Okto Research dac8 PRO in silver. This is widely considered one of the best performing multichannel DACs on the market, known for its transparency and engineering.
I am the original owner, and the unit is in excellent condition. It comes with the optional rack mounting brackets included in the price.
This unit is ideal for managing active crossovers in custom multi-way speaker builds, integrating multiple subwoofers, or handling high fidelity multichannel playback. It also features a very clean, built in headphone amplifier.
Details & Specifications
Condition: Excellent
Colour: Silver front plate
Channels: 8 channel D/A conversion
Inputs: USB, AES/EBU (via DB25)
Outputs: 8 x XLR
Includes: Original packaging, power cable, and the optional rack mounting pair
WARRANTY INFORMATION (Private Seller)
The item being advertised is sold "as is", and no warranty should be assumed unless otherwise indicated and agreed between the Buyer and the Seller. Photos representing the item being advertised form part of the description unless otherwise specified.
This content has been generated using AI analysis. While we strive to ensure accuracy and quality, AI-generated material may occasionally contain errors or omissions. All information should be independently verified, and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the publishers or editors.
Users praise the Okto Research DAC8 Pro as an exceptionally transparent, high-resolution DAC with outstanding objective measurements, often ranking it among the best available for its price under $1200.
### Sound Quality
Reviewers consistently describe it as highly transparent, clear, and musical without the glassy edginess typical of some ESS Sabre-based DACs. Key highlights include:
- "Most transparent DAC I have ever heard," surpassing Denafrips Terminator, Holo Spring, Sonnet Morpheus, and others in instrument separation, wide/deep soundstage, lively bass, and clarity.
- "Eerily clarity," "lively and fun," "very musical," and bass response better than many high-end units like dCS Bartók.
- "Incredible resolution and completely transparent," outclassing Auralic models.
- Stereophile calls it a "great-sounding DAC"; AudioScienceReview (ASR) sets records with SINAD of 118dB, THD+N of 0.000127%, 125dB dynamic range, and near-perfect linearity/noise performance.
- Some note it matches or approaches Schiit Yggy after burn-in and proper cabling, resolving initial ear fatigue.
### Build Quality
Users report solid, compact construction with a nice screen, balanced XLR outputs, headphone amp, volume control (works with Apple remote), and features like 8-channel sync, USB/AES inputs, and customizable output levels. Stereophile notes "almost no compromises" in squeezing 8 channels into a slim chassis. European (Prague) design and manufacturing earn praise for quality and value.
### Reliability
Highly reliable in user reports: absolutely quiet (no hum), stable with Roon/JRiver/Qobuz up to PCM 32/192 and DSD128, native MacOS/Linux support, and ASIO for Windows. Beta-testing tour yielded great feedback; no widespread issues mentioned.
### Strengths
- Top-tier measurements and transparency at a bargain price (<€1000).
- Multichannel (8ch) capability ideal for active systems/multi-amping.
- Versatile features: volume control eliminates preamp need, headphone output (though low power ~10mW).
- "Superbly engineered," "best measuring DAC," recommended without reservation.
### Weaknesses
- Limited headphone amp power (max 1.6V, under 10mW), unsuitable for demanding cans.
- No single-ended outputs (RCA), which some miss.
- DAC8 Pro has slightly less dynamic range (119dB) than Stereo version (125dB).
- May need burn-in or cable tweaks for optimal sound in some systems.
### Overall Reputation
The DAC8 Pro enjoys an elite reputation in audiophile communities (ASR, Audiogon, Head-Fi, Gearspace, Roon Labs) as a measurement leader that sounds phenomenal, especially for multichannel setups. It's hailed as a value king over pricier rivals like Exasound E38 or Bricasti, with enthusiastic recommendations. Some call it "surpassing human hearing abilities."
### Sound Quality
Reviewers consistently describe it as highly transparent, clear, and musical without the glassy edginess typical of some ESS Sabre-based DACs. Key highlights include:
- "Most transparent DAC I have ever heard," surpassing Denafrips Terminator, Holo Spring, Sonnet Morpheus, and others in instrument separation, wide/deep soundstage, lively bass, and clarity.
- "Eerily clarity," "lively and fun," "very musical," and bass response better than many high-end units like dCS Bartók.
- "Incredible resolution and completely transparent," outclassing Auralic models.
- Stereophile calls it a "great-sounding DAC"; AudioScienceReview (ASR) sets records with SINAD of 118dB, THD+N of 0.000127%, 125dB dynamic range, and near-perfect linearity/noise performance.
- Some note it matches or approaches Schiit Yggy after burn-in and proper cabling, resolving initial ear fatigue.
### Build Quality
Users report solid, compact construction with a nice screen, balanced XLR outputs, headphone amp, volume control (works with Apple remote), and features like 8-channel sync, USB/AES inputs, and customizable output levels. Stereophile notes "almost no compromises" in squeezing 8 channels into a slim chassis. European (Prague) design and manufacturing earn praise for quality and value.
### Reliability
Highly reliable in user reports: absolutely quiet (no hum), stable with Roon/JRiver/Qobuz up to PCM 32/192 and DSD128, native MacOS/Linux support, and ASIO for Windows. Beta-testing tour yielded great feedback; no widespread issues mentioned.
