2. pc-audio
  3. 1213463450

Jump in now or wait?

Very close to purchasing a Benchmark DAC1 usb to use pc as sole source. Music is saved in apple lossless w/error correction in Itunes. Is it worth buying now (will need to buy new as these units seem to be rarely available used) or is the pace of technology changing/new products coming to market such that I should wait 6 months or so? Have to believe a number of fellow agoners are wrestling with this same issue.

Relatedly, is the DAC1 going to get me sonically where a nice CD player would (thinking of used Ayre CX-7e).

Thanks for any input.
dokosan

Showing 1 response by mantisory

mantisory
95 posts
 
I went from CD to PC-based music a while ago. I used a chaintech 7.1 soundcard (optical output) to a beresford tc-7510 dac, for the whopping grand total of 200$ including shipping, and I will never go back.
After hearing the beresford up against the Benchmark USB DAC1, I am glad I didn't spend the extra 1000$, because it is an extremely close comparison soundwise, although the benchmark obviously wins out in flexibility.
IMO the Beresford DAC is one of the best kept secrets in digital, and suffers from his basic looking case, and not charging enough money for it.
Byron
p.s.- I use EAC to get to FLAC and playback is done with FooBar 2000...
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