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why so many benchmark dac1's on audiogon?

I am looking to upgrade my digital front end

my phillips transport Audio Aero gave up the ghost and is too expensive to fix

I bought a nice audio research cd2 - may use it as a transport

I eventually want to go to an alesis masterlink or tascam or other and do 24/96 recordings off my analog rig

I read the sterophile review, see a lot of the benchmark dacs here on audiogon.

I would be interested in the usb version
the pre isn't going to be as good as my dedicated pre

any comments on why there are so many on audiogon?
good sources to buy from?
would want cd and usb inports

I'd prefer the black model
128x128audiotomb
shadorne's avatar
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shadorne
7,477 posts
 
My perception at the time was a lot of folks thought they sounded sterile and overly analytical.

That is a fair comment - it certainly won't flatter a bad recording - in fact chances are you 'll more easily hear whatever errors there are in the recording. It is kind of a "pro sound" or precise sound and lacks the "organic" sound that people find less fatiguing.
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audiotomb's avatar
audiotomb OP
1,112 posts
 
so anything else under $2k that would be a nice warm and resolving analog dac to pair with an ARC cd2?

thanks
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,472 posts
 
Tomb,

mhdt Paradisea or Havana also I believe fits your criteria. I opted to go that way rather than Benchmark initially. I like the Paradisea very much, but now that I am also running a tube Pre-amp (ARC sp-16)that provides some nice tube "magic" without sounding inherently "tubey" or warm, I would love to still hear the Benchmark for comparison.
mmarvin19
157 posts
 
May I suggest a finacial reason? Well, I'm gonna anyways.

Within the past year the Benchmark DACs have received glowing reviews in the US and British hi-fi zines. This resulted in hugh consumer demand. I think there were some, er . . . , entrepreneurs out there who bought up a bunch and have been reselling them, 1 at a time, mostly here on Audiogon.

Mike
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