why so many benchmark dac1's on audiogon?

May I suggest a finacial reason? Well, I'm gonna anyways.

Within the past year the Benchmark DACs have received glowing reviews in the US and British hi-fi zines. This resulted in hugh consumer demand. I think there were some, er . . . , entrepreneurs out there who bought up a bunch and have been reselling them, 1 at a time, mostly here on Audiogon.

Mike

Naw, just the usual audiophile buzz. Great Stereophile Class A rating, everybody buys them, them the online buzz starts that they are harsh or bright or something similar, and boom they are off and being dumped. Look at the NAD M3 integrated. SP Class A, flying off the shelf, somebody writes on a forum that they are dull, or something like that and boom, everybody's is suddenly dull, and they are being sold off. Both I'm sure are fine products, but suffer from being popular and popular leads to being a target my guess. On the other hand as they get dumped off cheap, you get a deal on a top rated product, providing you can handle the shame heaped on you for buying a dull or bright product !!!

thanks guys for the objective
feast or famine
audio buzz or buzz off flavor of the month

Waynefia,

Well said. Your description makes audio equipment seem more akin to a fashion accessory for most audiophiles than some technical apparatus designed to perform a precise task....

I think it is mostly people wanting the USB model. They sell the one without to get the one with. The benchmark does not seem to lose much money in the used market, reason unknown. Most items when they are updated the older ones used price tanks. I don't see the ones with the USB very often other than new.