When I was looking to replace my Quad-77 with a new digital set-up I decided to go to separates. After reading about non-os type DACs (Audio Note and Sakura Systems have great information on the non-os design concepts)I decided to take the plunge and bought an Audio Mirror D1. Then I used that as the basis to compare against oversampling designs. I listened to many DACs in the process both in my system and in shop systems. Some of the ones I auditioned were Audio Note, 47 Labs, Bel Canto, MSB, and Benchmark.
What seemed to me to be the most consistent difference is that the non-os design sounded more natural and the closest to analog. The oversampler DACs made the music sound somewhat artificial by comparison, like it was recreating the music as oppposed to allowing the signal to flow as it was intended to be heard. Now I know some of this is based on the equipment used in the tests, but each of the non-os DACs had this quality. Without having to upsample and filter the signal there is less risk for errors in the conversion process. Sometimes less is more.
There are obviously great oversampling designs out there. To me though, as a vinyl junkie what I wanted from my digital set-up was to get close to that sound I hear when I spin LPs or listen to 2 track DAT or reel-reel masters. The non-os DACs gave that to me.
What seemed to me to be the most consistent difference is that the non-os design sounded more natural and the closest to analog. The oversampler DACs made the music sound somewhat artificial by comparison, like it was recreating the music as oppposed to allowing the signal to flow as it was intended to be heard. Now I know some of this is based on the equipment used in the tests, but each of the non-os DACs had this quality. Without having to upsample and filter the signal there is less risk for errors in the conversion process. Sometimes less is more.
There are obviously great oversampling designs out there. To me though, as a vinyl junkie what I wanted from my digital set-up was to get close to that sound I hear when I spin LPs or listen to 2 track DAT or reel-reel masters. The non-os DACs gave that to me.