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It was many years ago that I joined the NOS camp. The theory of the day said oversampling was much better but my ears told me otherwise. A lot has changed since then. Although the theory is still the same, the implementations of the theory are much better. First-generation resamplers used narrow, fixed-point math and integer filter coefficients because that was the best the available hardware allowed. Later generation resamplers were more precise but were usually coupled with delta-sigma DACs. Today’s multi-cored PCs are orders of magnitude more capable than even the most recent dedicated resampling chips. Better yet, you have a wide choice of resampling algorithms.
It certainly can’t hurt to try. All you need is a PC with a digital audio interface capable of 88.2K or higher and a DAC with a CS8414 or better. To tell the truth, I don’t listen to 44.1K anymore. For me, the benefits of 176.4K are similar to the improvements I got with the CS8415A and right-shifting the samples. The two together are a win-win. Plus, I haven’t lost any of the attributes that attracted me to NOS in the first place. Meanwhile, I’m working on my ‘filterless’ resampler, which should be even better.
I can't get my brain to prefer the ultra-quiet and transparent sound that I have heard coming out of some of the "new age" Dacs over AN. The first impression from these dacs is very strong and positive, but after a while....it just doesn't sound like music.
"Live free or die"
That's the nice thing about software resampling with a PC. I'm still using the same AN DAC with the same overall sound character: It's just better.
"All you need is a PC with a digital audio interface capable of 88.2K or higher..." Can you ID some good commercial product(s)?
And the signal goes directly into the digital input of the AN Dac?
It looks like it's worth a try.
"Live free or die"
... you are already committed to PC audio.
For hardware, I'm using a RME HDSP 9632 with the word clock module. The HDSP 9632 series, which includes both PCI and PCIe versions, outputs S/PDIF at up to 192K. In the AN DAC I am using a CS8415A S/PDIF receiver chip. It's rated at 96K but select chips can be overclocked to 192K.
For software, I'm using Foobar with four plugin resamplers, PPHS, SOX, SRC, and SSRC. Those and additional resamplers are available for off-line sample rate conversion.
You replaced the existing receiver chip? (I have a 1.a x/II Sig Dac)
"Live free or die"
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