how good are the non os dacs?

well, i thought i would update this thread that i started. i borrowed a well regarded non os dac that had obviously better bass and dynamics than mine but i never heard anything that really wooed me into enjoying it. then i got back on the internet and researched until i had headaches, dizziness, and a pissed off wife. so, i finally decided to just try something on a whim, i won an adcom gda600 dac off of ebay with a well regarded chipset and dual power supplies. it sounds great, very natural and unforced. piano sounds phenomenal and it has a magic to it that i have not heard in my home in years. so i am pleased. the digital fatigue that was subtle but driving me nuts is gone, hooray. thanks for the input.

Djwilbourn
Always a design out there that can do better no doubt! Glad you found a good match to your taste, because thats all it comes down too :-)

Non OS Philips 1543 or 1545 based dacs really show their age. I find they sound a bit congested when playing symphonic music but they can sound smooth. Not very resolving but can sound nice sometimes matched with the right components.

I have a 19 years old Micromega DUO with a TDA1541 chip, is it a NOS DAC?

you guys make me want to hook it up again ... it was considered very musical at the time but totally loose out in upper frequency detail. But it was a true enjoyment to listen for hours.

(BTW is it worth anything?)

kschiu,
i ran across the 1541a chipset in my research and with the correct implementation it is regarded as one of the best ever, so it might be worth a revisit. obviously, what the rest of your system contributes to your sonic picture matters a great deal i.e. metal vs. soft dome tweeters, tube vs solid state amp