• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Benchmark DAC - is it really "lean, cold, analytical and dry" sounding?

dmitchell

dmitchell

Member
Just wondering.

It ticks a lot of the checkboxes I have, but based on almost the overwhelming majority of stuff I've read about, it seems like it would fall under the "fatiguing" category.
 
Register to hide this ad
The Benchmark DAC1 does sound a bit lean and analytical, but I want to emphasize "a bit." It's very clean-sounding, with very good imaging but no exaggeration of depth. I used one happily for years, recently sold it to a friend who's a pretty critical listener, and he likes it a lot. The Benchmark DAC2 does not sound at all lean and analytical, and I chose it over the Bel Canto DAC 3.3VB for the main system here (Bel Canto relegated to system #2). I've heard a bunch of pricey DACs, and the DAC2 is my choice.
 
dmitchell said:
Just wondering.

It ticks a lot of the checkboxes I have, but based on almost the overwhelming majority of stuff I've read about, it seems like it would fall under the "fatiguing" category.
Click to expand...

Nope, absolute garbage......I have a DAC1 and it's smooth and silky sounding to me......Nice "analogue" presentation, easy to listen to.....

But who knows what amps, speakers, music, media player etc etc is being used for these people who think they are fatiguing.....
There are a lot of different variables...
 
I would say it doesn't have a sound because it's very accurate and transparent. I used one in my system for years and never could fault it's sound.

Bill


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
kevzep said:
Nope, absolute garbage......I have a DAC1 and it's smooth and silky sounding to me......Nice "analogue" presentation, easy to listen to.....

But who knows what amps, speakers, music, media player etc etc is being used for these people who think they are fatiguing.....
There are a lot of different variables...
Click to expand...

That's helpful. Thank you. Funny how these audio "urban legends" propogate.

Yes, I guess it depends a lot on what else is in your audio ecosystem.

For me, I have a Cary Rocket-88, which, for a tube amp is not your stereotypical "tube amp". It's not warm, romantic or syrupy, but neither is it lean sounded at all. Transparent, is what I would call it. My speakers are Hawthorne Audio Silver Iris 15" open baffles... a little bit on the warm side.

Maybe the Benchmark would be a good fit. I'm looking for a DAC that doubles as preamp duty.
 
Last edited:
The original DAC1 is just a hair on the lean side of neutral to my ears, although I wouldn't call it bright or harsh by any means.
 
RichPA said:
The Benchmark DAC1 does sound a bit lean and analytical, but I want to emphasize "a bit." It's very clean-sounding, with very good imaging but no exaggeration of depth.
Click to expand...

That's my impression as well. It does a fantastic job of converting those 1's and 0's to an analog signal, but the downstream components must work in unison with it or it may sound a tad on the sterile side of things. It works wonderfully with my SET amplifier, and negates the use of a preamp due to it having a volume control. A SET amp paired with the Benchmark DAC1, in my experience, addresses many of the shortcomings the DAC may have.
 
I demoed one for just short of a month. If you're looking for any flavor or color you won't find it here. Some may consider that cold and analytical.

Some say the Lavry DA-10 was/is a bit more musical but never personally tried one.
 
To ditto (and applaud) what RichPA said about the BM DAC 1, it has a reputation for being 'lean and analytical' , lots of people have accepted this as gospel, having never heard the unit. I too would under score RichPA's 'a bit.' Lots of DACs from this era (the recent past)sounded 'lean and analytical.'

In my opinion all the Emotiva DACs sound far more 'lean and analytical' (granted they cost far less, an unfair comparison). They are still wonderful DACs by the way. One can always slap a 'tube buffer' into the mix if one truly wants 'Velvet Fog' (Strawberry fields for ever)

The BM1 is an excellent DAC, the BM2 is a many levels above the BM1, plus with the BM2 you are getting a world class Preamp for the money, (RickPA might not agree with me this) the analogue section is made with OP amps (well regarded ones, just ask EchoWars) and the BM 2 DAC to add insult to injury...uses..can I say this, in polite AK company ... switching power supplies! The devil does work in strange magical ways. "A friend of the devil is a friend of mine" as the Grateful Dead used to sing
 
The Benchmark DAC1 still holds it's own quite well by today's standards. After having tried DACs over the years from manufacturers such as Peachtree, Cambridge Audio, and Grant Fidelity, the DAC1 is still a very stout performer and can be a great value on the used market. They come up on the used market (non-USB) for about $500 on up. That's a lot of good sound for not much outlay. If anything, the DAC1 is a jack of all trades and master of none.
 
There were various updates and versions of the DAC, with improved opamps (shudder). The more modern ones don't sound fatiguing or sterile. They are revealing. I had a DAC1 PRE for a year or two. It sounded transparent and worked well. But I opted to stay with a 90's ladder-type tube DAC instead.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom