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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 1 response by ntscdan

ntscdan OP
52 posts
 
Thanks for the suggestions!

I take clean power and proper cables for granted. I'm using the Benchmark in USB mode with balanced Cardas Hexlink 5C cables for the output...Cardas Quadlink power cord plugged into an Inouye conditioner which is plugged into a dedicated 20 amp circuit.

I never thought about it but I can imagine that power and cables would probably have a much greater impact on digital rather than on analog gear.

I am surprised there aren't more enthusiastic posts from owners of mega buck DACs.
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