Benchmark DAC1 vs CAL Sigma

I've owned both the Benchmark and the PS Audio, as well as a Musical Fidelity V-DAC, haven't heard the CAL.

To me, the Benchmark was too bright/harsh. The PS Audio was very nice, smooth yet detailed. But I ended up keeping the V-DAC. For about a third of the price of the PS Audio, it was very, very close. I'm still not sure if I heard a difference or if I thought the PS Audio was better because it looked nicer and cost more.

Good Luck

Dne, Thanks for the input, those comparisons are very helpful indeed. BTW I'm using a Morrow Audio DIG2 Reference Digital Coax & a Kimber OPT1 TosLink Cable with the Sigma.

Shadorne, Thanks for the helpful suggestions. I don't think that the F30's are the source of the shrillness. I've had the speakers since 2003 and have never had any issue whatsoever with upper end shrill until adding my old Sigma to the chain.

i used to own a sigma dac and i thought it sounded more to the warm side than having any shrillness to it. back then, i used a sony dvp9000es with it (the sony is a little bright on its own) and the sigma made it very enjoyable to listen. i thought the alpha was a step up to the sigma. as for the benchmark dac, i thought it was way cool sounding to me compared to other dac's. the other dac's that i have owned after the sigma that i thought were better sounding were from: audio research, manley, adcom gda-700, and the music hall 25.2 with an upgraded tube. the music hall is a sleeper of a dac. if you like tubes, you can roll the tube while using rca cables, while if you like a more solid state sound, use xlr cables to by-pass the tube. the other dac's to try are the new audio research dac-7, ayre, and the cary.
as for the comment above of somebody preferring the benchmark over the classe cdp-10, all i can say is that individual must like his music very analytical and bright sounding. i have a classe cdp-10 and that unit is much more musical sounding than the benchmark.

Rbstehno,
Does the Music Hall allow you to drive both the XLR and RCA outputs simultaneously?

I also used both Cal tube DACS (back in the day) along with the Delta transport.I thought they were both good--the Alpha better.I switched to the Monarchy 22b at that time for a more detailed presentation.Then I went to a Soundstream one for something that sounded fuller and more rounded.I remenber the vintage PS Audio DACS as very nuetral,but also lacking sparkle and life.

I've been on this merry-go-round for many years.Like many others,constantly changing equipment in the search for sonic nirvana.Even when a system is very close,some aspect will begin to annoy me and the cycle starts over again!

I have not heard the Benchmark,but do own the purportedly similar Citypulse 2.03.It is very good,and very detailed(I'm back in that groove again).I recently sold the outstanding Musical Fidelity A 3.24.It was also very good,but with a somewhat smoother presentation.I've been told that the V-DAC is quite similar.I hope that these ramblings were of some assistance.