Benchmark vs. PS Audio vs. Lavry

I have a Benchmark and have read all the reviews. I absolutely agree with the recent Absolute Sound review. The key is the (1) power conditioner (I have a Shunyata Hydra 8) (2) power cord (Shunyata Python) and (3) interconnects (Tara Labs RSC AIR One). Everyone says leans to thin and grainy and before the cables, PC & Power Conditioner - I agreed. I know a $2500 power conditioner, $1,100 Power Cord and $1,000 IC's may seem overkill but I find it difficult to beat the sound with these upgrades. Only bested by my CD player (Esoterin X03-SE). You gotta try the benchmark if you can go with cable upgrades.

I have owned the Lavry for about 6 months and the latest Benchmark DAC1USB for about 9 months now.

Both are excellent DACs: The Lavry opens up a very nice widow into the recording. Soundstaging and instrument separation are excellent. Even tonally it is very easy to follow each instrument easily. It is very neutral and doesn't draw attention to itself. However, this also results in the Lavry being much less exciting than the Benchmark and boring at times. I wish I would have kept the Lavry around a little longer, as the resoltution and instuemnt separation are outstanding - I sold it as I was annoyed at the upsampling controversy surrounding the Lavry DA10.

The Benchmark shines with quick transient responses which gives it a fast exciting sound. Tonally it is very neutral and has more bass extension than the Lavry. In the long term, I enjoyed listening to the DAC 1 the most.

Both DACs lack the last bit of decays and flow in the music, which is what my Brick tube DAC does so well.

Also just to add to my post: In my observations, the latest Benchmark DAC1USB in nowhere near thin and grainy. I did have that impression of an early model DAC1 though.

The Cullen Stage 3 PS Audio blows the Benchmark away. Rick Cullen has been involved in PS Audio's designs for years, and his mod is under warranty by PS Audio, which is very rare for modded equipment.

Cullen has a large facility that builds equipment for various companies, so the work is of the highest caliber.

I have had the Benchmark and the standard PS Audio. I found the BM to be too detailed in my system as my Merlin speakers are very revealing themselves. I was actually warned of this by another goner prior to buying. I find the PS unit to be more full and easier to listen to for long periods. Both are great but system dependent.