All Benchmark System Question

@regg I'd really love to hear you thoughts on the Gustard too. I've been looking into it as well and what's holding me back is that I would have to either use 1) RCA to my DAC 3L ( I use as a pre direct to AHB2) which seems like a waist when its a balanced unit. Or 2) swap out XLR from DAC to DAC pending which one I want to listen to. Or 3)..... get a preamp with two XLR in's and HT bypass, but  now I'm getting into  $$$$$ for a just an optional DAC.

So, since switching XLR really isn't practical and I don't have the $$$$$ or desire for a new preamp,  that leaves me using unbalanced IC which I fear will have a signifigant SQ drop. Unfortunately, I couldn't find anything on its performance unbalanced, but if using unbalance vs balanced IC is anything like the drop off that the Benchmarks had it's definitely won't be an option for me. 


BUT.....if this thing outperforms the Benchmark DAC3 in every regard for you using the XLR!? Well.....maybe I'll give it a trial with the intention of replacing versus complimenting the Benchmark DAC .....and sacrificing HT bypass

@yyzsantabarbara did you by chance try the Gustard unbalanced? Would love to hear your thoughts if you did. Also could you confirm the "replacement" Gustard corrected any issues you had with it serving as both Dac and Preamp direct to amp??

Good luck and Thanks again for the thread
Mark

@mrpsync Since I have 2 preamps I was able to connect the Benchmark DAC3B by RCA and XLR at the same time to each preamp. I spoke to Rory Rail at Benchmark about doing this and he said it is fine and a lot of people use it this way. I also setup the Gustard the same way. The AudioMirror TUbadour III SE that I just sold could not have both RCA and XLR connected at the same time. Vlad told me this and I confirmed it by testing it.

I never got confirmation if the Gustard supported this type of dual hookup. The sound I got from the RCA seemed very similar to the XLR. I never hooked up both the RCA and XLR of the Gustard to the same preamp at the same time. So there is some variation in the signal path from the different preamps. However, one reason that I am looking at another Gustard is that the RCA and XLR both sound good.

On the DAC3B the XLR sounds better but it is also much louder than the RCA so that could be it.
Balanced vs. Unbalanced Analog Interfaces - Benchmark Media Systems

Also could you confirm the "replacement" Gustard corrected any issues you had with it serving as both Dac and Preamp direct to amp?

Yes, everything is working perfectly now. Also note, that the person that owns the Gustard whose review I posted never had the issue I had with the first Gustard.

BTW - I would say that the Gustard is a better DAC than the DAC3B. If I could have only 1 of those 2 it would be an easy choice for the Gustard. It is a really great DAC. However, the DAC3B has perfect synergy driving the AHB2 directly. The Gustard sounded good driving the AHB2 but I would guess the DAC3B is the better fit DAC direct to AHB2.

@yyzsantabarbara this is really promising info on the Gustard in conjunction with the Benchmark! 

If the Gustard can maintain it's SQ via RCA to the DAC 3L connected to the AHB2's via XLR....! Well that's just best case scenario for me! I'll be able to connect the Node 2i to both DAC's and simply select input via my remote for the Dac I prefer on the material I'm hearing :) Hell, if the Gustard is sooooo good to my ears ....I might just religate the DAC 3L for preamp duty only.

Thanks again 

@mrpsync, I think @yyzsantabarbara has said it all regarding the Gustard but I will certainly add my two cents when mine arrives. @yyzsantabarbara, you have really got me thinking about getting the 07x- it just sounds like the perfect complement to the AHB2. Having the ability to switch between the HPA-4 and the 07x sounds like endgame audio to me. I am still gonna get the Gustard absolutely but The combination of AHB2 and HPA-4 and 07x with the Gustard and DAC 3B just sounds irresistible, crazy but irresistible. I am so gonna regret joining this forum!

@regg If the AHB2 had more power then I would not have bought the CODA #8. More power on the CS3.7 make them sing. I tried the following:

- CODA CSiB integrated
- KRELL K-300i  integrated
- D Sonic M3a 800s amp
- AHB2 in mono

The CODA 07x and AHB2 is really good maybe the best sound of them all (but on the CS3.7 the AHB2 lack grunt).

I would also say this is end game stuff for me. I spent about 2 years researching and then buying. I am pretty much done after I buy another DAC.

I have the opportunity to buy some speakers for the downstairs but that really should wait about 5 more years until my son is older.