DSJ9

Integer Mode is now operational in Bit Perfect 1.0.8 with Mavericks OS (as long as your DAC supports it) BitPerfect

Hi Raimund, I can't seem to figure out the posting procedure for logical responses….or editing a prior post for that matter. Firstly, the "pip pop pip pop" I used is the mechanical plastic spring noise generated by just pressing the black buttons. It's not an electrical noise. Leave the unit OFF and press any of the little buttons…pip pop pip pop, volume buttons included. Its the mechanical noise generated by the buttons AND probably amplified naturally by the aluminium sides. It sounds cheap and it's annoying. Major volume changes require a lot of pip pop pip pop. Not electrical relays, just inexpensive "poppy" buttons. I did hear the internal electrical relays clicking when actuating the buttons (except the volume buttons), that is normal and doesn't bother me. Sounds correct. The "POP" I got from the LOCK/UNLOCK was manifested electrically thorough the speakers and/or headphones. That "POP" occurred on filter change, sys invert and wide band button actuation too. Like the electrical noise you'd get if you unplugged your amp from the wall socket while your stereo was still on. It could've been my particular DAC 8, their software, my OSX….I don't know, but my Eximus DP-1 doesn't require any software (XMOS chip) and just works. Also, to see what the actual volume is you have to CHANGE the volume. Nuts really. The DAC did sound good when it wasn't annoying the hell out of me. But I couldn't get past the poor utility of this unit, from my perspective - and all the review ever talked about was how it sounded with a little about what it looked like. I thought that narrow perspective should encompass more of what it was like to USE it, not just HEAR it. It's like owing the fastest car but you hate driving in it.

I ended up with an Eximus DP-1. About the same price as the DAC-8, but so much nicer to use and a couple leagues better built. All of its settings are visible at a quick glance. The 3 buttons are easy to see and actuate. I never really use the source button since I only use the USB input. It always defaults to USB upon turn on - which works for me, but a better design might be that it defaulted to last used input. By the way, this DAC does not require any special software to run 24/192 from USB on the Mac. Much better than T+A software extrasThe upsample button defaults to 192. I think last used setting or OFF would have been a better default setting. I can't really say that I notice much of a difference no matter where it's set.The headphone filter is default off - that works well. The headphone amp works very well to my ears, and while the filter on setting seems to fatten up the bottom end, I prefer it for most listening with the headphones.The DAC lock indicator on this unit is always on if my MacBook is on - even if no music is playing. Works very well and I never get "Pops" or blinking "unlock" lights. Elegant. The unit will initiate a pop if you turn it on AFTER your amp or active speakers are on, or if you turn it off first BEFORE you turn of your amp or active speakers. Follow turn on/turn off sequence and you'll never hear the pop.Not remote controllable, BUT no cheap remote either!Volume control is fantastic. Wonderful to use and touch. It does have gentle detents as you slew it up and down. I would have done it without them, I prefer no detents, but it's still very good and worlds away from the little plastic poppy buttons of the DAC 8.I listen almost exclusively to iTunes, 25,000 plus library, and the variation in the recording levels of songs can vary greatly. I have found that it is very important to me to have quick and easy access to volume control with this style of listening. The DAC 8 made it a big hassle, the DP-1 makes it a pleasure.Also, the much smaller size of the DP-1 makes it more flexible for placement and usage. I like that. I like the design much better too, and the build is very very good. The Eximus DP-1 is a very good DAC/Pre.

