[jpelg]

It seems that most of the current 24/192-capable upsampling DACs force the signal to 192, or 96 at minimum.
Are there any, preferably (but not limited to) current production, that allow the user to toggle upsampling completely off or on?

 

[Currawong]

The Northstar M192 MK1 comes to mind. Some thoughts about the reason for your enquiry might be worth putting forward, as I have other suggestions depending on your reasons.

 

[jpelg]

For the most part, I find upsampled Redbook to be too "bright" or "edgy". I'd prefer a DAC that can handle a 24/192 PCM signal if fed it, but to leave a 16/44.1 signal alone. Most seem to force upsampling to 96 or 192. I'd like the option.

 

[Andrew_WOT]

Stello DA100 comes to mind

 

[santacore]

My old dac, the Stello DA220 MKII also has this option. My current dac the Xindak DAC-8 does as well.

 

[jpelg]

Quote:

Originally Posted by santacore /img/forum/go_quote.gif My current dac the Xindak DAC-8 does as well.

Does the Xindak have an "off" option, or simply a choice between 24/96 & 24/192? I like the tubed analog stage.

Thanks for the Stello reco's everyone. I like AKM chipsets. The DA220 is really nice, but I don't need balanced. Is the DA100 the only sub-$1k DAC to offer this option?

 

[santacore]

Quote:

Does the Xindak have an "off" option, or simply a choice betwee, 24/96 & 24/192? I like the tubed analog stage.

Just, the option between the two, no off. The tube section is very good as well as the single ended SS. The balanced outputs don't sound as good as the SE.

 

[some1x]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpelg /img/forum/go_quote.gif Does the Xindak have an "off" option, or simply a choice between 24/96 & 24/192? I like the tubed analog stage. Thanks for the Stello reco's everyone. I like AKM chipsets. The DA220 is really nice, but I don't need balanced. Is the DA100 the only sub-$1k DAC to offer this option?

Sub $1k and has this option

[size=xx-small]shameless plug[/size]

 

[AdamWysokinski]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpelg /img/forum/go_quote.gif It seems that most of the current 24/192-capable upsampling DACs force the signal to 192, or 96 at minimum. Are there any, preferably (but not limited to) current production, that allow the user to toggle upsampling completely off or on?

I guess Bryston DAC allows that (from the manual):

Quote:

UP-SAMPLE: Engages up-sampling such that incoming sample rates of 32K, 48K or 96K sps will be up-sampled to 192K (LEDs ~ see above ~ light green), and 44.1K and 88.2K sps will be up-sampled to 176.4K (LEDs light amber) to allow for optimal DAC performance.

 

[Cankin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpelg /img/forum/go_quote.gif For the most part, I find upsampled Redbook to be too "bright" or "edgy". I'd prefer a DAC that can handle a 24/192 PCM signal if fed it, but to leave a 16/44.1 signal alone. Most seem to force upsampling to 96 or 192. I'd like the option.

In that case, you don't need an upsampling DAC at all, assuming you have Hi-res files.

 

[jpelg]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cankin /img/forum/go_quote.gif In that case, you don't need an upsampling DAC at all, assuming you have Hi-res files.

What 24/192 DAC's don't also upsample?

 

[Cankin]

CIAudio VDA-2, I'm sure there are many others.

 

[Currawong]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpelg /img/forum/go_quote.gif For the most part, I find upsampled Redbook to be too "bright" or "edgy". I'd prefer a DAC that can handle a 24/192 PCM signal if fed it, but to leave a 16/44.1 signal alone. Most seem to force upsampling to 96 or 192. I'd like the option.

This sounds (ha!) weird to me, as, if anything, I've noticed the opposite, with the limited amount of DACs that I've used with up-sampling. I would like to know more specifics, as I'm sure something else is going on in the DACs you've tried that were distorting the sound. I've noticed many DACs suffer badly from what you describe listening to music with pianos and violins especially.

However, the only entire "brand" I know that has no upsampling at all across their DAC range and none of what you describe is Audio-gd. However, their PCM1704UK DACs only do 24/96, because that's the limit of the DA chip itself.