Benchmark DAC1 now available with USB

[pcf]

Originally Posted by SCOTTY1

Yeah, I know but I supppose what I can't find is a post along the lines of, "I have lived with B'Mark Pre for x weeks now and my impressions are ......"

Hi,

I received my DAC1 pre three days ago. Before that I had a DAC1USB for twe weeks before I returned it and got the pre instead. So far I could not hear the difference in the two units.

I went for the DAC1 pre because of the extra inputs and I do want to try
to use it as a pre amp.

I was using the DAC1 pre for two days purely as a DAC and today I plugged it directly into my power amps and it seemed to clean up the sound- I don't want to jump into any conclusion yet after only using it for two days.

My set up is like this:

Meridian 500 transport
Oppo 970 (for SACD)

DAC1pre

Garrard 401 with SME4 and Goldring Elite

EAR 834p phono preamp

Tube Technology Prophet pre amp
Tube Technology Genesis mono blocks x2

Proac D25

I was using DAC1 USB purely as DAC for twe weeks and was very happy with the result. The music was clean and detailed. I also listened to some music (FLAC) from my laptop via the USA input and it sounds good too.

I replaced the DAC1 USBwith the DAC1 pre two days ago and everything sounded the same.

Today I bypassed the pre amp and ran the DAC1pre directly into my mono blocks. The sound seems to gain more clarity and openness. I only briefly listened to the vinyl but it also sounds good.

Like I said before- I don't want to make any judgement after only a day's listening but it is promising.

The only thing is that if I do use the DAC1 pre as a pre amp, I would only have a analog input which I will use for my turntable. If I do want to listen to SACD I can't. Also the source selector can be a pain to use. I wish I could just go from one input to another instead of rotating the knob. Also the source status display doesn't light up when the source is off which means that you can't easily tell which input you are on. The red mark on the volume knob is also very hard to see in low light.

I am keeping the DAC pre because of its sound quality. As a pre amp, it is not as easy to use as it should be. I am someone who is used to turn on six different things before any sound is heard- turn on the pre amp; wait for a while before turning on the power amps; turn on the phono amp; turn on the power supply of the turntable; turn on the turntable. So if I find DAC1 pre tedious to use, can you imagine someone who is used to a remote control?

It seems the "pre" part of the DAC1 is more like an after thought. it is a shame because it sounds great as a pre amp and yet it is not user friendly.(Not enough analog input; source select..etc..)

-Paul

[SCOTTY1]

Were I based in the US I would take advantage of the 30 day trial period without hesitation. However, here in the UK, there is no such facility & in addition the Pre costs £1,300 vs. $1,575 which is a rather brutal exchange rate. Leaving such prosaic details aside, I need a new pre as my ancient MF Pre 3a is dead. Whereas the virtues of the DAC function of the B'Mark have been well aired, there is understandably little on the net about the beefed up pre-amplifier. I know all this stuff is hopelessly subjective but how does it compare to a stand alone pre-amplifier ?

[SCOTTY1]

PCF, thanks for your post. I think the fact that you feel the B'mark is even fit to stand in the same locker-room as your Tube Tech. unit is a fairly hefty endorsement.

[pcf]

Hi Scotty,

I am very positive about DAC1's sound quality (both as a dac and a pre amp) but l don't think it is user friendly enough as a pre amp. I do like the multiple digital inputs though. If you want to play music from you computer; squeeze box; ipod and cd transport etc.. It is great! (That's the main reason I changed from the USB version to the Pre). But if you have more than one analog source( vinyl and sacd for example)or a remote control, you are stuck. The balanced input is also gone if you do care about that.

1300 pounds is a lot more than $1575.00! Benchmark also only has one dealer in the UK (SCV London) which seems to sell professional gears only. Are you located near London? You could give them a call and see if they can let you listen to it.

Everything has always been a lot more expensive in the UK. I move from London to California 9 years ago and found that everything was so much cheaper here!

Do you need an analog input? If you don't you can save a lot of money by going for the DAC1 USB or the regular version even. I really couldn't tell them apart in term of sound quality.

Good luck!

-Paul

[roberto]

Elias,

I bought the DAC1 Pre and got it hooked up with my computer through the Toslink connection. I do like this DAC, but in order to enjoy music without background noise I'll need to place my computer in another room. I haven't heard a computer to be quiet enough if you listen to classical music. So, I'm thinking of buying a 24 feet DVI cable for my LCD, getting longer USB cable and Hub for other peripherals, and using the DAC1 Pre with a longer -at least 15 feet- Toslink cable. This way the noisy device of my system (computer) could be placed in a separate room, and still control everything from the listening room.
My only concern is the Toslink cable length between the computer and the DAC1 Pre. I've read that Toslink distances are very limited and signal attenuation occur. This would mean MUCH higher jitter... I guess. I also read that the DAC1 is immune to jitter. In other words Toslink cable length would not affect its performance. Can you reassure me regarding this issue? Is it worth investing money in these cables?
And also... Toslink cable prices vary so much and the so called "hi-performance" cables may be beyond my budget. Do you think I'll be safe getting a 15 foot Toslink cable within the two digit price range??

Sorry if I repeated someone's questions or if these concerns were already addressed.

Thank you very much for all your support, it's great you do this!!

[EliasGwinn]

Roberto,

You have nothing to worry about. The sonic performance of the DAC1 PRE will not be comprimised with a long, affordable Toslink cable.

If the signal attenuation in the optical cable is too great, the DAC1 PRE will simply go into auto-standby mode. In other words, the result will either be full quality or no sound at all. If signal loss is too great and the DAC1 PRE goes into auto-standby, you may need a shorter or higher-quality cable. However, 15 foot should not be a problem with an inexpensive cable.

Thanks,
Elias

[roberto]

Elias,

Thank you very much!!

[furball]

Get a Slim Devices Squeezebox, you don't have to mess with long cable runs.

oops

[roberto]

Furball,

Thank you for the advice. I thought about Squeezebox, and it is probably the best solution if you only want music. But with the setup I imagined, I could control the computer. HUGE difference for me. And if Elias is right, the cables are still cheaper then the new device.

Thanks anyway,
roberto

PS: Nice link

[furball]

Oops