PS Audio? Rega? Benchmark?

Hi Gang:

An unexpected family matter has put me behind schedule. Hoping to get in some listening/evaluating time over the wknd.

Bear w/me. I will report back.

Thanks.

Hi Everyone:

Thanks for your patience.

I was able to spend some time comparing 2 of the 3 DACs. So far, I have compared the SS units (PS Audio DL-III & Benchmark DAC1.)

Both our very good sounding DACs and very good values, in he $1k range.

Ultimately, what I found is that these DACs are both good performers, but quite a bit different in their focus/strengths.

To my ears, the Benchmark DAC is all about squeezing out every last bit of detail. It did most things very well and overall sounded very good. The downside in my experience was with poor quality recordings. Being such a highly resolving DAC, it made the bad recordings sound thier worst...big time fatigue. On the flip side, good quality recordings were very enjoyable in all repsects.

The PS Audio DL-III did not seem to have quite the detail & "air" that the Benchmark DAC had. However, the DL-III seemed to portray a more accurate naturalness with texture and timbre. You often hear people use the phrase "fleshed out." In comparrison to the Benchmark DAC, this is where the PS DL-III realy shines.

Though not as resolving as the Benchmark unit, I would not describe the DL-III as lacking in the detail department.

Because of its richer textures, I found the DL-III to be a bit more "musical."

I will report back in the near future, after I get a bit more familiar with the Monarch M24.

Basically, I would have to summarize by stating that there is no good or bad, in comparing these DACs. It truely comes down to system synergy & personal preference. I recommend that you audition these units in your system with your music, to let your ears decide.

While auditioning these DACs, I was also auditioning some different amplifications gear.

Speakers (Daedalus DA-1) and Cables (Kubala-Sosna) were consistent throughout the evaluation.

Pre amps were: MBL 5011, McIntosh C2200 & C200.
Power amps were: H20 Audio Signature Mono 250, McIntosh MC352.

Barrelchief: Thank you for your comments. I have been reading a lot about the PS Audio and the Monarchy DAC. I am looking forward to your comparison of these two. Just a thought - the Lite Audio DAC 62, modded by Pacific Valve, looks very similar to the Monarchy, but without the pre-amp section. However, I think they use different DAC chips. Pacific Valve (pacificvalve.us) has a 30-day trial period. If you're curious and want to save some money (the Lite Audio is a few hundred less than the Monarchy), you might want to look into it.

I’ve heard everything your considering and in my rig with the exclusion of a Benchmark that I heard in two different systems. I wasn’t particularly impressed with the PS Audio Digital Link III. I got it on loaned from a friend and we both had similar feelings; not something either of us would buy. I sold the Apollo to upgrade to the Saturn. IMO, the Saturn is the best sounding source on your list. I thought the Benchmark DAC was just OK and nothing really special. In fact, I liked the Apollo more.

Oneafter909: Interesting observations.

I was trying to buy a Data Link-III but PS Audio is backlogged until late May so I canceled.
Did you try the DL-III in balanced mode?
I've heard glowing reviews from the press and 'Gonners for both Benchmark and PS Audio units.

Maybe you and your friends are just very tough customers (a good thing).

I'd go for the Saturn, as I'm sure it's a marvelous player, but the $2000 price range kind of makes me dizzy at this point in time. I'm trying to tread water until the first HDMI 1.3 A/V players, which also upsample CD and have balanced outputs, hits the market (not too much to ask?).

Thanks for the input.