|
Audio Asylum Thread Printer Get a view of an entire thread on one page |
For Sale Ads |
61.239.75.90
In Reply to: RE: Question concerning NOS DACs posted by DAVID on November 23, 2014 at 13:00:44
Hi,
NOS can have two meanings. One (mostly used with Tubes) is "New Old Stock". But for example a TDA1541A Double Crown Chip that is new and unused is also NOS.
Another designation for NOS is "Non-OverSampling" used in the context of DAC's.
Since the days of the first Philips CD-Players so-called oversampling has been with us. It is mostly combined with digital filtering above and beyond what the basic oversampling requires. This makes the analogue stage design easier for example.
If you a "double NOS" DAC, like for example the older Philips types you can still play higher sample rate Audio, but the word length will be truncated to 16 Bit, or in the case of the AD1865 as used by Audio Note UK to 18 Bit.
How bad is this? I listen like that all the time. In reality many recordings are sufficiently limited in terms of real world dynamic range by the microphones used that more than 16 Bit do not help much or any. There are exceptions of course, but even with these I prefer these "Hi-Rez" recordings played via a non-oversampling Multibit DAC.
The DAC's you mention are, as far as I can tell, not of the non-oversampling kind. There are not many out there that are.
A company for which I do design has fairly recently introduced an affordable, compact, battery powered and portable DAC that does allow Non-Oversampling Operation, while also offering HD/Hi_Rez up to 768kHz/32Bit and DSD up to DSD512.
So in principle it is possible to offer both High Rez to the max., DSD up to ueberspeed DSD and still have non-oversampling for 44.1/16 Bit material. I am pretty sure we are not the only manufacturer offering such a DAC, you will just have to look around more.
Ciao T
At 20 bits, you are on the verge of dynamic range covering fly-farts-at-20-feet to untolerable pain. Really, what more could we need?
Follow Ups:
"If you a "double NOS" DAC, like for example the older Philips types you can still play higher sample rate Audio, but the word length will be truncated to 16 Bit, or in the case of the AD1865 as used by Audio Note UK to 18 Bit."
Hopefully, the "truncation" involves dither at the appropriate point in the playback chain (e.g. player, driver, or DAC). Otherwise, there will be audible low level distortion. This will be obvious at 16 bits with good recordings on a decent system, more subtle at higher bit depths.
Tony Lauck
"Diversity is the law of nature; no two entities in this universe are uniform." - P.R. Sarkar
I get my hands slapped here when I talk about my products like this.
"I am pretty sure we are not the only manufacturer offering such a DAC, you will just have to look around more."
No make, model or manufacturer mentioned in the post so it's hardly an ad.
...you've designed quite a winner of a DAC! Outta my league price wise though. Don't suppose you're feeling particularly generous and would like to give one to me or trade for my DAC now? Or how 'bout I trade a couple of kids for one of your units?
You got mail...
Ciao T
At 20 bits, you are on the verge of dynamic range covering fly-farts-at-20-feet to untolerable pain. Really, what more could we need?
nt
:-(
naw
Hi, I have one of these NOS1704 DACs from Audio GD - the company was mentioned in the thread and the website info may be interesting..
I really like the DAC and it matches well with my speakers, which originally seemed rather bright - but with this DAC, everything is naturally balanced, good sound-stage, dynamics, etc. I do not think I will upgrade for a while, and if I do it will probably be from the same company.
Good luck! To me - the DAC selection is right up there with the speakers and room for optimizing the system performance to your preference.
http://www.audio-gd.com/Pro/SA/NOS1704/NOS1704EN.htm
Post a Followup:
FAQ |
Post a Message! |
Forgot Password? |
|
||||||||||||||
|
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors: