DAC1 PRE - Benchmark Media Systems, Inc.

I have never heard a DAC1, and I get the impression that they are generally frowned upon here at Head-Case, while the rest of the audio world seems to be impressed.

The review of the new Benchmark DAC1 PRE in the most recent Hi-Fi news was nothing short of glowing. Ken Kessler couldn't seem to find enough good things to say about this unit, including that it made one recording "...sound as lush and room-filling as a mint original vinyl pressing."

So anyone heard one of these? Its level of functionality truly is enticing at its price tag of $1575.

They need to charge 2495$ per unit so that it could be called a high end DAC.

Ken Kessler couldn't seem to find enough good things to say about this unit, including that it made one recording "...sound as lush and room-filling as a mint original vinyl pressing."

A dac1 thats warm? Unless the dac1 pre is significantly different than previous dac1's I'd have to question his definition of "warm". I don't think the dac1 is a bad dac, I just find it to be bright and at times thin.

I don't think the dac1 is a bad dac, I just find it to be bright and at times thin.

That mirrors my past experiences with the DAC1 as well. Now if they did actually make some significant changes, I'd like to try it out.

From what I can see the dac1 pre is just the dac1 usb + analog inputs

A dac1 thats warm? Unless the dac1 pre is significantly different than previous dac1's I'd have to question his definition of "warm". I don't think the dac1 is a bad dac, I just find it to be bright and at times thin.

Sounds like an impedance mismatch -- this doesn't sound like my experience at all. I did find it detailed -- maybe not the warmest DAC I've ever heard, but nice and accurate. Of course, it was competing with a Rega Planet, whose sound I prefer to most everything else at that price range.

They need to charge 2495$ per unit so that it could be called a high end DAC.

Naa... $2k is enough:p

Jokes aside, what's wrong with the DAC1? It's very well received by the studio/mastering crowd.

Naa... $2k is enough:p

Jokes aside, what's wrong with the DAC1? It's very well received by the studio/mastering crowd.

The big complaint I always here is that its bright and thin. I'd love to hear one myself someday to decide.

I like the DAC1, but agree that it tends to the bright side. It makes a nice combo with a warmish/lush amp. The headphone out, however, is crap.

You could probably score a used Bel Canto DAC3 for a similar price

Should be less bright, but similar in detail, as far as I can tell from reviews.

I think "merely pretty good" is a good way to put it. It's a decent and resolving DAC, that also has some nice Swiss Army knife-like flexibility.

Yeah, I agree, that's probably a better way of saying it.

[snore]

Now it's basically a Grace 902 with a better DAC, worse headphone amp, and worse ergonomics/fit and finish. Woohoo!

But if you have everyone convinced that the DAC1's level of performance as a DAC is "good enough" for the price, why bother improving it?

They need to charge 2495$ per unit so that it could be called a high end DAC.

Do you think it will sell as well at that price?

I also have a Lavry DA10. It is good, no doubt, and I think it is a great value. But do you think Dan Lavry would keep selling the Lavry Gold DA2002 (and use it himself at home) if the DA10 was as good as it gets?

I've heard the DA2002, and it sounded sublime. I don't think the DA10 or Benchmark DAC1 are sublime.

Do you think it will sell as well at that price?

Not as many as they do now, of course.

FOR IMMEDIATE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Benchmark Media Unveils Their Flagship DAC1 HDR with Remote Control

SYRACUSE, New York, April 09, 2009 - Benchmark Media Systems, the designers of the award-winning DAC1 family, has announced the release of their flagship stereo preamplifier, the DAC1 HDR. The DAC1 HDR incorporates several of Benchmark

wow, a motor driven pot. how innovative.

yeah but it probably uses innovative jitter reduction drivers that reduce digital motor driven pot jitter jitters by 100,000 jitterwatts.

You'd think they'd at least improve the HP out with all these revisions aimed at the home user.

You'd think they'd at least improve the HP out with all these revisions aimed at the home user.

i often find myself hoping they take some of the jitters out of the HP out jitter.

stop it, you're giving me the jitters!

but i thought jitter was homeopathic, so if you dilute it and then shake it, it gets more jittery.

Only if you dilute it to Avogadro's number.