I will add this post here since I think it is relevant on all things Benchmark.
1) I brought up the Gustard X26 Pro to my office because the RAAL SR1a sounds best with it and the floorstander are great too (as with the DAC3B and floorstanders)
2) Now I need a DAC for the downstairs to play in my digital only mini system. Mostly background music so no need for the best.
3) Looked around for DACs with volume control and was not too excited about buying another DAC at a low price range other than the Gustard. However not excited about having 2 of the same DAC.
My Benchmark DAC3B does not have a volume control and it is a bit redundant with the Gustard next to it. Ideally I would just buy a second HPA4/LA4 preamp and take the DAC3B downstairs, but that is expensive and a bit of a waste with only 1 input required. So I came across my favorite reviewer comparing the Topping pre90 to the HPA4.
Topping Pre90 + Ext90 Review - Pre-amp my Power-amp! (soundnews.net)
Today, I bought the Topping pre90 on the 30 day home evaluation. I previously had a Topping A90 headphone amp and the sound was pretty good, almost as good as the HPA4 headphone. So hopefully a homerun and perfect match with the DAC3B.
1) I brought up the Gustard X26 Pro to my office because the RAAL SR1a sounds best with it and the floorstander are great too (as with the DAC3B and floorstanders)
2) Now I need a DAC for the downstairs to play in my digital only mini system. Mostly background music so no need for the best.
3) Looked around for DACs with volume control and was not too excited about buying another DAC at a low price range other than the Gustard. However not excited about having 2 of the same DAC.
My Benchmark DAC3B does not have a volume control and it is a bit redundant with the Gustard next to it. Ideally I would just buy a second HPA4/LA4 preamp and take the DAC3B downstairs, but that is expensive and a bit of a waste with only 1 input required. So I came across my favorite reviewer comparing the Topping pre90 to the HPA4.
Topping Pre90 + Ext90 Review - Pre-amp my Power-amp! (soundnews.net)
HPA4 can accept higher voltages compared to Pre90, since it can be used in studios and in the Pro Audio world, where audio interfaces are working with much stronger signals like 15V. Without too much fanfare, I will just mention that I find them equally clean and transparent, I’m experiencing the same amazing control of the drivers, the same airy performance, the same incredibly low channel crosstalk that improves the scale on all axis with my speakers. They are almost indistinguishable and in a blind test, I couldn’t differentiate them or guess which is which. At only 1⁄5 of the price, Pre90 is pretty much on the same level with HPA4. Benchmark unit still has the best graphical user interface I’ve ever experienced, with Pre90 you are not getting a colorful touch-screen and several analog outputs, but you are getting the same clean and undistorted performance. Ext90 adds several analog inputs, so the gap between them is shrinking considerably. Would I sell the HPA4 and get a Pre90 + Ext90 instead? I probably wouldn’t do that, because HPA4 has more analog outputs and it’s still my main headphone amplifier. But if you are a hardcore loudspeaker listener and if I you have one or two sources and pair of loudspeakers, then I would definitely sell the HPA4 and get the Pre90 instead.
Both units have same detail retrieval, the same transparency, same sharpness, frequency response, the same speed and impact. Soundstage is identical and depth is exactly as deep. There was just a minor difference in terms of midrange rendition, while HPA4 was always dead-neutral in its presentation, Pre90 was adding a pinch of midrange density, not by a whole lot, but enough to be detected with acoustic music.
If you ever dreamed about owning an HPA4 or LA4 by Benchmark but never had the funds, now is your chance to have the same kind of performance at a much lower price point. I remained speechless and frankly, quite impressed by the performance of the Pre90.
Today, I bought the Topping pre90 on the 30 day home evaluation. I previously had a Topping A90 headphone amp and the sound was pretty good, almost as good as the HPA4 headphone. So hopefully a homerun and perfect match with the DAC3B.