Benckmark DAC1 Review....

**steveinaz** · 03-22-2005 05:51 PM

Benchmark DAC1: (see my system showcase for a pic)
http://www.benchmarkmedia.com/

Description
9.5" wide by 8.5" deep
Approx 3.5lbs
2 headphone jacks with level adjustment
Ruler flat freq response from 10Hz to 42kHz
THD: .0005%
SN: 107dB
Inputs: Toslink, Coax BNC or RCA, AES/EBU
Outputs: AES/EBU, RCA
$975

Performance
Where to begin? I really tried to resist the urge to post this review so soon, wanting to lend more credibility to this, but what
I was hearing compelled me to get the message out---as quickly as possible.

Break-in? Yeah right, I have no mercy on new products, this one got about 25 minutes of run time, thats it. And frankly, if it will get better with time, then bury me in bliss.

I have my CEC CD-3300 CDP connected to the DAC1 via an AES/EBU, 2ft cable from Signal Cable. The DAC is then connected to my MF A3CR via a pair of AQ Copperheads. See my sig for all associated pieces.

I did my initial listening with a mixture of music; Incubus, Morning View; Blue Man Group, The Complex; Kenny Chesney, Greatest Hits; Carpenters, The Singles 1969-1973; and Alter Bridge, One Day Remains.

The first thing that struck me with Incubus, was the how everything sounded completely sorted out. Midrange was pushed back down to the midrange cone, highs left for the tweeter, and bass.......just unbeliveable. The cymbals displayed a 3 dimensional character that sounded like they were literally spread by a fine thread from the front of the speaker, to about 18" behind it. Spooky, real. You could hear the character of the wood stick striking the brass cymbal surface, uncanny.

Blue Man Group reproduce percussion that would knock the fuc*ing wind out of you. Punchy, controlled, slamming bass. Utterly incredible. The louder I cranked it, the better and more real it sounded.

Carpenters allowed me to hear the texture of Karen Carpenters voice like I've never heard it before. Velvety, no longer nasal, just natural and smooth.

Kenny Chesney is a 20bit HDCD, and although this DAC doesn't decode HDCD, it doesn't need to. Again, midrange was just fantastic. Vocals so real it sounds like he's singing in the family room---just the right amount of weight.

Altar Bridges' driving rythm guitars and deep bass lines were rendered cleanly, with just the right amount of presence. Again the punchy solid bass energizes the room's natural resonance and gives a live feel to the music. Vocals sound far less edgy when compared to playback on the CEC using its Burr-Brown DAC's.

Pros
- Sound, specifications, and build quality
- Price
- 3 selectable digital inputs
- AES/EBU inputs/outputs
- Built-in headphone amplifier w/2 jacks
- Ability to use any digital source, regardless of jitter
- Can be used as a preamplifier and/or dedicated DAC

Cons
- No power switch
- LED's are bright to the point of being distracting

Summing up
Want to save alot of money on your digital front end, and have DAC that has been compared to (and regarded as highly as) multi-thousand dollar products? I won't go into this DAC's ability to negate jitter, you can research that, simply type "benchmark DAC1" in Yahoo or visit the Benchmark website.

Sound quality is extremely non-fatiquing, crystalline, and free of any signs of digital harshness or glare. Bass is the best I've heard out of any digital source; deep, controlled, punchy. This DAC just organizes music in such a way that everything is easily identifiable to it's location, with an absolutely black background. Extremely dynamic with very good low-level resolution as well. Air, imaging and soundstaging are phenominal. This product is a genuine "Giant Killer."

**organ** · 03-22-2005 05:55 PM

Thanks for the review. Very interesting! Glad to hear your're enjoying the new piece. Outboard DAC's are very special. I remember the Audio Alchemy DAC's I had. Beautiful Sound.

Maurice

**LuSh** · 03-22-2005 07:18 PM

I really am happy you enjoy your dac. I think digital frontends are the most important when realizing the full potential of your system. Not to hijack your thread but if anybody has been toying with the idea of adding a dac grab this one now.
http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls....onv&1116541588
If you have a high resoulution system you willnot regret it.

**DAGLJAM6** · 03-22-2005 08:04 PM

Excellent review, gotta love it when a review/reviewer can spark your interest in something you've never given much thought to.
You'll have to bring this one back up given a few more weeks or so of listening.

**Zero** · 03-22-2005 08:17 PM

Thanks for sharing your review Steve! I have had my eye on this Dac for a long time now. It is wonderful to see you enjoying your new dac this much. My Scott Nixon tube dac should be arriving soon. Can't wait!

Enjoy the music bud.

**dragon1952** · 03-22-2005 08:41 PM

Yes, thanks!
Although I fail to see how $975 is going to save me alot of money

I think, unforunately, my wife would fail to see that also :(

**steveinaz** · 03-22-2005 10:13 PM

Consider that with this units 100% jitter immunity, you could hook up just about anything as a transport (ie, a $49 Toshiba 3950) and have a digital source that could compete with any of the "big dogs".

**steveinaz** · 03-22-2005 10:17 PM

Originally posted by Zero
Thanks for sharing your review Steve! I have had my eye on this Dac for a long time now. It is wonderful to see you enjoying your new dac this much. My Scott Nixon tube dac should be arriving soon. Can't wait!

Enjoy the music bud.

