Soekeris DAC1101

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  • Evil Twin
    Super Senior Member
    • Nov 2004
    • 1531

    Soekeris DAC1101

    This technological terror arrived late yesterday. It is basically a USB powered portable R2R with sign magnitude ladder DAC with built in headphone amplifier and unbalanced line outputs. In my own perverse and delusional way of thinking, it is the closest thing one can get to a TotalDAC portable, with price way under $1K. It does not use an off the shelf DAC chip, but like the TotalDAC, a custom FPGA controller and a precision resistor array configured as a sign magnitude R2R ladder DAC. This is important, because it means that the sign bit determines when it goes positive or negative, and it is not doing a mid band transition on MSB when crossing zero, which is a problem for the Analog devices R2R ladder DAC chips used in some of the Schiit DACs.


    The front panel is very basic, but it does include sample rate and mode indicators (including DSD) and uses a rotary encoder control for the volume control. The FILT light changes color depending on the digital filter used- which include:
    • Red: LInear Phase Brick Wall Filter
    • Orange: Softer roll off, inbetween Linear and minimum phase filter
    • Minimum Phase Butterworth filter, less ringing, less stop band attentiuation
    • Off: A softer lower slope Minimum phase filter


    The VOL LED varies in brightness the the encoder volume setting; that can vary from -80dB to +10dB in 1 dB steps

    Headphone output will drive anything from 16 ohms up, 32 or more is recommended for best results.






    The rear panel output is fairly self explanatory, even for a wookie.

    • with unbalanced line level on the left
    • a switch to select whether the line out or headphones are driven
    • a push switch for cycling between filters and saving the setting
    • a switch to select between USB mode 1 or 2 for music inputs, mostly an issue for Windows systems and a complete non issue on a Mac
    • The USB signal and power connector.


    A "special" high current USB cable is provided with the unit. Windows drivers are available to download for USB Mode 2. Mode 1, supported directly by Windows, only goes up to 96kHz.






    There is a more than a modicum of "stuff is stuff" inside the little box (I did not take mine apart to check this... Force sense is adequate to this, but not reproducible on the forum.)




    DFAL Minion expedited the procurement process on this unit, so I must agree he is coming along well in his training (especially if I end up liking the unit as much as I expect to).

    This may wind up becoming the recommended solution for esoteric DACs under $500. That is NOT a question category on Jeopardy.


    I should have some subjective impressions and some hard data sometime soon- I think there are some tests I can do with the AP using an external generator.
    DFAL
    Dark Force Acoustic Labs

    A wholly owned subsidiary of Palpatine Heavy Industries
  • wkhanna
    Grumpy Old Super Moderator Emeritus
    • Jan 2006
    • 5673

    #2
    Originally posted by Evil Twin

    This may wind up becoming the recommended solution for esoteric DACs under $500. That is NOT a question category on Jeopardy.
    :roflmao:
    _


    Bill

    Practicing Curmudgeon & Audio Snob
    ....just an "ON" switch, Please!

    FinleyAudio

    Comment

    • DFAL Minion
      Junior Member
      • Jan 2017
      • 15

      #3
      Originally posted by Evil Twin


      DFAL Minion expedited the procurement process on this unit, so I must agree he is coming along well in his training (especially if I end up liking the unit as much as I expect to).
      rebel scum had interrupted supply lines in our quadrant.
      they were dealt with in standard Empirical protocol.
      my Masters' teachings enabled my swift resolution to acquisition of this valuable technology.

      as always, i am here only to serve.
      DFAL
      Dark Force Acoustic Labs

      A wholly owned subsidiary of Palpatine Heavy Industries
      Supreme Director of Operations, EVIL TWIN


      "A Royal Guardsman never seeks special privileges, ever. His entire goal in life is to serve our Dark Master, ET, and the New Order he created."

      Comment

      • Evil Twin
        Super Senior Member
        • Nov 2004
        • 1531

        #4
        Pure Heroine...

        Impressive, most impressive...




