Benchmark DAC 3B Vs. Schiit Gungnir Multibit and a question.

There are 2 things I did to make my DAC3B sound like a superstar. The first was to buy the Benchmark HPA4/LA4 preamp. A very nice improvement with the awesome preamps volume control.

The second thing I finished yesterday is described in the thread that I updated with a post.
https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/room-correction-roon-rew-room-eq-wizard

I am shocked at the improvements. It cost me $700 + $100 for a microphone. 

I am just laughing at the improvements. Heck, why spend more on a DAC this is end game stuff. 

I forgot if the DAC3B required much burn-in but the AHB2 amp required hardly any hours to sound it’s best. I have had 2 units to compare.

@yyzsantabarbara
I gave the BM DAC3B several weeks run-in time and it seemed to make no difference, which was a surprise. Then, followed up with Benchmark engineers asking more, they said nope, makes no difference. Build quality was amazing yet I could not find a synergy with it in "my" system. Super clean, clear, absolutely huge soundstage. Seemed kinda dry, and tone, texture, musicality was just "not there" for my system. Even tried mixing back in lower grade OFC copper IC and speaker cabling, grasping, and hoping to hear something engaging to keep my attention. Nope. Was kinda bummed, truly wanted to like it. I kept asking the engineers there if they had any planned revisions coming up. Their approach to me was all about studio engineering, specs, vs. listening-design for home audio use. Sometimes a little distortion kept in the design can be good :)

Will be curious to see if any design changes are made down the road a few years, might beta-test another one in the future if future versions come out.

@decooney I totally understand your statements on the DAC3B. It would be interesting for me to see how other non-Sabre DACs would do in my system. I am getting a cheaper Sabre DAC on Wed, the Matrix Mini-i 3 Pro. I got it for my headphone system but I will try it out on my office system first. I have a feeling it will be very similar tot he DAC3B now with the Convolution file that I have in my digital audio chain. Both DACs are spec’d similarly. I bought Matrix for both sound and feature set since it is perfect for my headphone needs (wireless and easy to move to other rooms).

I am going to turn my attention to getting either a second AHB2 amp or the CODA #8 because my speakers can use more juice. After that maybe buy a R2R DAC just for fun. In other words, a DAC has dropped to the bottom of audio ToDo list after the sound I am getting today.

The "Coda" truly deserves to be fed by a really good sounding DAC and great preamp.

I live 10 minutes from Coda, grew up in ESS, Threshold, Pass and Coda land, all started in the same place around here. Always start at the source, and then let the Coda sing if you go that route to feed it well. Good luck.

Well, I got it and am making some preliminary tests.
Out of the box it sounds great.
I just put on a CD that I’ve always liked the sound of, and it sounds cleaner, more detailed.  Literally the first CD I tried, but I think it bodes well for everything else.
Not the slightest tinge of over brightness.  I have a modded CJ tube preamplifier which, I think, matches very well.
More to come as I try out other things.