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

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

  1. willsw

    willsw Friend

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    Has anyone tried the 1321 with different power supplies? I don't know what the stock supply is, but the external options are wide. @soekris would a power supply change bring it up to 1421 level? Its size and possible versatility are appealing.
     
  2. soekris

    soekris MOT - Soekris Engineering

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    For most markets we supply a 5V / 1A switcher. The dac1321 can also be powered from USB. The 5V gets internally converted to +-7V by a switcher with linear post regulators, so the dac1321 won't get better with another power supply, although some might say an external linear supply will help....

    Btw, dac1321 discussion should probably be in the dac1321 thread....
     
  3. willsw

    willsw Friend

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    Thanks for the answer, and I'll find the other thread and read through it. This thread has mention of most of the DACs and modules so a question involving the 1421 and 1321 seemed related.
     
  4. Biodegraded

    Biodegraded Friend

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    See @dmckean44 's profile page.
     
  5. willsw

    willsw Friend

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    Thanks, he hadn't added that to the thread. I have an OK 5V linear supply lying around and have wanted a Soekris since 1101 . . . might be time to get in on that SBAF deal.
     
  6. Cellist88

    Cellist88 Friend

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    Would be interested if there is a way to use an lps with the dac1541
     
  7. Nanekiu

    Nanekiu New

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    Does anyone know if it's possible to make the 1541 accept a 32 bit signal from the USB input? The XMOS chipset should be capable of doing it but I think the firmware needs to enable it first.
     
  8. Otto

    Otto New

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    Hello,guys, I just had my 1541 few days ago,I am curious if 1541 supports dsd with aes/ coaxial input?Thank you guys
     
  9. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

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    I believe USB is the only method that supports DSD. I2S can but that's not available on the 1541.
     
  10. Otto

    Otto New

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    Yes,sir,I agree but did u try that before? Thx
     
  11. Sonance

    Sonance New

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    Just out of curiosity, are you trying to do volume control before the DAC (as a reason to output 32 bit)?
     
  12. Nanekiu

    Nanekiu New

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    Yeah I am the speakers/gear I have seems to be very sensitive, so I need to use around -32 to -46 depending on the tracks playing.
     
  13. bengo

    bengo Friend

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    @Nanekiu Passive attenuators would be a better way to go, rather than over-using digital volume control.

    Also, even the very best DACs can resolve less than 24 bits.
     
  14. pedalhead

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    Somewhat late to the party here, but I recently had a few days with a loaner dac1521 arranged by a mate of mine outside of SBAF. Impressions are with HEK v2 via both the built-in 1521 amp and my First Watt F7 big fella.

    I won't labour the point as many similar thoughts have been expressed in this thread already, but my initial & obvious thoughts were that the 1521 had a very similar flavour to my DiDiT dac212se, which I consider to be an unusually good sounding sabre dac.

    They share a clean signature, great detail resolution, wide but not very deep staging, black background, the usual strengths of good sabre implementations. Again like the dac212se, I found the Soekris avoided any nastiness in the treble, being quite "present" with hf details (I don't quite want to say "forward", but certainly on the analytical side) but without causing fatigue at all.

    I felt it matched really well with my souped-up First Watt F7, which does justice to the excellent detail resolution of the Soekris but also brings my preferred house curve, a bit of a warm tilt & lifted sub-bass. Having said that, I found the built-in amp on the 1521 to be just fine for non-focused listening, which is frankly all I ask of an amp in a combo unit like this.

    I'm impressed enough to be seriously considering a purchase of either a 1521 or 1421, not least because @soekris is so active and helpful on this forum, which is a considerable bonus in my book.

    One thing I forgot to check was how well the SE headphone out drove my HEK v2...which is what has me undecided between 1421 and 1521. Oops.
     
  15. SineDave

    SineDave Friend

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    I drive my HEK v1 with the built-in amp frequently, and it has plenty of juice for the job.
     
  16. pedalhead

    pedalhead Friend

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    Thanks @SineDave . Just to be sure...single-ended not balanced, yes?
     
  17. SineDave

    SineDave Friend

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    Yes, I only listen to my HEK via the SE cable.
     
  18. earnmyturns

    earnmyturns Smartest friend

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    I've been leaving my work dac1541 always on except when I got away for more that a few days, like I leave my home DACs (Yggdrasil v2, Holo Spring KTE 3), on the assumption that resistor ladders are temperature-sensitive. I felt my dac1541 sounded a bit rough for a while after being off for a while. Other impressions? Am I just projecting from my other DACs?
     
  19. dmckean44

    dmckean44 In a Sherwood S6040CP relationship

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    My dac1321 likes to be on, it sounds pretty good after a couple days but really likes to be on for three weeks or more.
     
  20. atomicbob

    atomicbob dScope Yoda

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    It is necessary to tear down setups to make room for others in my limited lab space for testing multiple systems. My dac1421 is sometimes off for several days. When rotated back into listening setup I note it doesn't sound nearly as good for the first 24 to 48 hours as it does after being powered up for a week.
     

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