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Benchmark DAC1 still relevant?

I have an older Benchmark DAC1 that was upgraded to a higher sampling rate some years back.  I am considering buying a new streamer from Auralic.  One has a DAC built in and the other does not (Aries G1 vs Altair G1).  Is my Benchmark still a relevant streamer given that it is 10 years old?
hififanatic
erik_squires
16,058 posts
 
I'll tell you how you can tell.

Can you hear a marked difference between Redbook (44.1 kHz/16) and high resolution music? If not, keep it.

If Hi rez sounds significantly better, it's time to upgrade. :)


I know this sounds counter-intuitive, but over the last 10-15 years Redbook performance has gotten so much better.
three_easy_payments's avatar
three_easy_payments
2,097 posts
 
@hifi  Your DAC1 was never a relevant streamer because it's only a  DAC.  What are you using now to stream to the DAC?
hififanatic OP
5 posts
 
right now it is only an auralic Aries mini
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