Benchmark DAC1 screws loose
Jan 13, 2006 at 1:30 AM Thread Starter Post #1 of 7

dknightd

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Just got my Benchmark DAC1 from Audio Advisor today.
When I unpacked it I heard a rattling. I hoped maybe it
was just the small package that contained BNC to RCA
adapter and spare fuses. But no. The rattle was coming
from inside the unit! D**m. I've been dying to hear this unit,
so rather than send it straight back I opened it up figuring
maybe one of the jumpers got knocked loose, or something.
I found screws floating around inside! At first I thought it
was just two, but, then I found two more hiding.
I could not see any obvious damage to the curcuit board.
Four of the screws that hold the circut board to the case
had come completely out. The remaining two screws
holding the circut board down were also loose.

I put all the screws back where they obviously belonged.
Then plugged in in. All seems fine, but it is disconcerting.

Anybody else have loose screws in their DAC1 case?

First impressions. This thing sounds great. Music is cleaner
and faster that what I get from my m-audio firewire audiophile.
Somehow the music seems faster, more dynamic, and yet
smoother all at the same time. It is not a huge difference,
but very noticable.
You can hear the music much better, unfortunately you can
also hear recording flaws more easily - but I guess that
is what it is designed for. . . So far I've found it hard to
do a proper level match between the m-audio and dac1.
I think I have them matched, then the music gets precussive
and the dac1 sounds louder - I assume this it because the
transients are being better resolved, but I'm not sure.
Maybe I need to use a test tone and an spl meter.

Is the DAC1 $800 better than the m-audio? So far, probably
not. Am I going to keep anyway? So far, probably yes.

The true test comes when the wife and kids are out of the
house and I can let it loose on my speakers :wink:
 
Jan 13, 2006 at 4:14 AM Post #2 of 7
Quote:

Originally Posted by dknightd
... I put all the screws back where they obviously belonged.
Then plugged in in. All seems fine, but it is disconcerting. ...



Not good! Another Head-Fi'er recently got a new DAC1 that was DOA. I know they're making a lot of them and it's probably inevitable that a few mistakes will occur... but I hope Benchmark isn't allowing their QC to slip to meet demand.

Anyway... glad you got yours working without too much hassle. And the 5-year warranty is certainly reassuring...

Best,
Beau
 
Jan 13, 2006 at 9:41 AM Post #4 of 7
I got my DAC1 from the US via eBay sent to Japan. It had the same rattle, and one screw loose inside. I put it back in and have had no problems. Still a little disconcerting.

Enjoy your new toy BTW.
 
Jan 13, 2006 at 11:50 AM Post #5 of 7
Quote:

Originally Posted by Beauregard
Not good! Another Head-Fi'er recently got a new DAC1 that was DOA.


If I had plugged it in, and turned it on, with the screws sitting on the circuit board I would not have been surprised if a screw caused a short and killed the device (making it appear DOA). I think I'll email benchmark and let them know they have a potential qc problem.
 
Jan 13, 2006 at 11:53 AM Post #6 of 7
Any screw or metal object loose inside of a computer board of any kind is alarming!
eek.gif


I'd either open it up or have an authorized dealer look at it ASAP. Don't even turn it on.
 

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