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Help with BenchMark vs. Museatex Bitstream

I was recently allowed to 'borrow' a Benchmark DAC and I've connected it to my Krell 400xi via the XLR outputs, to my shock the gain stage was actually lower then the single ended RCA's?!? I was under the impression if nothing else I would get a boost in gain from the Benchmark to the Krell.

The gain section of the Museatex is actually higher, as I have to turn up the Krell to 33db in order to hear the same output on the Museatex 20db. I haven't used an SPL meter and simply conducted these tests by ear. I find the Museatex is not only louder but has more inner detail as well.

To be honest I'm quite disappointed with the Benchmark. The back switch is set too 'calibrated' as opposed to 'variable' (which I assume is for headphone volume). I still fail to see how I get a decrease in gain when using the XLR outputs that many Krell owner's say is a complete must!
lush
dokosan
57 posts
 
I am also running the DAC 1 USB (calibrated mode) into the 400xi balanced. I did not compare balanced with single ended. There are some gain jumpers inside the DAC that can be user adjusted though I left it at the factory setting.

Just this weekend connected a Transparent powercord for the Krell and moved the stock Krell pc to the Benchmark. This seemed to help the system to fully gel, and in particular the soundstage depth was increased. I did not go to the trouble of testing the new pcs independently.
dave_b's avatar
dave_b
3,159 posts
 
Lush, I was referencing the possibility that you may not have a setting correct such as the gain/jumpers already mentioned. PC's can make a bit of a difference as well. Outboard DAC's can be problematic to match correctly and cable well...single box players are more purist and less likely to cause problems.
steev_n
15 posts
 
Check the Benchmark instruction manual. This unit has internal jumpers to adjust gain from the xlr outputs. I think they are factory set at -30dB.
darkmoebius
900 posts
 
The Bitstream has a +3V unbalanced output compared to the Benchmark's +2V.
dokosan
57 posts
 
The owners manual (Revison D page 13) states that the DAC 1 USB ships with -20db pad on XLR but that it can be changed to 0, -10 or -30db. Page 51 shows how the user can adjust.

Would be interested if there is a benefit to changing other than more gain? In my simple mind, the answer is simply to turn up the gain on the Krell. (
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