benchmark-dac-1-pre-preamplifier-dac-headphone-amp
  1. bareyb

    Most POWERFUL DAC/Amp all-in-one?

    Looking for the most powerful DAC/Amp "all-in-one". Any suggestions? So far it's looking like the Burson Conductor but that bad boy costs $1,850.00.... Hopefully something as powerful but not as expensive? Under $1200.00? 
  2. AnakChan

    Initial Impressions of the Fostex HP-A8 DAC Amp

    Please bear with me, I'd consider myself still a noob when it comes to desktop DAC/Amps. Although I've heard a few DAC Amps in quite a few public headphone festivals, most aren't heard with my headphones nor my source tracks of music. And I'm still mostly learning from the gurus here in this...
  3. AnakChan

    iTunes encoding changed over the years/versions?

    Hi all,   I was in the process of converting some of my old lossy AAC to ALAC and in quite a few tracks I noticed that I was very hard pressed trying to hear a difference between my old 160kbps AAC vs the newly recorded ALACs. This is listening through my Benchmark DAC1 Pre (USB...
  4. badhabit

    Woo WES XLR Input or RCA inputs?

    I ordered a Woo WES (stock) and an SR-007 recently after having heard them (in the maxed configuration) at a meet, but I only have relatively cheap sources (a xonar essence soundcard and a USB 'ODAC' from JDS Labs - but neither have balanced outputs) at home. The sources sound great to me with...
  5. NOMBEDES

    Help Me Decide: Benchmark DAC1 Pre v. Bel Canto DAC 2.5

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

    Amp for Beyer DT770 600 ohm?

    I'm looking for something neutral that can be used for mixing to just listening to music. Budget is around $500. I want something that is truly powerful enough for 600 ohm Beyers. I will be using my Apogee Duet as a source. I was considering the O2 amp, but didn't like the fact that it currently...
  7. Proteus24

    Looking to buy a DAC

    Is this a good one http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0047MX2F2/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00? thanks in advance.
  8. JoelS87

    DAC for my M-Audio BX8 D2 and Grado PS500

    So i've been reading up and searching the web for a few days now and I must admit, things do look kinda confusing. I'd really appreciate it if you would share your thoughts/opinions/suggestions.   I'm looking at DACs below 1000, and have narrowed them down to these:     Audio GD's...
  9. NOMBEDES

    Little Dot MK IV SE with the DAC1 vs Maverick AI with the DC2

    I have narrowed down my search for a tube based amp (and DAC) to the Little Dot MK IV SE with the DAC 1 or the Maverick AI with the DC2.   I want to run my Sennheiser 700 with a nice starter amp and DAC.     Any recommendations?   
  10. mrAdrian

    Full sized amps with low output impedance

    Besides the O2, and all Meier Corda amps, what other amps have low output impedances?
  11. majid

    DAC woes

    A few months back I had an ant infestation in my basement office, and they decided my Audioengine A2s were an ideal place to build a nest... After taking care of the ant problem, I had to toss the speakers. I finally got around to buying a new set of computer speakers. I looked at the B&W MM-1...
  12. tseliottt

    Benchmark DAC-1 powering monitors and headphones?

    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...
  13. vherr

    Benchmark DAC1 PRE for HD800s

    Hi guys,   I'm a newbie to head-fi.  I have been listening to my Grado PS1000 out of my Benchmark DAC1 PRE.  After many hours they sound wonderful: organic and warm, just like I would expect from Grado.   I'm thinking about buying the HD800s and was wondering if my Benchmark PRE would...
  14. Tassie Devil

    Is there a better DAC/Headphone amp than the benchmark DAC1 for $USD1000?

    A friend is so impressed with my Sennheiser 800s he intends to buy a pair for himself.  However I'm perplexed about what to advise him on for his digital out of the CDP.   I have a Benchmark DAC1 myself but spent a mint on improving it with spectacular results but it is unlikely I can...
  15. Tassie Devil

    Benchmark DAC1 vs Firestone Audio Fubar IV Plus DAC - Headphone Amplifier

    This question is being asked so I can advise a friend more intelligently so any info on the Firestone in particular would be appreciated.   I have a modded Benchmark DAC 1 feeding into Sennheiser HD800 headphones & the results are brilliant.  However my friend is a little more dollar...
  16. Theiresias

    current: emu 0202, Sennheiser HD 580 - DAC1 or HD800 next?

    Hi!   I was planning on a significant update on my current setup (E-MU 0202 + Sennheiser HD 580)   I am willing to spend around 1000 € (1300 $). Two products have caught my eye with respect to value and quality: the Benchmark DAC1 and the Sennheiser HD 800 (I love soundstage and...
  17. rti1000

    Grace M902 v.s. Benchmark DAC1 Pre

    I havent been able to find a direct comparison between these two in the forums here anywhere so I thought I'd ask here. Both can be used as headphone amps and the DAC1 pre now appears to have a better HP amp than the DAC1 USB, and the DAC1 Pre upsamples all of its inputs. The Grace can upsample...
  18. bridge8989

    purpose of a preamp?

    Is there any reason for me to use the preamp feature of my LD MK III for my m-audio av40 speakers?  Im not exactly too sure what the purpose of a preamp is.  Based on the wikipedia description (which isn't too helpful), I don't need it since the gamma-2 provides a line out?
  19. cotdt

    Hotrodding the X-Fi: A Layman's Guide (No 56k)

    The X-Fi is without question the best gaming card, but the sound quality is average at best. As someone who is used to high end external DACs with discrete output, to me the sound quality of the X-Fi can be best described as "low-fi". But rest assured X-Fi owners, we can make it far better! I...
  20. jesk

    Want to improve audio quality!

    Hi :-)   want to improve my audio quality at home. Having as source 96/24 BD Prime Network/BR Player. Digital to analog conversion is done by Arcam AVR600 which is also the amplifier. Sometimes I'am also using the Arcam as network-player because of its possibilty to get audio stream directly...
  21. shawnd2030

    new to the DAC scene

    So after lurking about this this site for a few days I have come to realize I need a DAC.  My situation: For simplicity's sake lets say I only listen to music via the computer, like say very decent Macbook + 320mp3 -> headphone jack -> "Bose Around-Ear Headphones" So I have been making a...
  22. autovelocity

    DAC1 PRE review.

    Hello everyone,   I just received my "BRAND NEW" Benchmark DAC1 PRE last Friday.   My immediate thought about the performance/quality of the built in headphone amp is that it's marginally better than the analog output on the back of my XFI PCIe sound card. (I am using HD-650...
  23. majid

    Benchmark DAC1 now available with USB

    I got an email from them announcing an updated DAC1 with 24/96 USB input: http://www.benchmarkmedia.com/eupdate They claim no special drivers (e.g. ASIO) are required for it. You pay dearly for the privilege of USB, though, an extra $300... Quote: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE...
  24. Benchmark - DAC-1 PRE - Preamplifier / DAC / Headphone Amp

    Benchmark - DAC-1 PRE - Preamplifier / DAC / Headphone Amp

    The Absolute Sound magazine rated the Benchmark DAC1Pre as the "Best Disc Player" in the Winter 08 / Spring 09 issue. "Although not strictly speaking a CD player, Benchmark's DAC1Pre combines digital to analogue conversion from either a computer (USB) input, or digital input from a disc...
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