        The first few cuts with standard resolution material were impressive enough that I immediately sensed a disturbance in the Force when playing "Tennis Court" from the HD Tracks version of "Pure Heroine"....

        A minor amount of investigation and droid torture later, it was clear that the issue was the Vox player re-sampling incoming material to the default system audio resolution (44.1/16) - once the player and system was configured to synchronize the sample rate with the player for audio output, the reproduction became most impressive and pleasing, to the degree one can reasonably expect for a headphone experience driven from a notebook. Headphones used are AudioTechnica ATH-MSR7.

        And this even with a USB-C dongle...
        DFAL
        Dark Force Acoustic Labs

        A wholly owned subsidiary of Palpatine Heavy Industries

        Comment

        • Evil Twin
          Super Senior Member
          • Nov 2004
          • 1531

          #5
          As a high sample rate test, Carly Simon, 192/24 plays back flawlessly... this album has been an occasional problem with USB DACs.
          DFAL
          Dark Force Acoustic Labs

          A wholly owned subsidiary of Palpatine Heavy Industries

          Comment

          • Evil Twin
            Super Senior Member
            • Nov 2004
            • 1531

            #6
            I find that one of the hallmarks of a good DAC is the ability to pull one into subtleties of performance and nuance in low key music...

            This miniature technological terror passes that test...






            Dallas Green, and Alecia Moore (better known as "Pink")
            DFAL
            Dark Force Acoustic Labs

            A wholly owned subsidiary of Palpatine Heavy Industries

            Comment

            • ergo
              Senior Member
              • Mar 2005
              • 675

              #7
              I had a brief chanche to listen to this DAC too and it seems a good value. In Soekris EU shop it is 363EUR at moment, so that seems so good of a deal that I did pull the trigger and ordered one too.

              I did recently finish a preamp based on Bruno Butzeys Balanced Pre project. The box I chose has a lot of empty space left over, so I was looking for a DAC to add to it.... so I did order the Soekris DIY module too as that has balanced out. I do have an Amanero USB-I2S board sitting in a drawer maybe 2 years already, so it should be a good fit to add to the DIY board.

              ** Pics of my BPBP preamp**

              Comment

              • JonMarsh
                Mad Max Moderator
                • Aug 2000
                • 15259

                #8
                It looks like you've got a lot of space available to customize your BPBP Preamp! Great that you were able to use the CNC for the chases milling work!

                Let us know what you think about how the I2S board works...
                the AudioWorx
                Natalie P
                M8ta
                Modula Neo DCC
                Modula MT XE
                Modula Xtreme
                Isiris
                Wavecor Ardent

                SMJ
                Minerva Monitor
                Calliope
                Ardent D

                In Development...
                Isiris Mk II updates- in final test stage!
                Obi-Wan
                Saint-Saƫns Symphonique/AKA SMJ-40
                Modula PWB
                Calliope CC Supreme
                Natalie P Ultra
                Natalie P Supreme
                Janus BP1 Sub


                Resistance is not futile, it is Volts divided by Amperes...
                Just ask Mr. Ohm....

                Comment

                • wkhanna
                  Grumpy Old Super Moderator Emeritus
                  • Jan 2006
                  • 5673

                  #9
                  Wow, Ergo!

                  you build electronics like our Maestro, Jon, builds speakers!

                  please keep us posted on the Soekeris DAC board project.

                  i hope to do something similar with the 1021-12 board after i complete my apprentice project using the Raspberry Pi3 & HiFi Berry DAC Pro.

                  i notice they advise using a 5W + toroid for power, but was wondering if a EI style transformer would be a better choice for noise reduction?
                  _


                  Bill

                  Practicing Curmudgeon & Audio Snob
                  ....just an "ON" switch, Please!

                  FinleyAudio

                  Comment

                  • JonMarsh
                    Mad Max Moderator
                    • Aug 2000
                    • 15259

                    #10
                    Originally posted by wkhanna

                    i notice they advise using a 5W + toroid for power, but was wondering if a EI style transformer would be a better choice for noise reduction?
                    I would recommend a dual core EI with the cores on separate bobbin areas to keep the coupling capacitance low. Toroids are a problem for EMI UNLESS they have a properly executed shield layer. Even then, it's better just to not have the common mode capacitance to deal with.

