I've spent some time now listening carefully to the Benchmark DAC-1 USB and my current set up, and I have to say that there is no contest: my current set up is superior.
In both cases I am running through a Classe 6 pre-amp -> Linkwitz Orion ASP -> ATI 6012 12 channel amp -> Linkwitz Orion speakers. Interconnects are Homegrown Audio Silver Lace, and speaker cables are no-name 14 gauge stranded copper. I'm going to replace the speaker cabling with Goertz MI-2.
The front ends I was comparing are: dedicated desktop machine running Foobar 0.9 playing FLAC files with and without the SRC upsampler. I couldn't tell much of a difference between the two. After much trial and error including adjusting the XLR jumpers to 0 dB I actually preferred the sound of the Benchmark DAC through the RCA outputs. The sound with this setup is excellent. I do not want to suggest for a moment that it was mediocre in any way.
But the sound using my current front end is better overall: more dynamic, slightly larger sound stage, improved bass. Vocals are as good or perhaps just slightly less airy than with the Benchmark. This front end is:
- Sony DVP-7700 transport with MSB 192KHz upsampler in player + turbomods from Empirical Audio. Output from player is 24/192 using MSB's proprietary implementation of an I2S type protocol.
- MSB Gold Link III DAC with Power Base, both with turbo mods from Empirical Audio.
So I'm going to either have a Benchmark DAC-1 USB for sale or getting it modified by Emprical Audio.
In both cases I am running through a Classe 6 pre-amp -> Linkwitz Orion ASP -> ATI 6012 12 channel amp -> Linkwitz Orion speakers. Interconnects are Homegrown Audio Silver Lace, and speaker cables are no-name 14 gauge stranded copper. I'm going to replace the speaker cabling with Goertz MI-2.
The front ends I was comparing are: dedicated desktop machine running Foobar 0.9 playing FLAC files with and without the SRC upsampler. I couldn't tell much of a difference between the two. After much trial and error including adjusting the XLR jumpers to 0 dB I actually preferred the sound of the Benchmark DAC through the RCA outputs. The sound with this setup is excellent. I do not want to suggest for a moment that it was mediocre in any way.
But the sound using my current front end is better overall: more dynamic, slightly larger sound stage, improved bass. Vocals are as good or perhaps just slightly less airy than with the Benchmark. This front end is:
- Sony DVP-7700 transport with MSB 192KHz upsampler in player + turbomods from Empirical Audio. Output from player is 24/192 using MSB's proprietary implementation of an I2S type protocol.
- MSB Gold Link III DAC with Power Base, both with turbo mods from Empirical Audio.
So I'm going to either have a Benchmark DAC-1 USB for sale or getting it modified by Emprical Audio.