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Cambridge Audio 840C plus Benchmark DAC1?

I'm considering buying the Benchmark DAC1, and was wondering if anyone had any experience of the Benchmark with the Cambridge Audio 840C v2 (ie 'upgrading' the CA DAC to the Benchmark, and using the 840C as a transport).

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Equipment:

CD player (1): Cambridge Audio 840C v2
CD Player (2): Audio Alchemy DDS v3.0 Transport, Audio Alchemy DDE v3.0 DAC, DTI v2.0 jitter reducing processor

Amp: Cambridge Audio 840A v2

Speakers: B&W N805 with Foundation I stands, Chord Carnival Silver Bi-wire speaker cable

Cables: various Van den Hul and Tara Labs interconnects

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The audio Alchemy sounds great with rock music (and electronica), but the 840C sounds much better with jazz music (especially recordings from the ECM, Cam Jazz and ACT labels), and since this is what I listen most to, I was wondering if the Benchmark dac would improve all-round detail, clarity, soundstage and bass. I listened to one yesterday (here in Hong Kong) and my test CDs (ie the jazz albums I usually listen to) sounded superb, but it was being used in conjunction with a whole range of different equipment and cables.

If not the Benchmark, any other suggestions at around that budget (US$1000)?
lcnick
wpope
2 posts
 
The Benchmark is so good at jitter elimination it doesn't really matter which transport you use. I have a DAC-1 and used it with my Cambridge 640c and my DVD player. There was esentially no difference in sound quality, so I sold the Cambridge.
peet
2 posts
 
Listened to the Cambridge Audio 840c plus Benchmark DAC1 just last night. Togher they had a very refined sound. The Benchmark smoothed out the slight sheen in some of the voices especially on live recordings. I liked that.

Live recordings seem to have a certian sheen to begin with... On the down side; the Benchmark seemed to takes some of the life out of the high regesters too.

I then tryed using the Benchmark Dac with my old Onkyo 5 disk changer using the optical out. Was hoping it would sound the same as the Cambridge because the Benchmark might just fix any jitter etc.

Unfortunatly, the Benchmark did not sound as focused and seemed to loose the "hi end" sound when used with the lower quality transport.

I bought the 840c here on the gone about 1 month ago.
When the cd tray opens there is a bit of a crackling sound..Like when you pull the foil off a stick of gum.

When the 840c is paused or when playing scilence; A chipping sound comes from the unit... From the physical unit not the signal.. Sounds like a little mouse is running around in circles and his feet are pattering along the bottom of the chassis.

Are you experiencing any of this with your 840c?
shadorne's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
shadorne
7,477 posts
 
I then tryed using the Benchmark Dac with my old Onkyo 5 disk changer using the optical out. Was hoping it would sound the same as the Cambridge because the Benchmark might just fix any jitter etc.

Contact Elias Gwinn at Benchmark - he may be able to help you get what you wanted. Benchmark claim that if the bit stream is transparent then it should sound the same because their product is jitter immune. Any chance that the Onkyo is not bit transparent (many DVD players suffer this issue).
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