                    IMO, YMMV, Do what you like, etc, etc, etc...
                    the AudioWorx
                    Natalie P
                    M8ta
                    Modula Neo DCC
                    Modula MT XE
                    Modula Xtreme
                    Isiris
                    Wavecor Ardent

                    SMJ
                    Minerva Monitor
                    Calliope
                    Ardent D

                    In Development...
                    Isiris Mk II updates- in final test stage!
                    Obi-Wan
                    Saint-Saƫns Symphonique/AKA SMJ-40
                    Modula PWB
                    Calliope CC Supreme
                    Natalie P Ultra
                    Natalie P Supreme
                    Janus BP1 Sub


                    Resistance is not futile, it is Volts divided by Amperes...
                    Just ask Mr. Ohm....

                    Comment

                    • ergo
                      Senior Member
                      • Mar 2005
                      • 675

                      #11
                      While I'm waiting for my Soekris DAC-s to arrive I've found this page - quite an amazing amount of good documentation here

                      and about various filters created for it
                      here
                      and here

                      So seems that once ready the DIY version of that DAC can serve as an experimental playground for long for those who like constant tweaking of the system

                      Comment

                      • wkhanna
                        Grumpy Old Super Moderator Emeritus
                        • Jan 2006
                        • 5673

                        #12
                        i started my build......LINK

                        a simple HiFi Berry to start with, then once it is sorted out, i will upgrade to the 1021-12 board.
                        _


                        Bill

                        Practicing Curmudgeon & Audio Snob
                        ....just an "ON" switch, Please!

                        FinleyAudio

                        Comment

                        • ergo
                          Senior Member
                          • Mar 2005
                          • 675

                          #13
                          Got my parcel today finally. The DIY kit will take longer but will end up in same case with my new balanced preamp. I have both the WaveIO as well as Amanero USB->I2S modules to try before deciding which of those will get to be the USB input for this DAC.

                          The ready made DAC will give me some listening joy right away I'm sure.
                          Attached Files

                          Comment

                          • wkhanna
                            Grumpy Old Super Moderator Emeritus
                            • Jan 2006
                            • 5673

                            #14
                            wow!
                            you got them both!
                            NICE.....
                            _


                            Bill

                            Practicing Curmudgeon & Audio Snob
                            ....just an "ON" switch, Please!

                            FinleyAudio

                            Comment

                            • JonMarsh
                              Mad Max Moderator
                              • Aug 2000
                              • 15259

                              #15
                              Pretty cool stuff, guys! Ergo, looks like you've gone all in on this one!

                              I've gotten back from Villach Austria, but I'm in Bezerkely mode at work all this week, so you guys won't see or hear much of me... it's a combination of a training series which has been in preparation for months, plus having new roles and assignments dumped on my just before the trip. Much of that will just have to go in the queue, as there are only 7 working days in a week. Had an interesting time and some good discussions while in Villach, but didn't participate much socially, spent the evenings in my hotel room working.

                              Please report back on your impressions- I took mine to Villach, but was so busy I never got around to unpacking and listing with it! Sad! :W
                              the AudioWorx
                              Natalie P
                              M8ta
                              Modula Neo DCC
                              Modula MT XE
                              Modula Xtreme
                              Isiris
                              Wavecor Ardent

                              SMJ
                              Minerva Monitor
                              Calliope
                              Ardent D

                              In Development...
                              Isiris Mk II updates- in final test stage!
                              Obi-Wan
                              Saint-Saƫns Symphonique/AKA SMJ-40
                              Modula PWB
                              Calliope CC Supreme
                              Natalie P Ultra
                              Natalie P Supreme
                              Janus BP1 Sub


                              Resistance is not futile, it is Volts divided by Amperes...
                              Just ask Mr. Ohm....

                              Comment

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