Should I go to a Benchmark DAC1 pre in my system?

Be cautious about what the magazines report - if one believes what they report everything is close to the best and certainly much better than many much more expensive items!

Is the Benchmark in the same league as the DCS? I seriously doubt it, but it certainly helps to please the manufacturer when a reviewer claims that a product at 15% the cost competes favorably with some of the most highly regarded equipment in the world! I am sure it uses electricity just like the DCS and does convert digital signals to analog signals, which the DCS also does. Jeez - I guess they are almost identical!

Absolute Sound just lost most if not all their cred if this report is true.Did it ever have any?I don't know.I wonder who reviews magazines?Remember Payola in the 50's?Don't get me started......

Benchmark says their DAC design solves the jitter problem associated with all but the best vendor-integrated transport/DAC/clock systems out there, like DCS in a manner that is independent of transport used.

Absolute Sound seems to agree that they have done this and that it is revolutionary. The cost of entry is low enough to not be a barrier for many, compared to the high end CD playback options out there.

They also say the whole preamp package, including analog input, is very good and neutral sounding and competitive with other more expensive similar designs out there, at least SS. I would not expect a "tubelike" sound from these units at all from what I have read.

There are other positive reviews of the BEnchmark DAC1 pre that I need to read as well.

Does Benchmark really have enough clout to buy positive reviews like these in multiple publications? Wouldn't that tend to push away other high end vendors that might not compete well with something so different and innovative?

Is there really a Benchmark conspiracy at play here or have they maybe just come up with a better and more cost effective way of doing things?

It's won't cost much to find out, I suppose. Resale value on the BEnchmark stuff seems pretty good as well if it doesn't work out.

I own the Benchmark DAC1 USB (not the pre) and have been listening to it for about three months in a computer based system (Mac mini/Itunes/CD collection imported to hard drive-AIFF)and my opinion so far is that it compares favorably to my Linn Ikemi CDP. My main observation is that the presentation is just different, not really better or worse. The Benchmark seems to lack any character of it's own and perhaps that what impressed Robert Greene so much. I have read the review in The Absolute Sound and although I have never heard DCS gear, I do not believe that the Benchmark would compare as favorably as the review indicates.
My opinion is that in the context of your system the Benchmark DAC1 pre would be a very worthwhile addition and would allow you the option of trying the server route as you mention. So far I have thoroughly enjoyed the way I can access my music in this setup.
Benchmark offers a 30 day trial period, so you could try it out in your system which is always the best way to go.