None! ANK non oversampling is the best that I have owned.
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BRYSTON BDA-2 circa 2015. For me, downloaded and purchased native 192/32 files from HDtracks and PROSTUDIOMASTERS perform still a notch above 192/32 tunes upsampled when streamed from any lower rez. Depending on the (re)mastering of the tune, even 96/24 rez recordings can be very pleasing. The BRYSTON dac is in the process of being upgraded and traded in on a new MOON 280D MIND2 (by SIMAUDIO) this coming week. . |
Holo DAC KTE here and I haven’t a clue and I think this might be a good thing. I have noted huge difference in presentation based upon the quality of the recording and have handicapped my DAC in that I use the coax out, but I did A/B a very good coax to a pretty good USB and decided to stay with the coax. I can hear the difference between the same piece with CD quality vs higher Qobuz streamed. I think I’ve either enjoyed what I listened to and will listen again in the future, or ask myself, what the hell were they thinking when they recorded this mess. The main surprise with regards to my DAC is how good it sounds when the Aurender passes the information by coax. I really didn’t expect this. |
A reply while testing a recently new Schiit Bifrost 2/64 DAC (NOS mode) instead of the former R2R Ladder TDA1541 16-bit NOS Tube DAC. Streaming 24-bit/48khz right now and sometimes it sounds more engaging and less fatiguing than 24-bit/192khz. DAC is less than a year old and set to non-over-sampling mode. I don’t listen to the MegaBurritoCombo oversampling filter mode, mostly using NOS mode. For some reason I’ve never been a fan of the sound that comes from oversampling on most streamed tracks but maybe that’s just me. It’s possible I have over sensitive hearing as I cannot stand any kind of etch, grain, or gain in certain midrange and high frequencies which can result from oversampling. Over course this can vary some from dac to dac. |
I tried several oversampling players'DACs, and the day that John Rutan demoed the lowliest Audio Note DAC for me against a Cary player that I was sure that I wanted, I was sold! The natural sound of instrumental timbres and the flow of the music was a revelation. My ANK is far better, but that was when I became a believer in non-oversampling DACs. |
@roxy54 and @charles1dad -
But a lot of players can avoid upsampling (not oversampling) and still not sound as good. Isn't at least half of the sound quality from the parts used?? PS - Upsampling and Oversampling are different. First converts the data using some form of extrapolating (filling in between the data) while upsampling repeats the same sample multiple times. The first requires math, the last requires counting. |
DAVE DAC with M-scaler. I find I listen mostly at 176.4Hz. It is a few years old. The M-scaler claims much higher upsampling rates but I like the sound here. I will say that when I first got my M Scaler I was streaming wirelessly. I hated the M scaler. After I ran a wire, it became an asset. You can't really upscale a bad digital presentation. In another thread I'm considering ways to upgrade my ISP. Jerry |
True. I was just noting @roxy54 comment regarding ANK /Audio Note and their approach. No over sampling or up sampling. Without question it’s personal preference. Undoubtedly implementation/parts quality play significant roles. Charles |