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Stock Benchmark DAC-1 versus EA MSB Gold Link 3

I've been reading such wonderful reviews of the Benchmark DAC-1 that I finally decided to get one (the USB version, although I have not tried the USB input yet). I'm writing this to compare the Benchmark DAC-1 with what I have been using for some time; an MSB Gold Link 3 with power base, both with full mods from Empirical Audio.

My set up is as follows.

- Transport is a Sony DVP-7700 with 24/192 upsampler board from MSB installed. Also modded by EA. The upsampled output connects to the MSB DAC using a revelation audio cable built for the proprietary MSB network. The SPDIF output goes to the Benchmark DAC.
- MSB output (single ended) connects to a Classe 6 pre-amp. Benchmark DAC balanced outputs connect to balanced inputs on the Classe pre-amp. So I toggle between the two inputs on the pre-amp to select between the two DACs.
- The Classe preamp goes to the Linkwitz Orion ASP, and from there to an ATI 6012 12-channel amp which feeds the Orion+ speakers.

The bottom line is that the modded MSB DAC is, in my opinion, superior to the stock Benchmark DAC. This is a surprise to me actually because I had been really hoping for the opposite. I've listened now to a range of music: jazz, rock, classical.

The Benchmark DAC is very good, but I find that the modded MSB DAC with the 24/192 upsampler has more depth, separates instruments a little better, and seems to carry more detail.

I don't know if there is something on the Benchmark that can be tweaked further. I'm going to try some variations on the volume control settings, as well as the single-ended outputs.

This is preliminary. I'll post further observations as I keep at this. But my first reaction is disappointment at the Benchmark DAC. I really expected it to sound better than my current setup.

Happy listening to all.
briefremarks
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
"Modifications to power supply have no sense in my opinion - why would you modify thing that has measured -140dB signal to noise ratio."

Because these measurements are steady-state, not transient. The dynamic response of the power subsystem not just the power supply is what is improved with these mods. It's the improved dynamics and dynamics at all frequencies being identical that makes for a live, 3-D sound

"Amplifiers are pretty much the best LM4562 (National got reward for it)."

I use these op-amps in the mods throughout. Benchmark only uses them for the output drivers. They are not quite as good as the OPA-627's, but close. Distortion measurements dont tell the whole story. The dynamic/transient response is actually more important when the distortion is already very low.

If you rely entirely on measurements to make your buying decisions, you will end-up with a very detailed, but cold clinical sound IME.

Steve N.
kijanki's avatar
kijanki
4,413 posts
 
Steve - I know you know what you doing (I meant you when I mentioned people with a lot of experience). I just feel a little bit uneasy about removal of jitter suppression since I use cheap DVD player as a source. Many people don't like oversampling but everything is turning this direction and jitter suppression is a side benefit of oversampling signal processing. SACD is like narrow DDS - output product of sigma delta converter that needs only filtering. DDS is recorded 4 channel wide. Last time I checked Analog Devices website almost all regular DACs disappeared — only sigma-delta left. I recently bought CD recorded from DDS and sound quality is amazing. People discuss vinyl vs. digital and different modds but we are all screwed-up by CD/LP producers who don't care about sound quality.

As for cold clinical sound some people perceive super clean sound without distortion or jitter (fuzz) as clinical, cold, sterile. Just add a little fuzz or distortion and everybody is happy.
briefremarks OP
8 posts
 
Kijanski,

Just to let you know, my goal has always been to get as close to the recording as possible, never to "color" this with warmth or anything else. The entire decision to go with active crossovers and 10 channels of amps to drive speaker drivers directly is to remove any and all distortion.

In a lot of the comparisons I made I listened for naturalness in vocals, realism in piano (jazz and classical), horns (tenor sax in particular), and reproduction of acoustic bass.

My bias is definitely towards neutral, but I would describe it as realism. I always do a comparison with music playing and me listening in another room as well. I find this really helps discern realistic playback.
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