Benchmark DAC Thoughts

BTW - if you have a budget of under $2K I would buy the Topping D90SE which measure exactly like the DAC3B, is also an ESS chip, and costs $900. I also have this DAC and it is just like the DAC3B. Though if I were to sell 1 of these DACs it would be the Topping since I think Benchmark products are rock solid and will last a long time

BTW2 - The Gustard X26 Pro was the DAC I sold to get the Musetec 005 (I needed the funds). I can also recommend the Gustard. It is a slightly warmer ESS DAC. It does have more filter options to tailor the sound. An excellent DAC for $1500 (or $1250 on sale). I preferred the clarity of the DAC3B a bit more over the warmth of the Gustard.. 

I love Benchmark products. I have LA4 | AHB2 | DAC3B and owned many older DACs from then. Last night I did an apples-to-apples comparison with my DAC3B and my new Musetec 005. I was just listening to Nina Simone. I used ROON Group streaming with the gain on the CODA 07x preamp matched for both DACs. I used 2 almost identical Sonore OpticalRendu's to do the Group stream. Both DACs are ESS based chips.

I will cut to the chase and say that the Musetec at $3300 is much better than the $1700 DAC3B. The Musetec does everything better than the DAC3B. More bass, thicker or denser sound, and better top end but with a bit of softness to it. For example, on Nina Simone's SINNERMAN the percussion on the start of the track was so much better on the 005.

I have had a few DACs come into my system; I always kept the DAC3B around because it was like comfort food for me. However, I am now thinking of moving my DAC3B to another room along with 1 of my Sonore OpticalRendu streamers because so far, ALL music seems to be better on the 005 vs the DAC3B. In the past I preferred hard rock on the DAC3B, mainly how electric guitars sounded on it. The 005 is now the king for all music.

The DAC2 and DAC3 sound the same to me. the DAC3 HGC and DAC2 HGC were not great at low level volume when used as a preamp. Adding the incredible LA4 or HPA4 solves that issue. I have never tried the Musetec 005 direct to amp. I have only used it with a CODA 07x preamp and Benchmark LA4 preamp.

The Mustec maybe still available for the $2969 sale price and also 30-day home trial. Benchmark also has a 30-day home trial so there is a way to test them out before buying.

@gnoworyta Why are you interested in the DAC3L instead of the DAC3B if you have a PS Audio preamp? All of the DAC3 models sound the same. The DAC3B would be cheaper and not have the redundant volume control for your use case.

One additional point I will make on the DAC3. I am a huge fan and will never sell it but this comment is a bit negative.

I worked with a very established audio vendor/musician on a digital streaming project this year. He has been involved with building recording studios and has a great ear. He has the DAC3L in his work area at his shop. So, he knows the DAC well.

He is not a huge fan of the DAC3 because he says it is a bit too bright for him. Now he thinks it sounds bright not because it is that way on top but because it is lacking some low end so the top end seems more pronounced. I disagreed with him when he came over to my place and heard my DAC3B. However, today after hearing the Musetec 005 I can see where someone could say the DAC3B lacks some low end. The Musetec seems to have more on the bottom.

Saying all that, I really never get tired of hearing the DAC3B. It fits my tastes rather well. I think I will move it from my Musetec 005 system and pair it with my warmish KRELL integrated because the DAC3B is a bit better than the internal DAC in the KRELL.

The RME and Benchmark DAC3s are pretty similar (as is the Topping D90SE). My friend on the streaming project I mentioned above ended up with 3 new RME DACs instead of Benchmark DACs. Now those DACs may not have been broken in because they were brand new. There were some technical glitches on 1 of the DACs that I had to work around, but for the most part it was a similar sounding to the Benchmark DAC3.