i'm not Dieter (sorry ^_^ ), but as i understand it the various DIY synth possibilities are more or less based on the circuitry of the A100. the Dark Energy 1 is based almost entirely on a single Curtis chip, basically and entire synth voice on one chip (it was originally used in the Sequential Circuits Six-Track & Max early multitibral synths from the mid-80s) - this chip is no longer made and became so rare that's why Dieter had to discontinue the DE1 and completely redesign the voice circuit for the DE2.

i have a Lot of A100 modular, a DE1 & DE2, and they all sound subtly different from each other. actual differences in sound are difficult to describe becuase such things are so subjective, but the DE1 to me sounds a bit fuller and "beefier" than the DE2, which seems more "sharp" and has an "edge" to the sound... and yes those are all very precise scientifically-based audio engineering terms. ;-)   and of course the A100 can ptentially sound like either of them or something else entirely depending on which modules you choose.

just my 2 cents!  :-)