All Benchmark System Question

I previously had the Benchmark cables, then I tried Analysis Plus midrange cables which I liked slightly better than the Benchmark cables. When I swapped in the FrontRow they were better with the P3SER’s than the Analysis Plus but it wasn’t dramatic. The Benchmark System stayed dead quiet with any cables, which is why the Benchmark stuff is so addicting once you get used to it.

@regg I hope you can post your opinion on the Gustard on this thread.

I am going to get that CODA #8. I cleared up my IRS tax payments yesterday was going to use the money for food, but I think I will get the CODA #8 instead.

BTW - I am going to move my silver D-Sonic amp to the downstairs to play with the silver Gustard I have. So I am not going to switch to a Black Gustard. The CODA will replace the D-Sonic on the office system.

@regg Well this thread got me spending some money on gear a bit faster than anticipated.

After my rearranging of my gear last night, I am now listening to the floor standers with my CODA 07x connected to a single AHB2 and DAC3B streamed by fibre optical. This sound is killer. The single AHB2 is not powerful enough for my speakers but damn it sounds great. A little warmer than the HPA4, both are great.

I decided to get the CODA #8 today and made the purchase. I am still waiting on word whether I get SpeakON terminations on the #8. I want a switch on the amp to toggle between the duplicate speaker connectors. That way I can use my RAAL SR1a with the adapter box. My floor standers can also work from the CODA #8 without additional electronic circuitry to the floor standers (RAAL adapter box).

I am not sure about getting the AudioByte now. I may just get another Gustard X26 Pro next month. Due to costs.

My D-Sonic amp and the silver Gustard are working great together with KEF LS50s downstairs entertaining the family as I write this. I returned my first Gustard because it had an intermittent issue when used as a preamp. I have not had this reappear with the replacement DAC.

@regg I replaced the CODA 07x and put in the HPA4 with the same XLR. The gain was a little off so I increased the volume. I am listening to the same album on hi-res that I played earlier on the CODA 07x, Led Zeppelin II.

On the all BM stack there is a bit more detail, such as on the first song. There is also a tiny bit of hardness to the sound that was not there on the CODA 07x.The soundstage also seems a little smaller than with the CODA.

This next observation confuses me. With the all BM stack I feel the single AHB2 is not enough juice for the Thiel CS3.7 (it is pretty good). However, with the CODA 07x I feel the single AHB2 is still lacking a bit of power but the sound itself seems more powerful. Now this is a hard rocking album so the more powerful sounding CODA seems to sound better with the AHB2.

I would not say this is the case all the time. In the past, I had the AHB2 in mono with theHPA4 and the sound was more powerful. I never tested the CODA 07x with AHB2 in mono. I doubt that will happen now that the second AHB2 is my headphone amp for the RAAL SR1a.

Turns out I cannot get a switch on the CODA #8 to select the speaker connectors. So it is the regular #8 I will be getting.

I don’t think I got anything more to add on this.

@regg I'd really love to hear you thoughts on the Gustard too. I've been looking into it as well and what's holding me back is that I would have to either use 1) RCA to my DAC 3L ( I use as a pre direct to AHB2) which seems like a waist when its a balanced unit. Or 2) swap out XLR from DAC to DAC pending which one I want to listen to. Or 3)..... get a preamp with two XLR in's and HT bypass, but  now I'm getting into  $$$$$ for a just an optional DAC.

So, since switching XLR really isn't practical and I don't have the $$$$$ or desire for a new preamp,  that leaves me using unbalanced IC which I fear will have a signifigant SQ drop. Unfortunately, I couldn't find anything on its performance unbalanced, but if using unbalance vs balanced IC is anything like the drop off that the Benchmarks had it's definitely won't be an option for me. 


BUT.....if this thing outperforms the Benchmark DAC3 in every regard for you using the XLR!? Well.....maybe I'll give it a trial with the intention of replacing versus complimenting the Benchmark DAC .....and sacrificing HT bypass

@yyzsantabarbara did you by chance try the Gustard unbalanced? Would love to hear your thoughts if you did. Also could you confirm the "replacement" Gustard corrected any issues you had with it serving as both Dac and Preamp direct to amp??

Good luck and Thanks again for the thread
Mark