2. digital
  3. 1248201169

Finding a little warmth from Benchmark1 USB DAC

So I've always appreciated a relatively dry sound from my audio equipment, and abhored the sound that tubed equipment yields. I started the hobby when I was in high school by getting a pair of Dynaudio Contour 1.8 mk IIs, and wound up with a Krell 300il (identical to the 400xi)last year. I just finished off my "system" after buying a Benchmark 1 USB DAC, that I am connecting to an older iMac that has my music collection in a lossless format.

My issue is that while I adore the setup's overall resolution and pinpoint accuracy, it's producing a very lean sound that is a bit bright, and stark for my tastes. My favorite listening setup was a Levinson 383 integrated hooked up to Dynaudio Special 25s. The Dynaudios had spectacular resolution and neutrality, while the Levinson was able to give a substantial, slightly darker sound that was not overly rich (like tubes can be for me).

So my question is, with the way I've framed things above, are there suggestions for interconnects or equipment that will find that balance for me? I feel like my existing components have potential, but it's just too much of the analytical sound.

As an aside, I tried the Benchmark with my brother's S3 B&W 801s and Audio Research gear, and it wasn't bad at all.
velociti
almarg's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
almarg
9,670 posts
 
This goes against your anti-tube bias, but I suspect that adding an inexpensive but good quality one-tube line stage, such as this one from Antique Sound Labs for $345 (new), would be a more effective fix than changing interconnects, power cords, etc. And it would provide you with the flexibility to fine-tune the sound via tube rolling.

http://www.divertech.com/asllineone.html

http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=ASWL1

I have used this model in the past, and I found it to be essentially neutral in a system which otherwise leaned slightly in the rich, warm sounding direction.

If you decide to try it, be aware that it inverts polarity, so you would want to reverse the + and - connections to each of your speakers.

Regards,
-- Al

richlane
167 posts
 
No doubt, I love the Levinson gear too, very well balanced and musical.

What's your budget?

Not to push the "get another DAC issue," but it's good that you bought it used because then you could flip it if you want, without getting burned, there's a few Benchmark USB's here for $1000, just for comparison the used Bel Canto DAC3's are $1500 and there are 5 of them for sale right now. Maybe you could make an offer or a trade. I think that the Benchmark would probably go really well with a Tubed Amp, or even a Class D Amp. It could really spice up a darker system.

I know $500 is a lot right now as a student, but you could easily blow a couple hundred bucks on beer, wings, and cables, so just keep that in mind. You know that you could also possibly get the sound that you want from another $1000 DAC, it doesn't have to be the Bel Canto you know.

I'm really not that familiar with darker, inexpensive cables, so that's why I haven't suggested any.

Rich
audioguru1
19 posts
 
my regular DAC1.... I replaced the nasty SMD c13 and c14 with black gates. They are bypassed by two smaller value caps. I remove the larger bypass caps (c109 and c110) , HOWEVER and this is important I found that the ceramic bypasses (c15 and c16 ) need to be left. Removing the ceramic bypass removed a lot of detail, and left things very midrangey (a common complaint if you read what others are doing mod wise)

http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?postid=1088560

After the mod, the dac is very dynamic and clean... but a bit more relaxed in the treble. Its a immense improvement, difference between night and day. It
yingtonggao
71 posts
 
Hi, read my thread about getting the best performance from DAC-1
chuck
204 posts
 
Try a high end power cord on the Benchmark DAC. I think you will be pleasantly surprised.
More to discover