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

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

  1. Failed Engineer

    Failed Engineer Friend

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    Which DIY filters improve upon the dac1541's dynamics? I've got one coming soon and from reading it seems that's where it falls short compared to others in its performance tier. Is there one in particular that is strong in that aspect, even at the expense of other traits?
     
  2. gaspasser

    gaspasser Flatulence Maestro

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    I would listen to it first.
    I don’t know if any (silent) revisions were done, but I don’t feel like the recent build I bought second-hand is really lacking in dynamics. I’m coming from Yggdrasil A2 and BF2. The stock filters make a small (maybe 5-10%) amount of difference on headphones.
     
  3. hpamdr

    hpamdr New

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    About DIY filter, you can give a look at TNT Filter. (only for 44.1 and 48 kHz).

    About the 1541, you must listen to it to make your own idea. You should compare with Dac that measure very well on complete audio track specialy big orchestral piece, piano or organ music, or anything you like a lot which is well recorded.

    By the way, new filters out of the Box are already very good ! You should also take in consideration that so called filters can be updated, unit is well built and service is very good.

    If you use 1541 with 1.21 firmware/filter in balanced mode with good amp you will not miss any dynamic nor any details if the recorded track have it ! (I'm pretty sure that dac1541 will not be the worse device in the chain..)

    Headphone amplifier can be a bit short with some planar headphone, in this case you will have to invest in a more powerful amplifier.
     
  4. Artasia

    Artasia Friend

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    And just to add to what others said, the entire point of this game is about synergy between components. I recall your primary chain culminating in Utopia/Stellia driven by a 3F. This combination already has monster macro-dynamics from a basic source like a Modi 3. From my former Yggdrasil, sometimes the Utopia could be too much for long-term listening, albeit very exciting for short-term. Of course, subjective tastes may differ and one might prefer even more.

    FWIW, I own a similar chain (1541 > 3F > Utopia). When I directly compared the loaner 1541 to my former Yggdrasil years ago, I did not feel like I was missing anything when using Utopia as the transducer. Now that I have an Auteur, which is itself lacking in slam, things may be different. I haven't had time to really listen carefully to my recently acquired 1541 with this headphone yet. But I am not very worried about this in the context of the 3F in the chain.
     
  5. Failed Engineer

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    Thank you for your impressions. They are very helpful seeing I'll be running the same 1541, 3F, and Utopia in one room. I'm a dynamics junkie and prioritize it over every other sonic trait. It's surely why I'm drawn into marathon sessions with the Utopia and 3F. I don't experience listening fatigue and been listening to the Utopia/3F for 6-7 hour stretches daily for the last month via the ECP Walnut which I believe to be more dynamic than the Yggdrasil A1 and A2 when I owned them concurrently in direct swap comparisons.

    I agree on the pair being a macro dynamic heavyweight out of any decent source as I'm currently using the second room with a refreshed Proceed PDP2 which is old but has a pleasing sound. The 3F and Utopia gives it a huge kick in the rear and makes it sound different than when I last ran it.

    It's helpful to hear from owners that 1541 isn't lacking dynamically. I'll resist the temptation to tinker with the community filters and get a read on the stock 1.21 ones before I play around.

    Are you running nickel or amorphous 3F? I've settled on amorphous with the Walnut/3F chain and probably will try the nickel on the 1541/3F.
     
    Last edited: Apr 23, 2020
  6. Hrodulf

    Hrodulf Prohibited from acting as an MOT until year 2050

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    I've worked with Soekris boards since their painful birth. Initial filters were particularly bad, thus DIY brewing initiative started. Nowadays the newer revisions have mostly built on the community brews and are very good.
     
  7. Artasia

    Artasia Friend

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    I have only used amorphous transformers but will be having some nickels shipped by Doug in the near future. I agree the amorphous suit the Utopias well. Once I get some time on the nickels, I will be in a better position to write a more comprehensive review on the 3F itself, as well as how it synergizes with the 1541 in the context of my other DACs. As brencho has pointed out, the Soekris 1541 is one of the better DACs available for headphones under $2K. We were both lucky to have grabbed one.

    I would be interested to see how your Walnut DAC compares and whether the dynamics of the 1541 are enough to keep your addiction to dynamics satiated.
     
  8. Otto

    Otto New

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    [​IMG] Can someone help? Unable to transfer,thank you so much
     
  9. GoodEnoughGear

    GoodEnoughGear Evil Dr. Shultz‎

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    Can you confirm you're connected to the DAC in an open session? What's behind that dialog box on the Terminal screen?
     
  10. Otto

    Otto New

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    I fixed it ,thank you so much
     
  11. gaspasser

    gaspasser Flatulence Maestro

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    Does anyone know anything about modding DAC1541 to add I2S? It looks like DAM1941 can accept I2S.
     
  12. Otto

    Otto New

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    You mean changing the motherboard ?
     
  13. gaspasser

    gaspasser Flatulence Maestro

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    No, as in, can the existing motherboard be added to or the Coax digital input be modified or something? @soekris? Thanks.
     
  14. soekris

    soekris MOT - Soekris Engineering

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    No, the dac1541 is not a DIY product.
     
  15. Kenny Jackel

    Kenny Jackel New

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    I understand that Soekris is working on new products and are no longer producing the 1541 and other products from that series. Does anyone have any information? I'm interestied
     
  16. GoodEnoughGear

    GoodEnoughGear Evil Dr. Shultz‎

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    Well now. I have been wondering, as there seem to be suggestions of it, but not from Soren that I have seen.
     
  17. Metro

    Metro Friend

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  18. GoodEnoughGear

    GoodEnoughGear Evil Dr. Shultz‎

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    From Soren at DIYAudio:

    "The dac2541 is NOT a DIY product, so it's not something I intend to discuss here.... You're always welcome to email me suggestions, but please note that the hardware is done, production have started, but work is still being done on the firmware.... But basically it's an updated dac1541, with same features, in fact, the casing is reused...."

    And at HF dated today:

    "Actually, the dac2541 will be shipping in a few weeks.... More info on soekris.dk soon."

    FWIW.
     
  19. Mrstump5

    Mrstump5 New

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    Can someone tell me the differences in the filters for the soekris 1541? red,orange,green, black? and how each changes sound and staging? please and thank you
     
  20. GoodEnoughGear

    GoodEnoughGear Evil Dr. Shultz‎

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    From the manual for starters:

    Red
    Linear Phase filter, also called brickwall filter

    Orange
    Mix between Linear and Minimum Phase filter

    Green
    Minimum Phase filter, also called butterworth filter

    Off
    Soft Minimum Phase filter, a soft butterworth filter

    They go frm hardest to softest in terms of transients and (IMO) bass from top to bottom. The last one tends to be the favorite at SBAF. On the original filter pack I prefer Green or Off, but on the revised filter pack (firmware and filter update) I prefer the brickwall (Red). The same holds for DAC25451 for my filter choice of Red.

    If you are upsampling in HQPlayer, per Jussi leave the filter on Red.
     

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