Oversampling DAC Vs. Non Oversampling?

I have a VALAB modified with TeraDak DC-30W outboard power supply, Mundorf silver/oil output caps and it makes it more dynamic and expansive.

On the other hand, I've tried a Valab dac, and although I find it easy to listen to, I find the overall sound to lack the elements that bring "life" to the music. I can't really pinpoint what I hear, but it's kind of "mechanical" sounding, as if certain elements of music are missing. Imagine seeing the difference between a robot walking down the street, and a human walking down the street, and you'll see that the robot is missing the fine movements required to fully replicate the human's "lifelike" flow. Well, apply this type of comparison to listening to reproduced music, and that's the difference I hear when comparing my Valab to either of my 24/96 players. For me, the Valab lacks "life", and sounds more "mechanical", and my OS players have a much better sense of realistic tone, depth and believability.

To put is simpler, with the Valab, although it did sound smooth and easy to listen to, my brain was always aware I was listening to something "reproduced", and never could "suck myself" into the music, if you know what I mean.

Am I making sense?

I think I know what you mean. But I have had the exact opposite experience here with my Valab. I feel that the music is surrounding me and that I am in the middle of it.

Mike Kay, from Audio Archon, is on his way here to help me set up the Weiss Dac2. I am really hoping that he can make it sound a lot better than my Valab.

I wonder if anyone will come out with a 96 or 192k non oversampling dac for get the best of both worlds when 96 or 192k music becomes the standard.

Time will tell, but for now I am just enjoying the music.

Search archives- Reference Dacs an overall perspective for the sound you may most like or be interested in.

Matt - "forward and aggressive" is an issue of system matching. Your Dali speakers would not like SS amp with bright DAC. My older Paradigm speakers were a little forward with class D amp and Benchmark DAC but new Hyperion 938 speakers sound laid back and relaxed (but not warm) delivering even more detail.

There is an important difference between oversampling and upsampling DACs. Upsampling DACs do asynchronous resampling suppressing jitter (noise in time domain) in the process. I like sound of my upsampling Benchmark DAC1 and get additional benefit of working equally well with any transport (even cheapest DVD player or Airport Express)or digital cable. Benchmark is very revealing and neutral sounding - not for people who look for warm sound.

Matt - post your experience with WEISS DAC2. I'm interested since it might be improvement to my Benchmark.