Pontus, Brooklyn+ or Benchmark 3? Pros and Cons

thanks guys — I now have two responses with two different recommendations; isn’t anyone going to stand up for Benchmark?  

Seriously, I do appreciate the replies, but if anyone could give me some idea of how the sonic characteristics of these three DACs compare, based on having heard them in comparable setups, I’d love to hear it.  Of course, you’re all welcome to give your recommendations too; but how can I know if your ears like the same distortions as mine?

@soix: thank you!  I expected the amp to sound good when it came back, but what I got was even better than I had expected.  Unfortunately, I don't think I can give you the answer you're looking for; I just don't know how to phrase it any better then saying "when a note on a piano or guitar is struck, I want it to sound like the instrument is there in my room."  I'm not a fan of tubes (or at least I haven't liked the ones I've heard), because I always find the highs to be muddy or muted.  I generally like the sound of good solid-state systems, but not those that make the music sound unnatural, or brittle.  I think it comes down to what the Supreme Court said about pornography: "I'll know it when I hear it" -- but without a handy public listening room (as we used to have in NYC), that's not as easy or affordable as I'd like. Sigh...

@kjanki:  That's good to know; I was wondering if I'd hear noticeable improvement going from the v1 to the v3.  Thanks!
@mahler123: interesting piece of info (I assume you meant Mytek, not Myth -- damned spellcheck!).  Thank you!

@jjss: thanks for the clarification!

@yyzsantabarbara that sounds like a great system — I’ve always wanted to hear a pair of 3.7’s, and I’d bet the Benchmark gear compliments them nicely. Thanks for all your thoughts on the Benchmark 1 to 3B upgrade, though I’m sorry to hear it doesn’t play so well without a pre. How did the addition of the HPA4 change the sound?

@yyzsantabarbara PS: I just noticed you didn't say anything about the B3 HGC with headphones; how did that go?  I'm thinking about getting the L model so I can get an analog input, and save a few hundred dollars.

@yyzsantabarbara @kijanki Thank you both for the additional detail on changing the level match between the B3 and the AHB2.  If volume is the only issue, I'm tempted to try the B3; if there is a problem at low levels, I can always try a Lightspeed attenuator.  It sounds like neither of you have tried the RCA outputs from the B3, since the AHB2 only has XLR inputs; my DNA-1 only has RCA's, but as long as I keep my lines short I doubt that will be an issue.  Thanks again!

@yyzsantabarbara I just read your two posts after sending my "PS" -- I think you misunderstood; I don't have two amps, just the one modded DNA-1.  Unfortunately, when I did the mod, I didn't think it would be worth it to add XLR inputs, so I will have to live with my RCA inputs unless I get a different amp.  I really like this amp, and would rather live with its RCA limitations.  I am using the RCA outputs on my B1 now, and I don't detect any noise (beyond a little tinnitus, which XLRs won't help), Also, since the RCA outputs on the B3 have lower gain than the XRL outputs, I may not have the volume problem you encountered.  I suspect the only way to tell for sure is to buy one, compare it to the B1, and return it if it's not audibly better.  Fortunately, as you said, Benchmark has a no-risk return policy, which makes the decision a lot easier!