@OCC7N. A sound is changing while moving a mouse as well? :) Not joking, there are reports on this and typical remedy is inserting a self-powered USB hub. Is the same on a motherboard rear USB ports (not a JCAT things)? USB transfer is not asynchronous, or more likely you need a good quality...

Still R2R-11 upgraded DIY with Crystek oscilators, it performs now the best on the USB port. I will get high-speed USB isolator as soon as is possible, it has a further potential. I am not going to get rid of it, even after getting a better one. My R2R-11 has survived a robbery on a gun point...

Yes. But when I was testing R-1 two years ago, I didn't even touch N0 option. What a fool of me! :deadhorse:

R-1/R-28 NOS models are NOS-only. The previous models had oversampling option. At the moment either get a second-hand 2021/2022 model or make a plan upgrading to R-8/R-27.

Yip, exactly what Fred said, my bad. The 'new' NOS is not NOS by a definition. I think Audio GD should return to the traditional terminology to not confuse users. While reading diyaudio forum there are designers who fallen in the same trap. Yes, it is a trap, I wrote on the previous page that...

I agree that oversampling removes glare. The biggest problem with oversampling is with guessing samples. There are not real values, but calculated according to some mathematical algorithm. Theoretical full reconstruction is impossible using Fast Fourier Transform (FFT). It means sound is always...

It is in theory, confirmed when measured with frequency analyser. For our ears is also true if the amp is bandwith limited to 20kHz. There is a school that mandate filtering anything above Nyquist frequency and also compensate such 3dB drop to look properly on the FFT, this is wrong...

It means Fred is right. Any attempt to correct theoretical 3dB drop at 20kHz destroys phase coherency of treble or a timing, depends what filter is used. A mode that sounds more silmilar to your R2R-11 is a real NOS. That's for sure. I only have R2R-11, can't compare.

Correct on both counts. :)

OS0 is no oversampling, but there is processing, you mention equalisation, I agree but for this mode, not the NOS. This is NOS, by a definition no processing and no oversampling. I don't think Kingwa would make such mistake.

Not only Pontus, more about later. Discrete ladder DAC needs 500÷1000 hours burning before sound is optimal. After such period if used regularly, can be powered off for a night and next day it needs just 30 minutes to get temperature stabilised. It doesn't mean it is not listenable when...

These Matrix and JCAT cards are very good, but a price high, close to a good DDC like DI-24. And even better with DDC in a chain. :) As for these cheap isolators, it was mostly a cheat, i.e. HS01 was not isolator. HS02 is, but as seen on the PCB it is very basic, equivalent to a $50 dongle, see...

Why? (again). From your short list only Pontus will be close to the analogue sound of ANK. The other two DACs are targeting supermarket customer. Both use opamps which result that users get the best results when smoothing a sound before feeding a DAC (HQPlayer, etc). An alternative to Pontus is...

Ask @OCC7N. He has R-1 NOS, R-8, DI-20HE and couple exotic cards for the PC like USB card and S/PDIF bridge. Describe you setup as well and how to use it (streaming or local files). Streamer, MAC or PC. On Windows a player app is important and whether you use Windows mixer, WASAPI Exclusive or...

Get Bifrost2 with Unison board. This is the cheapest with galvanic isolation on the USB port. Or Soekris, Audio GD R-1 NOS which have all ports isolated. A common cause for dissatisfaction is noise. Deal with noise, R-1 is the best sounding DAC in the low price range, but has no isolator, same...