Benchmark DAC3 HGC (w/ ESS Sabre 9028PRO)
Feb 21, 2017 at 11:49 AM Post #91 of 325
   
Benchmark is a highly objective company, they don't even believe in balanced headphone outputs.

 
Objectively speaking, shouldn't balanced amping result in higher dynamics and thus also better THD+N and IMD+N results? Possibly outside of hearing levels, but either way.
 
Feb 21, 2017 at 12:08 PM Post #92 of 325
   
Objectively speaking, shouldn't balanced amping result in higher dynamics and thus also better THD+N and IMD+N results? Possibly outside of hearing levels, but either way.

Not necessarily. Long technical discussion here:
 
http://www.amb.org/forum/benchmark-engineer-on-balanced-v-unbalanced-headphone-amps-t326.html#p2942
 
One big advantage of balanced is double the output power obviously. The other advantages are contested. 
 
Anyways I don't want to derail this thread, I have nothing for/against balanced output, as long as the amp is well implemented. 
 
Feb 24, 2017 at 5:19 PM Post #93 of 325
 i'd mentioned both the micro rendu and uptone ultracaps lps 1.
so more specifically they replied:
 
That’s because some units need “clean up”. Our DACs do not. So, one ends up spending more money for something not needed with our DACs.

I can speak to this from personal experience.
 
I evaluated the Benchmark DAC3 a few months ago.. I just plugged it into my laptop with a non-descript USB cable.  ....it sounded awesome!
Fast-forward to the delivery of my Holo Spring DAC.  Right out of the box I could tell that something wasn't right.  It took a $300 Intona to clean up my USB signal before I could get "proper" performance out of my new Holo.  Many other Holo Spring owners have reported similar lackluster USB performance.  
 
The moral of the story is that Benchmark knows their crap.  
biggrin.gif

I found their USB implementation to work just fine out of the box - "decrapification" not required.
 
If you add the cost of the Intona to the DAC, the Benchmark looks like the cost effective choice.  
 
Feb 24, 2017 at 9:26 PM Post #94 of 325
  I can speak to this from personal experience.
 
I evaluated the Benchmark DAC3 a few months ago.. I just plugged it into my laptop with a non-descript USB cable.  ....it sounded awesome!
Fast-forward to the delivery of my Holo Spring DAC.  Right out of the box I could tell that something wasn't right.  It took a $300 Intona to clean up my USB signal before I could get "proper" performance out of my new Holo.  Many other Holo Spring owners have reported similar lackluster performance.  
 
The moral of the story is that Benchmark knows their crap.  
biggrin.gif

I found their USB implementation to work just fine out of the box - "decrapification" not required.
 
If you add the cost of the Intona to the DAC, the Benchmark looks like the cost effective choice.  

 
thanks.
but we still don't know if the benchmark dac3 would sound different
f it had the microrendu and ultracaps lps 1 attached to it....
you know, some before/after comparison (or an auralic aries).
that would be interesting.
 
Mar 3, 2017 at 9:52 PM Post #95 of 325
Well, my review is in for Final Editing and Scheduling (end of March / early April publication date) and I loved this DAC. Here's a preview: I bought the review unit I was so thoroughly impressed!
 
I hope folks also don't short change the headphone amplifier...it is far more than just a "throw-in" because we want a headphone amp...think HeadAmp GS-1 (with upgraded modules) quality! An impressive 1.25 W max power output and near zero ohm output impedance, this thing can drive pretty much all of my non-stat headphones!
 
Mar 8, 2017 at 11:45 PM Post #96 of 325

​Hi.  I wanted to thank you all for your comments and opinions.  I went ahead and ordered the L model because I really don't listen to headphones that much, but because of all of your insight, I'll post my impressions here, for better or worse.  I've owned top-of-the-line Luxman and Schiit, so I'll just be honest in what I hear.  Should get the DAC early next week and will wait to comment for at least a week after that.
 
I've been through the R2R bandwagon, no upsampling or oversampling purity, and trap of reading reviews whether professional or personal in trying to find the most true and authentic musical sound reproduction.  I'm willing to try the much-maligned ESS chips (9028 seems to be better than 9018 in general feedback).  Heck, even Lampizator played with a 9018 chip, which really must have messed with some people's minds.  It sounds like Benchmark nailed the implementation, and I'm sure they have good output stages, so am excited to give it a try.
 
Mar 9, 2017 at 12:28 AM Post #97 of 325
​Hi.  I wanted to thank you all for your comments and opinions.  I went ahead and ordered the L model because I really don't listen to headphones that much, but because of all of your insight, I'll post my impressions here, for better or worse.  I've owned top-of-the-line Luxman and Schiit, so I'll just be honest in what I hear.  Should get the DAC early next week and will wait to comment for at least a week after that.