### Strengths
- Top-tier measurements and transparency at a bargain price (<€1000).
- Multichannel (8ch) capability ideal for active systems/multi-amping.
- Versatile features: volume control eliminates preamp need, headphone output (though low power ~10mW).
- "Superbly engineered," "best measuring DAC," recommended without reservation.
### Weaknesses
- Limited headphone amp power (max 1.6V, under 10mW), unsuitable for demanding cans.
- No single-ended outputs (RCA), which some miss.
- DAC8 Pro has slightly less dynamic range (119dB) than Stereo version (125dB).
- May need burn-in or cable tweaks for optimal sound in some systems.
### Overall Reputation
The DAC8 Pro enjoys an elite reputation in audiophile communities (ASR, Audiogon, Head-Fi, Gearspace, Roon Labs) as a measurement leader that sounds phenomenal, especially for multichannel setups. It's hailed as a value king over pricier rivals like Exasound E38 or Bricasti, with enthusiastic recommendations. Some call it "surpassing human hearing abilities."
This content has been generated using AI analysis. While we strive to ensure accuracy and quality, AI-generated material may occasionally contain errors or omissions. All information should be independently verified, and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the publishers or editors.
The fair AUD market price for the Okto Research DAC8 Pro is approximately AUD 1,900–2,500 for new units and AUD 1,600–2,100 for used units in excellent condition. Prices vary significantly by condition, with new units commanding a premium over used ones that are 30–50% lower based on recent listings.
### Price Range Details
- New units: Recent official pricing is around €989–€1,089 (equivalent to roughly AUD 1,700–1,900 using mid-2025 EUR/AUD rates of ~1.72), though some listings suggest higher original prices up to €1,600 (AUD ~2,750). High-end listings on HiFiShark reached €2,269 (AUD ~3,900) as of early 2026, likely for bundled or premium configurations.
- Used units: A near-mint 3-year-old unit with original box sold for €1,050 (AUD ~1,800) after reduction from €1,600 original, indicating strong used value retention. Other recent used listings ranged €2,269 (AUD ~3,900) and equivalent to CA$3,554–3,757 (AUD ~3,800–4,000 at ~0.94 CAD/AUD), though these appear elevated possibly due to rarity or location premiums.
### Key Factors Affecting Value
- Condition: New units hold full MSRP; used "as good as new" fetches 65–75% of original, dropping further for older or flawed units.
- Age and accessories: Units ~3 years old with boxes sell well; lack of originals reduces value.
- Location and shipping: Sold from Prague, Europe, with high international shipping/support costs to Australia impacting effective price.
- Market rarity: Low-volume production leads to inflated resale (e.g., up to 2–3x MSRP in some listings), driven by demand for 8-channel high-performance DACs.
- Currency fluctuations: Prices converted conservatively from EUR/USD/CAD using recent rates (1 EUR ≈ 1.72 AUD, 1 USD ≈ 1.52 AUD, 1 CAD ≈ 0.94 AUD); actuals vary.
Note: Data is sparse with few direct AUD listings as of early 2026; estimates prioritize conservative recent sales over outliers. Stereo DAC variants (not Pro) list lower at ~USD 1,000 (AUD 1,520) used, confirming Pro's multichannel premium.
### Price Range Details
- New units: Recent official pricing is around €989–€1,089 (equivalent to roughly AUD 1,700–1,900 using mid-2025 EUR/AUD rates of ~1.72), though some listings suggest higher original prices up to €1,600 (AUD ~2,750). High-end listings on HiFiShark reached €2,269 (AUD ~3,900) as of early 2026, likely for bundled or premium configurations.
- Used units: A near-mint 3-year-old unit with original box sold for €1,050 (AUD ~1,800) after reduction from €1,600 original, indicating strong used value retention. Other recent used listings ranged €2,269 (AUD ~3,900) and equivalent to CA$3,554–3,757 (AUD ~3,800–4,000 at ~0.94 CAD/AUD), though these appear elevated possibly due to rarity or location premiums.
### Key Factors Affecting Value
- Condition: New units hold full MSRP; used "as good as new" fetches 65–75% of original, dropping further for older or flawed units.
- Age and accessories: Units ~3 years old with boxes sell well; lack of originals reduces value.
- Location and shipping: Sold from Prague, Europe, with high international shipping/support costs to Australia impacting effective price.
- Market rarity: Low-volume production leads to inflated resale (e.g., up to 2–3x MSRP in some listings), driven by demand for 8-channel high-performance DACs.
- Currency fluctuations: Prices converted conservatively from EUR/USD/CAD using recent rates (1 EUR ≈ 1.72 AUD, 1 USD ≈ 1.52 AUD, 1 CAD ≈ 0.94 AUD); actuals vary.
Note: Data is sparse with few direct AUD listings as of early 2026; estimates prioritize conservative recent sales over outliers. Stereo DAC variants (not Pro) list lower at ~USD 1,000 (AUD 1,520) used, confirming Pro's multichannel premium.
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