Anyone like to comment on this NOS DAC

[PeterSt]

George,

If you want an in effect less than 12 bits DAC, yes.
And if that is what we call "real poor man's" then OK.

Peter

[Jud]

Interesting, Peter, this sounds much like Miska's comments on the Soekris.

I've listened to Soekris and was not impressed, though a friend listened also and liked it better than I did.

[PeterSt]

Jud, it is simple : with that kind of resistor accuracy, simple math tells this. Not that the accuracy of the here (optimally) used resistors is that bad, but it must be way way better in order to achieve e.g. over 20 bits of resolvement. All sorts of trickery is needed and it is far from easy.

Peter

[acg]

While we are talking about resolving bits, did you see that the http://www.msbtech.com/products/dac4select.php?Page=dac4home is supposed to resolve 28.5 bits?  By my calculations that is a noise floor of -171dB...wow.

If you read the blurb they reckon they can now hear CD quantization noise.  US$90k+ though!!

[PeterSt]

Oh ... What MSB spits out, usually is one big lie. I sorted them out before with their $10K Femto Clock.

When I have nothing to do I'll look into it.

Anyway notice that without the noise being as low as your mentioned 171.5dB, it is even impossible. And, the noise being that low already looks quite impossible *and* measuring it (that low) looks "difficult".

Here's the accuracy of the resistors required for 28 bits (R/2R assumed) :
0,000-000-022-351-742 %


Btw, with the NOS1a I can show the 23rd bit, but that won't be consistent (read : when that happens it is a bit ( ) of coincidence for the DAC or even channel in question).

Peter

[acg]

Good to hear!  That 28.5bits resolution is an extraordinary claim.  I was wondering how they even measure such a thing...

[Jud]

Good to hear!  That 28.5bits resolution is an extraordinary claim.  I was wondering how they even measure such a thing...

They have a measurement device with a claimed accuracy of 27.5 bits resolution where no noise shows up from their DAC, perhaps?   

[Chris V]

Nearly a year ago now I started this thread and now feel the story of SW1X requires some conclusions.

Looking back at the early postings, we saw vintage technology being applied to Red Book CD playback, and in a modern World of upsampling and oversampling we were a little harsh on the new boy on the block.

I suspect of all the people here I am the only one to have heard the gear and been mightily impressed. But being impressed is not enough and it would be OK for you to be thinking “yes but was it good enough to buy”.

The answer is an emphatic yes.

I am in my sixties, and for a number of years had tired of fiddling with software settings to try and find the elusive audio nirvana. I am no Luddite. Computer based audio is a reality, but how to get a system that sounded like the best analogue, but was plug and play rather than needing a degree in computer sciences. What's wrong with just wanting to sit and enjoy the music without all the software paraphernalia?

The bottom line is I bought the following items from SW1X

1. Solid silver interconnects including USB cable. Many replaced Audionote silver cables
2. Solid silver mains cables
3. Solid silver speaker cables
4. Signature SPDIF to USB converter
5. Signature DAC
6. My own simple triode amp reworked by Slawa of SW1X at a modest cost, to vastly improve its sound quality
7. Open baffle speakers with vintage Alnico magnets on Grundig tweeters, Greencone Saba midrange, and Altec 416 VOTT base drivers. Speakers rewired by Slawa with silver wires, Black Gates and AN Kaisei capacitors etc

I didn't want this to turn out to be a sales pitch for SW1X, but Peter has agreed with me that the early negativity in this thread could do with a bit of balance, and I post this here with his full blessing.

[Robert]

but how to get a system that sounded like the best analogue

This is quoted all the time. Why use analogue, why not use live instruments in a real acoustic space.

This is so entrenched that even musicians attempt to emulate the so called analogue sound in new recordings, Mark Knopflers latest "Tracker" is an example. Mark admitted this in a release interview.

I recognise this is about a NOS, in a system somewhat emulated from Audionote whose efforts largely priced themselves into the stratosphere. I'm unable to hear the Phasure NOS or your Signature NOS Dac being neither reside in New Zealand at this point in time. I certainly recognise that NOS is a very valid option and top of my list.

Anyway reading your efforts it probably sounds great(whole system) but possibly on the lean/bright side(guessing but I found this with pure silver cables). I certainly agree with just sitting and enjoying music without fiddling with bits and pieces. Unfortunately fiddling can result in a better sound so should never be ruled out. Fun at times.

You could try Xxhighend on a suitable computer(some computer knowledge required). I've compared it to other audio programs(JRiver, Foobar to name 2) and it still comes out on top. My recent comparison was with Daphile(Linux) running sound in Ram. I do fancy a simpler OS but XXhighend easily beat it using latest W10 14393 Ram file.

Quoting a "Linn" phrase nothing ain't more important than your front end: rubbish in rubbish out. Actually formulated from the famous vinyl LP12 era.

Is digital finally making ground now? I hope so.

All we need is more digital HiRes(24/96/192) quality recordings.

Robert

Cynical 61 year old music/Hi-Fi enthusiast who lives in a nice place with sea and sunshine!!!