I've been through the R2R bandwagon, no upsampling or oversampling purity, and trap of reading reviews whether professional or personal in trying to find the most true and authentic musical sound reproduction.  I'm willing to try the much-maligned ESS chips (9028 seems to be better than 9018 in general feedback).  Heck, even Lampizator played with a 9018 chip, which really must have messed with some people's minds.  It sounds like Benchmark nailed the implementation, and I'm sure they have good output stages, so am excited to give it a try.


Congrats! Do post your impressions, I'm especially curious about comparison with schiit. I almost got a gumby the other day for comparison with DAC3, then read on the forums that apparently you need to use Non-USB inputs to the schiit DACs to get the best out of them. Really can't be bothered with this Merry go round.
 
Mar 9, 2017 at 8:09 AM Post #98 of 325
​Hi.  I wanted to thank you all for your comments and opinions.  I went ahead and ordered the L model because I really don't listen to headphones that much, but because of all of your insight, I'll post my impressions here, for better or worse.  I've owned top-of-the-line Luxman and Schiit, so I'll just be honest in what I hear.  Should get the DAC early next week and will wait to comment for at least a week after that.

I've been through the R2R bandwagon, no upsampling or oversampling purity, and trap of reading reviews whether professional or personal in trying to find the most true and authentic musical sound reproduction.  I'm willing to try the much-maligned ESS chips (9028 seems to be better than 9018 in general feedback).  Heck, even Lampizator played with a 9018 chip, which really must have messed with some people's minds.  It sounds like Benchmark nailed the implementation, and I'm sure they have good output stages, so am excited to give it a try.


Hope we'll get more reviews, esp compared to other DACs little the hugo2, sim280d, woo audio WA8 Eclipse, schiit yiggy, etc
 
Mar 27, 2017 at 4:13 PM Post #100 of 325
Could someone please help me out. When I connect my Benchmark dac3 HGC to my mac via USB I still have full scale system volume control. Is it supposed to be this way? Im not talking about the volume control in any player. Im talking about the global system volume control which you can control in System Pref > Sound -  or with the volume up/down hotkeys on the mac keyboard. In my case if I turn down the volume on my mac this causes the volume of the Benchmark to go down as well. So the mac is acting as a pre-amp to the Benchmark dac3? The other dacs in my possession disable the volume control on my mac. This is worrying as I don't think it should be this way. Please let me know if this is case with anyone else or if you have any solutions. Thanks. 
 
Mar 27, 2017 at 4:50 PM Post #101 of 325
You need to set Audio/Sound in your MAC system preferences folder to the Benchmark which should show up as one of  your devices for sound output. Click on this to set. Its worth setting all other sounds to off under Sound Effects. You should be able to control volume from MAC with your Audio software. Remember the Benchmark sounds best at volume between 11 and 2 oclock for normal listening. So adjust volume at MAC to give you correct setting on Benchmark by setting Benchmark at say 11 oclock then adjust volume at MAC. You may have to set this by the master MAC volume.
 
Mar 27, 2017 at 4:58 PM Post #102 of 325
I have done this already. Perhaps I didn't make myself clear. When I select Benchmark dac3 as output device in System Pref > Sound. I still have system volume control. When the Benchmark is selected in Sound menu in System Preference I have a full scale volume control next to Output Volume - this is my system volume. If I hit volume up or down using the volume keys on my keyboard the system volume control adjusts. This would mean that the sound is being routed through the mac first before going to the Benchmark effectively making it a preamp but I don't think it should be like this. 
 
Mar 27, 2017 at 8:14 PM Post #103 of 325
  Could someone please help me out. When I connect my Benchmark dac3 HGC to my mac via USB I still have full scale system volume control. Is it supposed to be this way? Im not talking about the volume control in any player. Im talking about the global system volume control which you can control in System Pref > Sound -  or with the volume up/down hotkeys on the mac keyboard. In my case if I turn down the volume on my mac this causes the volume of the Benchmark to go down as well. So the mac is acting as a pre-amp to the Benchmark dac3? The other dacs in my possession disable the volume control on my mac. This is worrying as I don't think it should be this way. Please let me know if this is case with anyone else or if you have any solutions. Thanks. 

 
Sounds normal. Our WA7 and WA8 are the same way. The manufacturer has the option to lock it or not. We choose not to and sounds like Benchmark feels the same. 
 
Mar 27, 2017 at 8:40 PM Post #104 of 325
Have to say I only use a MAC for work not audio, so only have basic knowledge.
 
 
Read this online, is by Benchmark for computer setup, and has setup for Macs if you scroll down:
 
https://benchmarkmedia.com/blogs/wiki
 
or email Benchmark directly, I have found them very helpful.
 

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