PS Audio? Rega? Benchmark?


Not getting much action on my BAT 300X-SE so I may have to keep it (Life's a BITCH!).
I'm very excited about the current state of "affordable" redbook digital so I'm seeking opinions regarding:

-PS Audio Digital Link III
-Rega Saturn (or Apollo)
-Benchmark DAC (now with USB input)

Mainly interested in the musicality among these three.
Faithful detail retrieval, imaging and accurate soundstage are also paramount.
Recent TAS article says the Digital Link III makes redbook issues sound "essentially equivalent to their SACD counterparts".
I'm intrigued.
128x128dweller
Take advantage of PS Audio & Benchmark's in-home trial.

I am presently evaluating these (and other) DACs in my system. Both DACs are very good. However, they present the music very differently.

My findings are that there is no answer as to which is better. It totally comes down to system synergy and your personal preference.

The ONLY way to get it right is to let your ears do the deciding.
Barrelchief, do you write suspense novels for a living? :-)

How about telling us how the two (PSA and Benchmark) are different? I have owned the Benchmark and found it a bit sterile although I would think it is an excellent unit for the professional music engineer.

The PSA is interesting and would like to know more about what users think. The amount of info available from users on this is minuscule compared to the Benchmark, which surely ranks as one of the most written about pieces on audio forums and 'zines.

Point taken about home trial... but honestly, I don't feel right doing that unless I have a high degree of confidence I will like the unit. Returned units cost the mfg and in the long run may raise prices for everyone.
Would like to hear from people using any of the three in an all-balanced system and their results.
With regard to the Benchmark (which I've never heard) are you aware that amoung the early advocates for this unit was a reviewer, as I recall it ws John Marks, in later review devalued his opinion some by a subsequent inforsement of the Grado DAC which was, he felt warmer and more musical than the Benchmark. Also a tad more expensive. FWIW. I've not heard the Grado either but I do respect Mark's ethics and would include this unit in my evaluation if I were in the market for DAC.