Advice needed please.

I to have never danced with a NON OS Dac until recently.
I figured the comments of rolled off highs and not so exciting music was the norm for this kind of Dac.Especially when compared to oversampling.

I was mistaken on all accounts.Maybe the former versions were lacking. But now I can't see or hear having it any other way than NON OS. It is the closes I've come to vinyl without using vinyl period.

It takes the music and tears it apart . Not in a artificial way like upsampling. The NON OS Dac is more organic and natural to my ears. Everything in the soundstage is more defined and vivid..but without the edginess of the Quad CDP. I've spent time with the Quad 99 CDP, Arcam FMJ DV27 , Modified Toshiba and Pioneer players. Along with the a Meridian Transport and Dac combo. I must admit I could only listen to the Meridian combo for a day or so. I sold it off within a week of buying it.

That Meridian combo put out some of the most sterile, cold lifeless sounding music I've heard in my home.Can you say digititas!LOL I love what they do for movies..but music is a different story.I've listened to several of the Cary players mentioned here in the past. They are great sounding players for sure!

I took a chance on a company not known to average audiophiles. He deals more in the DIY arena .
Although some will recongnize his designs of the Audio Zone gear. His company Audio Sector isn't well known.

His Dac is the best digital play back I've experienced in my home bar none! If I could describe the sound with only one word it would be WET.If you look close at the NON OS Dacs from different companies. You'll notice many use the same D/A converter and recievers.
The only difference being the design of the circuit board and layout. Along with different caps and resistors.

The saying "the simpler the better" it also applies to these little non-assuming Dacs as well.

I say give one a try. Make sure it's with a company that will give you an in home trial. If it doesn't work out ..you can send it back.

Good luck

Sure no problem guys. My Dac is very similar to the Audio Zone Dac 1. There have been some upgrades to the design over the last couple of months. There are two versions ..the standard Dac and the Premium version using better parts. I payed $350 for my Dac. I also bought the Audio Sector integrated at the same time. There's is no on and off switch as the designer says it actually sounds better this way ..always on. He designed this chassis just for me. Basically I got a $1000 retail Dac for $350. If you get the conventional chassis it's $700 due to the labor of building it.He claims it sounds better without the traditional chassis. So why pay for it?Everything this guy builds competes well above the retail price.He uses a Mark Levinson Dac as a reference for it's sound.

Since you don't have a distributor or dealer you save a bundle! I don't want to come across like I have proud papa disease or something.LOL But this Dac is truly special.

It's been a while since I listen to the Cary players. I really can't see it not being an improvement by adding a Dac like the Audio Sector Premium DAC 1. He does have a return policy on all his custom built items. Everything also carries a life time warranty parts and labor. Once you hold his work in your hand and see it in person, you understand why he offers a life time warranty. This gear is built extremely and I mean extremely well. His chassis are built by hand.

The little integrated is like a chunk of lead.
It's the only SS amplifier I've seen Srajan of 6 moons go nuts over!LOL That's why I had to try it myself.My integrated has the same hardware as the Patek SE with a passive volume control. It's cheaper because the Patek's chassis is custom milled and built by hand..which is time consuming.

Here's a few comments on the Dac at the DIY forum.
DIY Forum.
You really have nothing to lose but shipping. My guess is you won't be returning it!

Oh yeah to add what you will hear with the addition of the Dac. Almost immediately you'll notice how much more defined the soundstage is. There will be more focus..nothing will stand out unless called to do so in the recording.There's no roll off highs or tubby bass. You'll have more of the whole picture instead of what some players do . Which is high light certain areas of the music. No hash or grainy highs. Cymbals and top hats have that metallic shimmer...no white noise for highs.

The bass is so tight and controlled ,you feel it vibrate the chair you sit in softely ...if the other equipment allows.Pianos key strikes are also more distinguishable. Instead of a blurr of notes. You can hear them separately and the over tones of each strike.