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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
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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
22,211 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
waynefia
156 posts
 
Naw, just the usual audiophile buzz. Great Stereophile Class A rating, everybody buys them, them the online buzz starts that they are harsh or bright or something similar, and boom they are off and being dumped. Look at the NAD M3 integrated. SP Class A, flying off the shelf, somebody writes on a forum that they are dull, or something like that and boom, everybody's is suddenly dull, and they are being sold off. Both I'm sure are fine products, but suffer from being popular and popular leads to being a target my guess. On the other hand as they get dumped off cheap, you get a deal on a top rated product, providing you can handle the shame heaped on you for buying a dull or bright product !!!
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