84audio
I own both the M24 and I think a 2005 Benchmark DAC 1. The DAC 1 is more precise and clear in comparison to the M24. But I prefer the M24 to the DAC 1 because the M24 sounds more three dimensional in my system and seems to be easier to listen to for long periods of time. My system(Maggie 1.6's, Nuforce 9.02's, with the M24 running directly into the NUforces through a pair of EVS attenuators). I will say this, at first it was hard for me to say that I preferred one dac to the other UNTIL I put a pair of PAD's anniversary speaker cables into the system. Boy what a difference those cables made ...for the better. Hey get the M24 and have fun playing around with tubes and please put all of your equipment on Mapleshade platforms (no relationship to Mapleshade) the Mapleshade stuff really improved my whole system. And have fun! I also prefer Ei Elite 6dj8e tubes in the DAC section to the stock tubes. By the way I think I bought the M24 on Plato's recommendation and I am glad that I did! The DAC it has been a lot of fun tweaking.
Best wishes
Charlie
I own both the M24 and I think a 2005 Benchmark DAC 1. The DAC 1 is more precise and clear in comparison to the M24. But I prefer the M24 to the DAC 1 because the M24 sounds more three dimensional in my system and seems to be easier to listen to for long periods of time. My system(Maggie 1.6's, Nuforce 9.02's, with the M24 running directly into the NUforces through a pair of EVS attenuators). I will say this, at first it was hard for me to say that I preferred one dac to the other UNTIL I put a pair of PAD's anniversary speaker cables into the system. Boy what a difference those cables made ...for the better. Hey get the M24 and have fun playing around with tubes and please put all of your equipment on Mapleshade platforms (no relationship to Mapleshade) the Mapleshade stuff really improved my whole system. And have fun! I also prefer Ei Elite 6dj8e tubes in the DAC section to the stock tubes. By the way I think I bought the M24 on Plato's recommendation and I am glad that I did! The DAC it has been a lot of fun tweaking.
Best wishes
Charlie