Soekris from Mode 1 to 2 (or vice versa)?

 

It's been my understanding the ASIO drivers in foobar were a kludge put together in the WinXP days and WASAPI makes them obsolete.

 

Yes, I toggled the USB switch. No difference. Now I just keep it at mode 2 (with driver).

How do I run the Soekris in Wasapi mode?

FYI, even as I run the Soekris through DS mode, still the same clipping.

 

You need to try a different source to confirm it's the USB input that has the issue.

 

Have you tried direct USB connection without those two inline?

 

I would say it's probably an USB / Operating System / Driver problem.... We all know how crappy Windows are, and I have seen plenty of drivers not liking each other, although the Thesycon driver we use are considered excellent.... What operating systems are you using ? How old are the Install ?

Things to consider: Removing drivers not used, especially if they're used with XMOS based hardware and/or are Audio drivers. Try setting the dac1541 for USB Audio Mode 1 and remove the Soekris Drivers (dis/reconnecting the USB cable). Remove anything but a standard USB cable.

 

Hi, what are your other main points of comparison besides the Bifrost Multibit mentioned a page back?

 

Main points of comparison:
GEEK Out
Metric Halo Lio-8

Past dacs:
Benchmark DACs
buffalo dac(Sabre)

 

Yes i did. I used another normal usb cable directly into the soekris. Same thing.

 

Let me try and get back to you, Soren. Thanks.

 

Any brief comments/impressions you'd be willing to provide on how the DAC1421 compares to the DAC1321?

 

Honestly, I compared them only briefly. Offhand, I would say that the 1421 sounded a bit more refined. It just sounded like there was a bit more depth to the sound. A visual analogy using 3d graphics: It's as if someone extended the draw distance a few hundred feet on an already extensive depth.

 

Hi Soren,

My PC:
Intel Core i5 4690 @ 3.20GHz
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050Ti
16GB RAM
Windows 10 Pro (x64) version 1709, Build 16299.371

I tried it today in a friend's PC and the problem persists. He heard the noise and told me that it is not clipping. The noise is in the digital domain. We concluded that it is related to the USB connection, perhaps USB entry point to the DAC.

I came back home and tried removing all ASIO drivers, and also Soekris driver, and used USB mode 1. Dis/reconnected the USB cable, and Soekris auto-installed. The only option in foobar is DS Soekris driver, and used it. The crackling noise gets slightly lesser, but still there.

If the problem is with the driver, wouldn't it persist if I use optical in (from my TV)? The fact that optical in is fine, the problem might indeed be the USB input path to the DAC.

 

@soekris I'm trying to figure out how to install the new dac1541 filters you announced on April 18, but the download page instructions are for dam1021. Any chance we could get step-by-step instructions for dac1541? Thank you, I'd love to hear how my dac1541 performs with the new filters.

 

@soekris Maybe I am a bit thick, but I cannot find the instructions (which software to use, etc) to update the firmware using a Mac.

 

There should be no software to use with a Mac (in theory anyway). It should just show up as a Core Audio device.

Try both USB modes (switch on the back for 1 and 2).