NOS DAC Warmth


Hi 

It is my understanding that in general NOS DAC's have a warmer smoother SQ then over sampling  DAC's

My question is if I match up a NOS DAC with a warm and smooth tube integrated amp would the SQ be too warm and obscure the nuance (details) of the recording ?

OR

Would the 2 combine and present the recording in a warm lush way with the microdynamics largely in place ?

Thanks
Bob


bokat57

Showing 2 responses by lowrider57

An NOS Dac can present as much detail as any other type of Dac, it’s all based on the implementation and design. IME, NOS may sound more organic and less fatiguing than a Delta Sigma dac.
I actually think a design which implements a FPGA may have the smoothest sonics, but can also present a great amount of detail.

The analogue output stage is what determines the tonal colour or neutrality of the overall sound.

My NOS Dac playing thru an all tube system has a sense of realism and warmth with excellent microdynamics.

this stereo was so clear and transparent that when I played my cd’s it would reveal every flaw the recording contained. With an excellent flawless recording the sound it presented was breathtaking no doubt about it. However in my cd collection there were many cd’s that were not recorded to that high standard.

I think I understand what you are saying. Not all tube systems are warm and fuzzy, they can be very resolving, analytical and without any tube bloom.
Regarding digital playback, a CDP or a DAC can also be very resolving, without warmth. But first jitter in the digital devices needs to be reduced. Once that is accomplished, the true sonic signature of the device is revealed; it can be neutral, analytical, warm, or organic. It depends on the design.
Adding tubes into the mix may only colour the sound (distortions). It’s the even order distortion that can make a tube system sound so appealing.
So you really need to choose a DAC that presents the sonics you desire, it can be NOS or other designs.

And some CD's will never sound good, I have many of them. A high quality CD can sound great thru NOS or Delta Sigma. I'm very pleased with my NOS Dac thru a tube system, it's very revealing and not too warm.