Soekris Engineering dac1101

Thanks to Soren at Soekris for providing the loaner unit. Please post your review/impression/thoughts in the thread. Keep in mind that we are looking for honest feedback here as that is what I explain to every vendor who is willing to provide a loaner for our group. The only thing I ask is to make sure to stay constructive.

Below is the current list for people next in line so if you could please post when you send this off to the next person that would be great (and organized). I have added direct links to the users so you can just PM them from this post to get address information. How to read this list is a person with Bold User Name currently has the item and people have already had it it will have user names.

1. @Luckbad (SoCal) currently has
2. @purrin (SoCal)
3. @jexby (CO)
   
4. @MisterRogers (CO) currently has
   
5. @Hands (CO)
6. @philipmorgan (Bay Area)
7. @velvetx (Bay Area)
8. TBD
9. TBD
10. TBD
11. TBD
12. TBD
13. TBD
14. @sphinxvc

Our time for each member is currently 7 days. When you ship the product out please insure this package for $650 and provide a tracking number. Also please look over the new loaner program guide in my signature.

 

add me please, Colorado.
(assume Hands will chime in next, who is also in Colorado. put me first and him second.)


note: the SBAF Co gang wanted to hear more soekris at RMAF 2015.

 

Sure, add me, and I'll load up the worst possible filters I can find for the next victim.

CO guys really just need to meet up more to save on shipping costs. Cheaper for me to drive up to Denver than ship crap over and over.

 

@velvetx Hands has a good idea-
another listening day in Denver (SBAF gang) with soekris DAC and other loaner items concurrently,
with our different Amps and headphones could be a consolidated "loaner meet" ?

any chance you could ping Hands and see what other "loaner equipment" could arrive during the same (loaner) period?

 

Just to let everyone know. If you really like the Soekris dac1101 please pm me and we will give you special price on the unit.

Thank you and may your reviews be detailed and mighty

Nicholas

 

got the Soekris from @purrin tonight. thanks Marv.
will fire it up Friday and this weekend, likely hand off in person to a Denver pyrate next.
@Hands please buzz me if you don't mind it going to @bixby or @MisterRogers (?) before it travels south to your new house with dedicated LPS feeds from Cheyenne Mountain government sources.

right now I'm searching for an Intona, 3 dragonflys, 2 split cables (one all copper), a Regen via LPS (before Wyrd), iPurifier2 into a Wyred Recover and LH Labs Revive before I dare connect Soekris to my laptop.
ya know, because rb2013 did.

 

I don't mind.

 

Day 1

Initial impressions as DAC (line out) into Mjo2 SE
somehow too hot when vol knob is maxed, should be only 2.0V according to manual yet still clipping.
believe Luckbad mentioned this before.
sure turning down soekris knob some (how much is good?) stopped the clipping and further volume adjustments made on Mjo2. seemed ok, but is reduced digital volume control best for line out DAC quality?

Not fair to compare the dac1101 to Gungnir Multibit+Mjo2, but the big stack sounds more realistic with an open, physical room presentation with better detail and tightness all around.

listened mostly via internal Amp with HE-500 on day 1.
has enough power to make HE-500 loud, but not controlling or delivering tight bass.

can hear some tizz in the treble at times, just ok at plankton retrieval.
not a lot of staging or depth of music, vocals/mids are prominent but not obscenely forward in the mix.
bass has some ok punch, but seems a bit blurry or muffled.
definitely improves a bit in all areas with iFi iPurifier2.
With Regen instead of iFi a mini step again toward more natural sounding music.
soundstage width was fine, however not a lot of openness or depth to instrument placement.

didn't mess around with the filter settings.
my ears barely detect Filter changes on any product unless very specific tracks/tones are put on short-second repeat loops.

Monday will use Soekris as a DAC feeding Vali 2 amp and HE-400S.
don't see the need for a USB 1.0 vs. 2.0 switch on back, yet a well built little slab of metal and electronics.

 

Day 2 and 3

iMac Retina running Audirvana Plus 2.5, various 24/96 FLAC, ALAC and a few DSD files (r.e.m.)
Soekris dac1101 as line out DAC (not using built in headphone amp),
(turned down 10 clicks from the max/infinity knob to hopefully deliver the proper 2.0 VRMS)
into Vali2 (low gain, Siemens 1960 NOS tube) --> HE-400S
Comparing against
GOV2 SE line out DAC (max gain and green LED filter) feeding same Vali2/HE-400S.

Soekris presents a smaller space for music. Less height for sure. Less depth in layered music, as drum kit elements are retrieved well (in detail) but seem more front and center.
Soekris keeps vocal placement in check (less forward) but overall less stage width.
Maybe this goes to the "compressed" sound earlier folks mentioned?

Bass thump about the same out of each DAC, but GOV2 a tad tighter and goes a bit lower.
Overall presentation from soekris a tad less sparkle to the highs, the R2R feel I suspect.
A bit less lively compared to GOV2 sabre.

After 45min, have realized:
HE-400S likely not enough of a technically refined headphone for a USB DAC comparison hoping to discern a clear night vs day winner.
this comparison is really taxing since both are USB powered, have some filters set, aren't end game.
Aren't super desktop DACs with real power, etc.

Preferred listening set up with HE-400S:

1. GOV2 SE into Vali2
2. Soekris into Vali2
3. GOV2 balanced headphone cable to HE-400S
4. Soekris amp (SE) to HE400S tied or slightly behind GOV2 SE into HE-400S (who cares, splitting hairs?)

well, that's more of a statement of enjoying the Vali2 as a dedicated amp.

this Soekris product seems to be in no-mans land:
Not small enough or a step above GOV2 to be considered a great all in one portable solution.
relying on USB power for a fixed desktop solution not good.
Having to keep checking if DAC is dialed down 10 clicks to be used as line out is not convenient.

Maybe soekris could use this same R2R design, pick a better USB chip or SPDIF input, include a real power supply, and make a competitor to the Bifrost Multibit?

loaner should be hand delivered to @MisterRogers this weekend.

Sidebar:
a BIG UP thanks to @velvetx and the loaner krew admins for such good gear going out on tour.
dudes put in real effort for real results here on SBAF!
got more realtime results out of 2 loaner programs here than years of HF crap comments, Juuuude Tuuube videos and censorship.
THIS is why SBAF kicks butt over HF / reddit BS hype+troll forums.

carry on mateys!

 

hand delivered the soekris to @MisterRogers today!

@Hands you will be next.