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Benchmark dac - why such diverging opinions?

I'm puzzled.
Audiophile sites and magazines continue to rave about the benchmark dac (HDR, USB, pre,...). Perfect rendition, studio quality, unbeatable value,...

Yet criticism stacks up high on many blogs. Too harsh, not musical enough,...

Why such divergence? Does its popularity make it the one one loves to hate? Are magazines just biased in their reviews? Are audiophile bloggers not good judges of quality. Are those considering buying a dac at that price having sub-par components whose imperfections the benchmark dac amplifies, while those going higher end don't consider the dac adequate vs a berkeley or weiss? Where is the catch?

I ended up buying a w4s dac. I considered the benchmark yet never had the chance to audition it.
mizuno
mlsstl
1,435 posts
 
Interesting thing about pro gear - it's not only used by musicians but also to record and process a very high percentage of all music released.

Many audiophiles are still in search of tone controls (preconfigured to their taste) as long as they don't have to admit that's what they're really after.
yingtonggao
71 posts
 
Guys, It's designed for pro audio so it needs careful adjustments to sound good in home HiFi!! look at my thread at:
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?ddgtl&1292529269&read&keyw&zzbenchmark

And learn how to get the best out of the DAC-1, if you use the DAC-1 straight out of the box, it does sound a little sterile, but if you use it properly, the sound is neutral and balanced! Not warm but not sterile either.

A mellow-sounding DAC is always easier to please, but use your common sense here: if a DAC can win numerous awards including both Stereophile and The Absolute Sound, it has to have more merits than shortcomings! It's designed for pro audio so it needs careful adjustments to sound good in home HiFi!!
kijanki's avatar
kijanki
4,428 posts
 
Yingtonggao - I found most vivid and detailed sound at 0dB jumper position. It is the same finding as in the following review:

http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue26/benchmark_dac1.htm

I use volume control directly driving power amp from XLR outputs but according to Benchmark signal path with or without volume control is identical. The only issue, I suspect, might be quality of the volume pot itself.
yingtonggao
71 posts
 
Kijanki, I agree the volume pot is not really high-end, adding a preamp that can take 10 volt fixed output helps.

After owning various versions of Benchmark DAC-1 for 9 years, I have moved on, including MF Trivista Dodson 218 Cary 306/200 and Audia CD One. Even though there are better DACs for more money, I keep coming back and listening to DAC-1, and often amazed by its clean, neutral sound. It won't please everybody, it's not the best for some music, and it's not the best overall, but what is? I am not selling my DAC-1 even with much more expensive (and yes, better) DACs at home. This DAC has quality, reliability, tweakability, functionality and neutrality all in one little box, Bravo!
panhead2
26 posts
 
Added the Audiophilleo 2 to the Benchmark setup and this took the sound to another level. Worth every penny.
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