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Non-Oversampling (NOS) vs,

I am curious. Is a Non-Oversampling (NOS) DAC sound better than a DAC that upsamples the original signal? Or, in other words, is it better to maintain the “original signal” and not add mathematical calculated extra bits?

I also understand that a DAC’s implementation makes a huge different in the resulting sound quality and so does the analog section. I am just trying to better understand a NOS DAC vs one that upsamples.



hgeifman
nolacap
84 posts
 
My only experience with upsampling DACs is a Benchmark DAC3 and a Chord MOJO.

With both I prefer the upsampled sound from redbook sources. 

Maybe it's placebo but I hear more detail with upsampling through these DACs.
helomech
1,513 posts
 
An upsampling and filtered DAC will measure much better on paper. That's indisputable.

My experience is that either type can sound good, however, my non-oversampling, filterless DAC sounds more like analog - less fatiguing and less "glare" at the sacrifice of some detail.


georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
Depends, converting redbook the 2R2 Multibit Holo Spring dac, sounds far better on NOS than it does with OS, and you find that goes for most R2R Multibit dacs that can do it.
I'm not into Delta Sigma dacs "trying" to redbook so I won't comment on those.

Cheers George
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