I had a chance to look inside the latest Benchmark DAC1 and this is what I saw. It has a single circuit board for everything including the power supply, receiver, ASRC, DAC, and headphone amp. The headphone amp has two BUF634F buffers, two 5532A opamps, and a really small alpha pot. The...

Those fotunate souls who have attended the recent San Francisco meet had a lot of toys to play with... One of those was a Zhalou DAC with its cover removed. People passed by it on their way from the impressive AMB display and the mighty Orpheus to the left, ignoring this unit. In the end, lamark...

DAC Showdown: AQVOX USB 2 D/A vs. Benchmark DAC1 vs. Lavry Black DA10 The Back-story: For well over a year, as many of you know, I’ve been one of Head-Fi’s most prominent DAC1 apologists, arguing the merits and performance of this particular piece of gear until the cows came home...

Hi, I was thinking of purchasing a Phonitor 2 in the future and I was wondering if the Phonitor 2 works well with the following Digital Converters (which I plan to connect to my laptop)? I will use the AKG K812 Pro as headphones.   - Wyred 4 Sound DAC-1 Digital To Analog Converter - Wyred 4...

I have the opportunity to purchase a 2nd hand Lavry DA11 for around $800, which I consider a pretty good deal.   However, I am aware that the Lavry was released in 2009, before the current wave of Sabre-chip/asynchronous USB DACs. Furthermore, the DA11 is pretty similar to the DA10, which is...

Just because I'm getting the itch to upgrade and try something new, I've been looking at higher end sources, namely CD players. I'm currently running a Benchmark DAC1 (NAD c521bee as transport) as my source but have been intrigued by the Meridian 588, G07, Naim CD5x, and Arcam CD33, among...

Anyone here using NAIM amplification? XS? XS2? 5i? SN1? SN2?   If so, what DAC are you pairing with it?

I just got the DAC which I bought in a hurry and didn't notice has no usb input... now I don't know if there's a way to use it without jitter as it has no asynchronous usb input, only xlr, coaxial, and optical digital inputs. Which is a better option and how can I connect to a computer with...

Right now I'm amping my HD650 with the internal amp of the Benchmark DAC1. Plenty of power, but the sound signature is reportedly on the lean side. Or perhaps there is no real sound signature as it is meant to be very neutral.   Anyway, the bass output on my HD650 is not overly satisfying at...

Right now, I am using the Musical Fidelity V-Link to connect to my PC USB and connect the S/PDIF to the DAC1 through the BNC ~~> S/PDIF adaptor....   but I just read the manuel of DAC1, it said it has 75Ohm output pre-install.......   So, do I need to remove the 75Ohm but removing the...

I am thinking about getting one. It's an older unit, so I am not sure how outdated it is. Still worth it, especially used?                  

Title kind of says it all.  I have the Benchmark, but I've heard so many good things about the W4S that I'm curious to compare one to the other.  So this is an invite to a head-fi'er in reasonable driving distance to Stamford, CT to bring their W4S DAC2 over for a test drive in my system:  ...

The Nuforce Icon HD is reputable as a very nice DAC with a USB input and it's a great value at $350. Am I being silly to try to upgrade from that? I know the Benchmark DAC1 has far more features and would look much nicer on a desk, but at triple the price of the Icon HD (more or less depending...

Can it;   A). Drive hard-to-power headphones like Audeze and Hifiman orthodynamics models to a good volume easily and without straining? And manage current-hungry models like the K702 as well?   B). Match upper-mid-range models such as the Graham Slee Solo, Lehmann Black Cube, Heed...

Really need to add some warmth to my system. Any reccomendations? (Used, under $250)

right now i have benchmark dac1 usb   i have read so many good reviews about empirical audio modded dac1 but those reviews are all like many years ago and not many people talk about ea modded dac1 anymore if i ever find one, is ea modded benchmark dac1 still worth buying used? or are...

is modded benchmark dac1(used) still worth buying? i have read great reviews on modded dac1's but they are all reviews of many years ago and they are not even being talked about as much these days i already have dac1 usb but after reading all those reviews on them, im kind of curious how...

Hi, I am from Singapore and want to buy a Benchmark DAC-1.

I'm on the verge of buying the DAC-1, but was wondering if it would run well with monitors and headphones plugged in simultaneously. My main concern is blowing sensitive headphones like the D2000 on accident when turning up the volume for the monitors. Does the volume control both the Headphone...

Proposed system:   iMac --> (DAC) -->  Woo Tube Amp  --> Sennheiser 700.   Would like to pull the DAC trigger this week.  Any advice?  Thank You.

The DAC1 is $500.00 cheaper than the DAC2. I realize the DAC2 is superior in many ways, that's not in question... What I'm wondering is, given the (much) better price of the DAC1, is it still a viable investment? Is it going to be obsolete in next year or two or is the DAC2 just way ahead of the...

Hi, I've been reading with interest for a short time on various opinions on DACs and AMPs and still can't decide plus my head hurts from trying to make sense of it all. Please don't get too complicated as I'm a novice to DACs and AMPs. I may need prodding in the right direction to help get me...

I am thinking about a Benchmark DAC1, but I see there are some different types.       I am wondering the differences among them. 

I'm looking for a dac for my HiFi system for 2 channel audio. I would like a minimum of a 24bit/96khz capability, but would prefer 24/192. My budget is $1000, because I want to buy something that will last me a long time (I don't like buying a product that I will feel like upgrading in a couple...

Such as Beyer DT-770 600ohm?