Man the treble this thing puts out is just unbelieveable. I've never heard cymbals reproduced with such accuracy and air around them. The bass is equally impressive. This thing has literally transformed my system. I now know what all the fuss is about with this unit.

**dorokusai** · 03-22-2005 10:44 PM

It's telling you your source sucks. No offense of course.

**fireshoes** · 03-22-2005 10:49 PM

I guess that's one way of looking at it. :D

**RuSsMaN** · 03-22-2005 10:51 PM

$1000 Dac with $40 Copperheads sticking out of it?

**dorokusai** · 03-22-2005 10:54 PM

Many rivers to cross - Bob Marley

**dragon1952** · 03-22-2005 11:15 PM

$1000 Dac with $40 Copperheads sticking out of it?

I was thinking the same thing. Stevie boy, nice system but time to ugrade the interconnects buddy! ;)

**steveinaz** · 03-23-2005 09:20 AM

I may move to AQ Corals, but I'm not a big fan of laying down serious bucks on copper. How much "damage" is a .5 meter, perfect surface copper, twin 21awg solid core wire gonna do?

come on now....

**steveinaz** · 03-23-2005 09:35 AM

Originally posted by dorokusai
It's telling you your source sucks. No offense of course.

I don't think so, I think it's more of a testimony of the capabilities of the Benchmark. I must of listened to 30 different CD's last night, I couldn't get over the analog sound and dimensionality that it creates.

Enough drooling...go listen for yourself. 30-day money back return policy--but I'll bet a months pay you'll keep it.

**tryrrthg** · 03-23-2005 09:47 AM

Originally posted by steveinaz
Enough drooling...go listen for yourself. 30-day money back return policy--but I'll bet a months pay you'll keep it.

I'll take that bet! :D

Glad you're liking the new toy. I'm hoping to upgrade my source soon. I just don't know if I could get my wife to agree to a $1000 CD upgrade...

**dorokusai** · 03-23-2005 09:50 AM

Originally posted by steveinaz
I don't think so, I think it's more of a testimony of the capabilities of the Benchmark. I must of listened to 30 different CD's last night, I couldn't get over the analog sound and dimensionality that it creates.

Enough drooling...go listen for yourself. 30-day money back return policy--but I'll bet a months pay you'll keep it.

Exactly.

Drooling? No, but it sure is cute.

**steveinaz** · 03-23-2005 09:54 AM

Originally posted by tryrrthg
I'll take that bet! :D

Glad you're liking the new toy. I'm hoping to upgrade my source soon. I just don't know if I could get my wife to agree to a $1000 CD upgrade...

For God's sake man, lie. I told my wife it was $275. She loves it.

**dorokusai** · 03-23-2005 09:56 AM

:D

**LuSh** · 03-23-2005 12:47 PM

One begins to understand the differences in digital a little more clearly when playing with higher end stuff. There are differences in digital, and $200 DVD players are not suitable for a higher resolution system.

**steveinaz** · 03-23-2005 01:13 PM

I'm going to address that VERY topic next. I'm going to hook up my 3 yr old, $129 panasonic dvd (I think it is an RV-26 or something) to the benchmark dac and do a little shoot-out against the CEC transport. With 3 digital inputs, I'll be able to A/B by throwing a switch.

I think I'll enlist my wife to do the listening.

Stay tuned....

**DAGLJAM6** · 03-23-2005 01:31 PM

"For God's sake man, lie. I told my wife it was $275. She loves it."

Yeah, my wife still thinks the Jolida CDP cost $ 200. I know morally i'm wrong but heck....:o :D :D

**tryrrthg** · 03-23-2005 01:35 PM

Originally posted by DAGLJAM6
"For God's sake man, lie. I told my wife it was $275. She loves it."

Yeah, my wife still thinks the Jolida CDP cost $ 200. I know morally i'm wrong but heck....:o :D :D

You guys are BRAVE!

I KNOW she would figure it out. She'd notice the $1000 missing from the checkbook. She did just get a new job and a hefty raise so maybe in a few months I'll be able to get something going.

**steveinaz** · 03-23-2005 01:41 PM

Originally posted by DAGLJAM6
"For God's sake man, lie. I told my wife it was $275. She loves it."

Yeah, my wife still thinks the Jolida CDP cost $ 200. I know morally i'm wrong but heck....:o :D :D

Let yourself off the hook brother. Set that bag of bricks down and listen: nowhere in your marriage vows did you say "and I will disclose the price of all audio purchases..." now did you? We're men, this is a survival instinct for us. LOL!!

**DAGLJAM6** · 03-23-2005 02:06 PM

"You guys are BRAVE!"

You gotta go to the edge to know you're alive, Baby!

**tryrrthg** · 03-23-2005 03:01 PM

Originally posted by DAGLJAM6
"You guys are BRAVE!"

You gotta go to the edge to know you're alive, Baby!

Let me know how "Alive" you feel when she goes Lorena Bobbit on your ass! :D

**steveinaz** · 03-24-2005 09:20 AM

Updated information in reveiw.

**tryrrthg** · 03-24-2005 09:48 AM

Steve any chance you and I-Sig are going to do a shootout between the Benchmark and the Bel Canto DAC2?

**steveinaz** · 03-24-2005 10:09 AM

YEP. In fact thanks for reminding me I need to invite him down this weekend.

**Zero** · 03-24-2005 10:22 AM

Tell him to bring the NEC transport !!!!

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