I ended up with an Eximus DP-1. About the same price as the DAC-8, but so much nicer to use and a couple leagues better built. All of its settings are visible at a quick glance. The 3 buttons are easy to see and actuate. I never really use the source button since I only use the USB input. It always defaults to USB upon turn on - which works for me, but a better design might be that it defaulted to last used input. By the way, this DAC does not require any special software to run 24/192 from USB on the Mac. Much better than T+A software extrasThe upsample button defaults to 192. I think last used setting or OFF would have been a better default setting. I can't really say that I notice much of a difference no matter where it's set.The headphone filter is default off - that works well. The headphone amp works very well to my ears, and while the filter on setting seems to fatten up the bottom end, I prefer it for most listening with the headphones.The DAC lock indicator on this unit is always on if my MacBook is on - even if no music is playing. Works very well and I never get "Pops" or blinking "unlock" lights. Elegant. The unit will initiate a pop if you turn it on AFTER your amp or active speakers are on, or if you turn it off first BEFORE you turn of your amp or active speakers. Follow turn on/turn off sequence and you'll never hear the pop.Not remote controllable, BUT no cheap remote either!Volume control is fantastic. Wonderful to use and touch. It does have gentle detents as you slew it up and down. I would have done it without them, I prefer no detents, but it's still very good and worlds away from the little plastic poppy buttons of the DAC 8.I listen almost exclusively to iTunes, 25,000 plus library, and the variation in the recording levels of songs can vary greatly. I have found that it is very important to me to have quick and easy access to volume control with this style of listening. The DAC 8 made it a big hassle, the DP-1 makes it a pleasure.Also, the much smaller size of the DP-1 makes it more flexible for placement and usage. I like that. I like the design much better too, and the build is very very good. The Eximus DP-1 is a very good DAC/Pre.

I owned a new T+A DAC 8 for about a week before I returned it because it was so irritating. I don't think that this is a well designed DAC, especially not for the $3000 they ask for it.It sounded fine when it was playing music, but actually using it to play music was very substandard considering its cost. It looks like a german car radio from 80's with all the unintelligible symbols that are hard to read let alone decipher at a quick glance. All the little black buttons lined up on the front, just like a blaupunkt, all plastic, and hard to hit the one you want unless you really concentrate. So close together, so small, so black on black. And when you actuate the button…"pip pop". Adjust the volume "pip pop pip pop", a little more adjustment "pip pop pip pop pip pop pip pop". So cheap and irritating. And check that remote. So cheap and nasty. On a $3000 product?!Try changing the volume on the unit. You have to concentrate like a madman to hit the correct little black on black background button, especially if it's not at eye level or it's not well lit. "pip pop pip pop". Look at the display, it defaults to sampling rate! What is the volume setting? It doesn't tell you until you actuate the volume button (pip pop)…then changes back to sampling rate. It should default to displaying volume level. I think this is a very poor design.When you turn the unit on the display starts slewing from zero to the last volume level set in about 2 seconds, then changes to sampling rate (I think it went blank if no music was playing). Didn't catch what the volume maxed out at, and you don't want to blow up your speakers? Press the volume button, "pip pop", volume is displayed for a couple seconds and then goes back to sampling rate (or blank). AnnoyingI only have experience with the unit I owned, but using the USB input was a continual barrage of LOCK and UNLOCK with an associated "Pop" in the speakers at every occurrence. I use a MacBook Pro and iTunes. Start a song - (LOCK) "POP" over the first note of the song. Stop a song, 2 seconds later (UNLOCK) "POP"I installed their software on my Mac (OSX Mountain Lion). I even reinstalled trying fix any software error on my part. LOCK and UNLOCK always associated with a loud audible "POP". I also got that "POP" every time I tried to cycle to a different "filter", cycle "invert sys", or cycle "wide mode". The reviewer having the wrong filter on for months should illustrate how poorly the buttons and indicator lights are designed and labelled.My new unit was not assembled with the precision I would expect from a $3000 product. The aluminium top and bottom were nice but mating the rounded corners to the black body sides was not symmetrical. Flush match on left front, overhangs on right front. Plus there was weak seam mating with the black body side extrusion. One side looked correct and the other showed a much larger gap. Poor manufacture or quality control, or both.Even if the LOCK/UNLOCK 'Pop" and the lax manufacture attention were unique to my unit I still wouldn't recommend this product. The cheap, hard to use, tiny, confusing, irritating buttons and display, shouldn't be on a product at this price level. The remote is indicative of a $100 product. I'm so happy that I didn't keep mine. That's my experience with the T+A DAC 8.