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Upgrade from Benchmark Dac?

The Benchmark USB DAC is the first piece of digital gear that I've bought and been happy with. I still prefer analog but listening to 50,000+ wav files randomly is pretty sweet.

I've had an Audio Research DAC 3 as well as a CD1 which I thought sounded like crap. I have ARC electronics and love them but their digital offerings left me cold. On the value for money scale the Benchmark gets my highest rating although my local hifi emporiums claim the PS Audio or Bryston is better.

Anything out there in the digital world that will blow me away like the Benchmark? I don't want to spend ten times the dough to get a debatable 10% more "sound".
ntscdan

Showing 2 responses by drubin

drubin
3,277 posts
 
If you are doing USB and only USB, then you might consider one of the Wavelength USB DACs or the forthcoming Ayre USB DAC.

Another approach would be to add an Empirical Audio Offramp (converts USB at up to 24/96 to SPDIF, AES/EBU and I2S), then you are free to get any DAC. I think the Bryston BDA-1 is absolutely killer at $2,000. It has USB, but only for 16/44. I have not heard the Benchmark in a long time, but the Bryston handily surpasses the Lavry DA-10, which many prefer to the Benchmark. Again, though, this is via SPDIF, not USB. [Disclaimer: I'm using Empirical Audio into Bryston.]
drubin
3,277 posts
 
I have at least 3x the cost of the DAC 1 on it's power
Doesn't that strike you as a bit...ah...wacko?
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