2. digital
  3. 165362-106038

Pontus, Brooklyn+ or Benchmark 3? Pros and Cons

I’m interested in upgrading my current DAC, a Benchmark 1, to one of: a) Denafrips Pontus;  b) Brooklyn DAC Plus;  c) Benchmark 3   I am currently using my Benchmark 1 without a preamp, streaming TIDAL from a Bluesound Vault, and would like to continue that setup. I realize this will mean I’d need to add volume control to the Pontus, but that shouldn’t be a big problem. Other than that, have any of you heard these three DACs (or 2 of the 3), so you could give me your impressions on how they compare? Amp is a newly refurbished McCormack DNA-1 Gold (with Gravity Base Jr and other add-ons; love this amp) and speakers are Usher Mini-Dancer Two’s.
128x128cheeg
soix
9,347 posts
 
Nice amp!  I think if you share what sound characteristics you’re looking for you’ll get some more useful and thoughtful responses here. 
cheeg's avatar
cheeg OP
243 posts
 
@soix: thank you!  I expected the amp to sound good when it came back, but what I got was even better than I had expected.  Unfortunately, I don't think I can give you the answer you're looking for; I just don't know how to phrase it any better then saying "when a note on a piano or guitar is struck, I want it to sound like the instrument is there in my room."  I'm not a fan of tubes (or at least I haven't liked the ones I've heard), because I always find the highs to be muddy or muted.  I generally like the sound of good solid-state systems, but not those that make the music sound unnatural, or brittle.  I think it comes down to what the Supreme Court said about pornography: "I'll know it when I hear it" -- but without a handy public listening room (as we used to have in NYC), that's not as easy or affordable as I'd like. Sigh...
jjss49's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
jjss49
6,612 posts
 
of those 3 i would pick the pontus, it is the most 'organic' sounding of the bunch imho

^^^ never mind what i said earlier, above

you like solid state sound... mytek or benchmark is more up your alley... or chord... 

enjoy
cheeg's avatar
cheeg OP
243 posts
 
@jjss: thanks for the clarification!
yyzsantabarbara
4,696 posts
 
I have an all Benchmark stack, DAC3B | HPA4 | AHB2 x 2. I have yet to find anything that will replace it for my 2 channel Thiel CS3.7. Though I have had more expensive gear in recently, CODA CSiB and KRELL K-300i, I have always said I like the same music a little better on the BM stack.

The only time I had an issue with the BM stack is with my RAAL SR1a headphones. I am listening to them as I type this using HPA4 | AHB2 x 2 | Audio Mirror Tubadour III SE DAC to tame the RAAL’s ribbon.

The DAC3B was replaced by the tube DAC with the RAAL and that made things rather good. Though I will be improving things even further with the RAAL by using a CODA 07x preamp and a D-Sonic amp. So all my Benchmark gear is replaced with the RAAL. On my 2 channel the Benchmark gear cannot be beat. The BM stack does not work with all gear. For, example Paradigm Persona would be awful with my BM stack as is the RAAL.

I owned the Benchmark DAC1 and after a while I realized I hated the fatiguing nature of that DAC. I had to use a BAT VK-42 SE preamp to make the DAC1 listenable. The DAC3 is much more pleasant to listen to. It is also much better sounding when paired with the LA4 or HPA4 preamp. I have owned the DAC3 HGC and used it direct to a AHB2. The HPA4 I now have with the DAC3B is much better overall sound. Especially at low volume listening sessions.

I have used my Tubadour DAC with the HPA4 and AHB2s on my 2 channel and it is good but I like the DAC3B more in signal path for 2 channel. The Tubadour should be similar to the Pontus.

BTW - if you are in the USA get the DAC3 on a 30 day home trial from Benchmark and return it if you do not like it.
More to discover