Bryston BDA-3 / Benchmark DAC3B

Decided to order up a Gustard A26. I’ll give it a try, if it doesn’t work out I’ll shift it and try the R26. 

Now considering upping my streamer game as well. I’m running a Node 2i with a Pardo LPS, I’m thinking a used Innuos Pulse would fit the bill for the level of my rig. 

Two things draw me to the Pulse, the inbuilt LPS, and access to radio Paradise, of which I spend the majority of my available time listening to. 

I’ve amassed 3500+ LP’s, 1000+ cd/sacd, but these days the ease of streaming and exposure to new music is winning out for me. 

The A26 was a bust, seemed like a defective unit, ground loop noise. 

Back to the drawing board 

That's been my experience with Gustard too. Lots of rave reviews and happy users, I have had 3 different units fail be for one reason or another. Maybe just bad luck but I am done trying their products.

Bryston BDA3 is a very competent device. I actually do like the Benchmark DAC3 B as well, after really disliking all the prior Benchmark DACs. It's still on the sharper more incisive side, not nearly as much as the prior models though. I also like not having their built in headphone amp as that part doesn't sound good to me at all. 

Benchmark and Bryston are both big name brands so easy to find from a dealer with good in home trial terms.

Ordered a Marantz SA-10, double duty, upgrade from my SA8004 and also use it as a DAC for the Node. Didn't want to spend so much, but so be it. 

I have a DAC3 and I can tell you it's dead quiet and has some technologies that very few other DAC's have, like +3db of digital headroom.  Read some of John Siau's blogs on the Benchmark site.  Check out the specs as well like .00022%THD, and 128db SN ratio.