Benchmark DAC-1, Lavry DA10, Altmann Attraction

I bought a Lavry DA10 some months ago and have been very pleased with it. It is not as analytic as the Benchmark, but lacks the sterility (though that is really too harsh a word for the Benchmark.)

I find the Lavry has good depth and resolution with very natural sounding highs. I play a fair amount of acoustic material and find myself sensitive to any stridency in a system. I think it is the lack of that and the ease with which the Lavry presents music that makes it so appealing. It also has a wide dynamic range and maintains it's excellent sound during softer passages.

As far as the Altman, I haven't had any exposure to it.

I have not heard the Lavry but I have the Altmann and the Benchmark. The Benchmark is like white wine while the Altmann is like Red wine. Depends on what you prefer. The Bechmark is detailed almost sterile presentation while the Altmann is a more relaxed almost analog presentation. The Altmann's soundstaging is superior too. The highs sound almost rolled off compared to the Benchmark.

Benchmark phase is so accurate that soundstage images tend to be more accurately positioned between the speakers (impression is a narrower soundstage than most other DAC's or alternatively other DACs tend to have a wider soundstage) Take your pick.

I compared a current Benchmark DAC1 to my DAC 3 and the BelCanto was a very clear upgrade in refinement over the Benchmark , but it should be an improvement as it commands a higher price. The new Bryston BDA-1 maybe great as well but I have not heard this DAC yet. I've seen both the BelCanto and the Bryston go used for around $1400, well worth the few hundred dollars more given improved sonics over the Benchmark.

The Bechmark is detailed almost sterile presentation while the Altmann is a more relaxed almost analog presentation. The Altmann's soundstaging is superior too

What everyone is alluding to is that Benchmark DAC1 is so clean it sounds "thin" especially in the lower mids (think in the direction of a horn sound - that kind of clarity) and the exact phase between the two channels makes the soundstage smaller - less depth and less width. If you prefer a laid back slightly less in phase relaxed sound then almost any DAC will sound preferable to the DAC1. If you have a test CD with in-phase and out-of-phase signals then you will know what I mean - it is nothing near as dramatic as a test CD ( maybe 2% or 3% versus the 100% difference on a test CD) but you get the idea.

Anyway this is my observation and it seems to be backed up by what everyone else seems to hear.