External DAC for Cambridge CXN (V2) and Sony XA 5400 ES

You will be surprised at how competitive the Cambridge sounds especially if you are routing everything through a vintage tube pre. I have compared the CXN to a schiit Iggy running them both into a Primaluna tube preamp and the difference between the 2 was surprisingly subtle. I really feel that DACs in the $1.5-3.5K range pose the worst value in the market right now because there are many DACs well under $1K that come very close to matching their performance and when you then run everything through a tube preamp with a pronounced sound signature / coloration, those minor differences between the DACs become almost irrelevant.

I had the Benchmark DAC 3 in my system for a few weeks on loan (running into a Mastersound tube amp). I have  CXN transport and CXN V2, and when running either into the DAC3 I found that although the DAC3 offered a very slight increase in detail, the stage was very 2D and somewhat boring. Probably technically more linear, but just not engaging to me in my 2 channel system. I really enjoyed the Benchmark with my headphone rig, but it just didn't do it for me in the main system. 

Another option you may want to look into is the Modwright upgrade for the CXN. Very few real world reviews so far, but it looks very interesting in my opinion. 

I have the Sony in my 2 channel system.  It is a refugee from a HT system when I had added an Oppo 203 to replace both my BluRay and SACD player.  In the 2 channel system my DAC is a Bryston DAC3, which has 4 HDMI inputs.  The Sony outputs the DSD from SACD over HDMI.  In the same system I already have an Oppo 105 outputting DSD from SACD into another HDMI input on the DAC, I added the Sony just for laughs.  It sounds almost indistinguishable from the Oppo as a DSD transport.  My recommendation would be get a DAC with HDMI
inputs so that you can enjoy DSD from your SACDs, if you have any.  I also think the Bryston is a better DAC than Benchmark 

arize84... not sure I am onboard with " a tube preamp with a pronounced sound signature / coloration". If every piece of wire, power cord, tube, etc., produces a noticeable difference I’m not at all sure the LS2BMKII would mask differences in DAC performance because it sure doesn’t mask anything else.... but you do have a point on pricing.
displayname62... thanks for your response, soundstage and imaging are very important to me and presently the stage is much wider than the 16 foot wide room and varies from front and center in a club to first few rows depending on source material, station, original recording and such. Tried an ARC LS 17 SE pre and a LS 27 pre and they both had tiny compressed stages and left faster than they came.to try. Thanks for the info on Modwright although I’m reluctant to make irreversible changes to see if I like the results.

mahler123 Thanks for the info on the Bryston and HDMI. I probably have 30 or 40 SACD recordings and that would be important. I would not be surprised to find the Bryston to outperform the Benchmark, although it is a few years older but it is more than double the money, but again, would have to find a way to try before I buy as too much stuff has left here faster than it came. Maybe a local dealer (if there are any left) would have one that could be tried.