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DAC Measurements vs Actual Experience

I have spent the last two days evaluating which of these two DACs I will be keeping:
1) Benchmark DAC3
2) PS Audio DirectStream

I'm foregoing the use of a dedicated preamp; the chosen DAC will serve that purpose.* 

I had read up on the technical side of each of these exhaustively before purchase. For those of you who aren't familiar, the Benchmark DAC3 measures quite well in every category. The PS Audio DirectStream, on the other hand, not so much. In fact, Audio Science Review places these two near opposite ends of its SINAD (signal-to-noise-and-distortion) list with the PS Audio being positioned near the bottom. Stereophile also provided measurements in their review that painted the PS Audio in an unfavorable light. 

And yet the DirectStream is proving to provide a sound that is more, dare I say, musical. It's a bit more relaxed, sounding a tad reserved in comparison to the DAC3, and the presentation of 100 Hz and lower seems to be slightly vague, but it's also less edgy, possessing a better soundstage, and is overall ever-so-slightly more enjoyable. So what am I doing wrong?

* Is it worth considering putting a dedicated preamp downstream of the DAC3 in hopes of gaining a more favorable sound? 
sixfour3
yyzsantabarbara
4,895 posts
 
I have owned the DAC3 HGC + AHB2 and now the HPA4 preamp + DAC3B. The HPA4 is incredible and makes the DAC3B sound great. It sounds better than the DAC3 HGC. This preamp is so good that I am buying another LA4 (no headphone) for my downstairs system to be paired with some unknown amp.

My upstairs system will be HPA4 + DAC3B + CODA #16.At one time I I was thinking of spending more on a DAC, but now that ship has sailed. I am very happy with this combo.

Get a 30 day trial of the LA4 or HPA4 and be blown away. I took a chance and bought the HPA4 even though I hated headphones. I bought the Meze Empyprean headphones to pair with the HPA4 and DAC3B. It has become a problem every night for me in that I keep saying let’s play one more album, even at 1AM. Just an amazing headphone system I lucked into.

I should add that the HPA4 + Meze have become a gateway headphone drug for me. I just bought a Bryston BHA-1 headphone amp + preamp for a second bedroom. I would have bought another HPA4 for this system but I got the BHA-1 for 1/3 the price. I have not heard it yet, being delivered next week.

BTW - I got the DAC3B for $1560 from a dealer. No 30 day trial for me, since I had prior experience with the DAC3 HGC.

BTW2- If anyone is interested in the Meze. The stock cable is awful compared to the $400 WyWire Platinum XLR I got for it.
djones51
4,947 posts
 
Again, the level of noise isn't perceptibly different than that of the Benchmark in my current system
If that were the case they would sound the same since the Benchmark is considered transparent. The "noise" would not be perceived as noise like hiss or hum  but a certain sound like relaxed, reserved, laid back, limited dynamic range. 
djones51
4,947 posts
 
I’ve owned the Benchmark it’s brutally honest if the source is lousy, harsh, bright then that’s what you get . If the source is great then it gives you great. There’s no middle ground with Benchmark that’s the way it’s designed and marketed. That’s what I loved about it and it’s what I still get since the DAC in my integrated is transparent. PS Audio is on the other end of the spectrum as you've pointed out. 
sixfour3 OP
21 posts
 
Again, the level of noise isn't perceptibly different than that of the Benchmark in my current system
"If that were the case they would sound the same since the Benchmark is considered transparent. The "noise" would not be perceived as noise like hiss or hum but a certain sound like relaxed, reserved, laid back, limited dynamic range."

This may very well be one of those fundamental pieces of information that I hadn't yet grasped. So noise, at least at levels in the -70dB-ish range, is responsible for the relaxed, laid back nature of the sound? And the somewhat stunted dynamic range comes across as a sound that is "less forward."

That's great information. I'm still curious about the imaging, however. Does this also somehow contribute to what I perceive to be a more detailed soundstage? 

Thanks very much for this! 
djones51
4,947 posts
 
The type of distortion I'm talking about limits the dynamic range making the bass sound a little soft and highs exaggerated. I'm not sure how that translates to more detail.  Maybe you're more sensitive to middle frequencies and are concentrated there try listening to female vocals and see if the high notes sound like she has a lisp. 
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