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Up & Over sampling Is one superior to the other?

I see many contrasting ideas on up sampling, and over sampling. I want to get a DAC quite soon and have gotten the impression from reading reviews, that up sampling is a more forward presentation and can be analytical.... over sampling is more resolving and refined, yet laid back sounding.

Have I the wrong thoughts here? or is therre any truth to those diffs?

Do tubes really make significant diffs over strickly solid state (given all else is resonably the same)?

I thought to try making sure before taking the plunge.

I am most grateful for any help here from those who have had both or either...
blindjim
clio09
3,346 posts
 
Audioengr - is the SM5847AF chip in the North Star used in the AES/EBU output that allows for 24/96 upsampling, or the I2S output that allows for 24/192 upsampling, or both? I have been using the AES/EBU output and letting the North Star upsample to 24/96, which can be read by my Monarchy DAC and it sounded suprisingly better versus Redbook. I'd like to try the I2S, but the Monarchy doesn't have an input for this. Would this be a mod you could take on? I believe the Monarchy uses the CS8414. Feel free to respond here or email me offline.
blindjim OP
3,092 posts
 
Steve, thanks much. you've been a tremendous hehlp. My xa777 will likely remain the drive unit. the BC 3 does have my attention. I've heard much about the North Star but from a dealer I spoke with.. he said you need to use them together, drive and DAC both being NorthStar... and he pointed to the I2S... whatever that thing is, as the reason.
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
Clio09 - if you are talking about the Northstar Transport, the only way you get 24/192 is out the I2S output.

The Northstar DAC has I2S, AES and S/PDIF inputs. The AES and S/PDIF inputs upsample to 24/192. The I2S just passes through.

For the Monarchy DAC I can install a USB or I2S interface, or both. With both, you can drive it from the computer with USB as well as the Northstar Transport with I2S. Contact me with email for more details.

Steve N.
clio09
3,346 posts
 
Audioengr - I just realized you were referring to the North Star 192 DAC and not the Model 192 transport, but that raises another question. Why does North Star allow upsampling at the transport level? Is it indeed the same upsampler as in the DAC. If you use the transport and DAC together (I don't at the moment but am considering it for the I2S if my DAC cannot be upgraded to include an I2S input) I assume you just allow the DAC to upsample and don't engage the upsampling on the transport. True? Any comments would be appreciated.
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
"Why does North Star allow upsampling at the transport level? Is it indeed the same upsampler as in the DAC."

Identical. The reason is the I2S interface. It is evidently more efficient design-wise to upsample in the Transport and then output 24/192 to the I2S interface. The transport can also output native rate on the S/PDIF outputs.

When you use the Transport and DAc together with S/PDIF, the DAC does the upsampling only if you select this. With the I2S interface the transport always upsamples to 24/96 and the DAC does no upsampling.

Steve N.
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