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Thread: NOS DACs

  1. #41
    Join Date: Apr 2008

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    I'm Neil.

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    Quote Originally Posted by jandl100 View Post
    I've limited experience with NOS DACs, but my most recent example was the DAC3 by Starting Point Systems in France.
    https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/USB-SPDIF...0AAOSwk1JWcsf8



    They typically seem to sell on eBay auction for around £100, which is excellent vfm in my view.

    I really liked it - but yes, quite a bit rolled off at the top with a meaty midrange and upper bass, and well defined imaging.
    Not the most startlingly dynamic or exciting sound - and it doesn't scintillate with detail - but very "musical" imo, in an analog kind of way.
    Interesting because for me a TDA1543 can have quite violent dynamics and drive, at the expense of sophistication at the top end compared to a TDA1541A. I wonder if the battery power is a culprit of those laid back dynamics.
    Mana Acoustics Racks / Bright Star IsoNodes Decoupling >> Allo DigiOne Player >> Pedja Rogic's Audial Model S DAC + Pioneer PL-71 turntable / Vista Audio phono-1 mk II / Denon PCL-5 headshell / Reson Reca >> LFD DLS >> LFD PA2M (SE) >> Royd RR3s.

  2. #42
    Join Date: Jan 2008

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    I'm gone.

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    Yes, ime battery power usually (always?) weakens dynamic drive in a power or pre amp, so probably in a DAC as well.
    I did describe it as 'meaty', so I think the sound is very solid with well defined imaging.

    I think it was Brian who noted improvements when he changed the battery type.
    .

  3. #43
    Join Date: May 2011

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    I'm Brian.

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    Yup , I bought Uniross rechargeable batteries and they made a marked difference to the SQ of the DAC .
    Regards
    Brian

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  4. #44
    montesquieu Guest

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    Quote Originally Posted by Yomanze View Post
    Yes. I used to do blind tests with my DAC in NOS vs 2x oversampling (88.2 kHz) to correct the treble droop, which at 44.1kHz is -3.2dB at 20kHz. The rolloff is clearly audible, just listen to some cymbals, but for me, things were more musically correct and ‘together’ with no oversampling. In any case one can just apply DSP, like I do via JRIver, if one wants to try.

    The Foobar2000 ABX plugin is invaluable for blind testing, just encode one file at 44.1kHz, another at 88.2kHz, and compare. Try to avoid non-even oversampling like 96kHz or the original bits will not be preserved.
    You can hear 20khz? I'm impressed.

  5. #45
    Join Date: Apr 2008

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    I'm Neil.

    Default NOS DACs

    Quote Originally Posted by montesquieu View Post
    You can hear 20khz? I'm impressed.
    Yes I can hear 20kHz, it’s not exactly a tone I hear though, more like a presence. It’s there though...

    Also, don’t forget that a NOS DAC will start rolling off around 16kHz.
    Mana Acoustics Racks / Bright Star IsoNodes Decoupling >> Allo DigiOne Player >> Pedja Rogic's Audial Model S DAC + Pioneer PL-71 turntable / Vista Audio phono-1 mk II / Denon PCL-5 headshell / Reson Reca >> LFD DLS >> LFD PA2M (SE) >> Royd RR3s.

  6. #46
    Join Date: Nov 2011

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    Idk if they’re for sale anymore, but if you can find a longdog vdt1, they’re excellent sounding DACs. I took mine to a bake off when I over in WA; it went up against all sorts (including a vitus) and it came out as one of the favourites of the bake off.

    One of my best investments in hifi. Accuphase are excellent too.

  7. #47
    Join Date: Feb 2013

    Location: Switerland

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    I'm rupert.

    Default and a way cheaper solution would be the

    Piano 2.1 / Kali + good PSU combo

    just my 2 cts but DAC's don't have to be that expensive :-)

    (having said that..., I wouldn't mind listening to a Mytek or a Metrum, especially a Metrum...)

  8. #48
    Join Date: Jan 2013

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    Quote Originally Posted by Macca View Post
    They just output electricity with a varying voltage. Exactly like a phono stage, or a tape deck does. Why would eschewing oversampling make this sound 'more analogue?' (That's rhetorical because I know the answer will be 'It just does'). In a blind comparison between an unfamiliar nos dac and an unfamiliar oversampling dac would you really be able to tell which was which?

    If you want the sound of vinyl, listen to vinyl records!
    If they could convert analogue into analogue perfectly without missing any of the original recorded information at all they would sound analogue but this is their main downfall. They cannot achieve this without missing information or just buggering it up!

  9. #49
    Join Date: Apr 2012

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    Quote Originally Posted by Jimbo View Post
    If they could convert analogue into analogue perfectly without missing any of the original recorded information at all they would sound analogue but this is their main downfall. They cannot achieve this without missing information or just buggering it up!
    I'm not sure I have a clue what you just said!

  10. #50
    Join Date: Feb 2013

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    mine sounds pretty good; i mostly use dig streaming on headphones, and never get tired of it.
    Regards,
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