Grace 901 vs Benchmark DAC-1

[insomniac]

This one's been discussed before, but what hasn't? And I wanted to get some fresh opinions. It seems that general consensus is that the Grace has the better headphone amp while the Benchmark has the better DAC. But what makes the better all-in-one solution for headphone listening?

 

[raif]

I have heard both, I chose the Dac 1, mostly because I am involved in DIY and it is a helluva lot easier to build and amp than a DAC.

 

[ayt999]

I would go for the DAC1 (which I don't have) since the source matters a lot and that definitely has a better DAC than the one in the Grace 901 (which I have).

I wouldn't use either as an all in one solution though, I'll have to get a separate source or amp for them.

 

[insomniac]

ayt999, so would a Benchmark plus something basic like a HA-1 beat the Grace 901 used as an all-in one?

 

[ayt999]

I'm not saying that the amp section in the DAC1 is bad, just that if I were to use it I would go over the top and pair it with a nice amp.

(emphasis on I... I am not your average Head-Fier.)

the headphone amplification in the DAC1 is very good and should perform better than the grace 901 without needing an external amp. this is if we compare them without using any other equipment other than the digital source.

 

[arnesto]

As far as I know, the Benchmark DAC1 has one disadvantage.
You can't listen to anything from an analogue source.

Like the radio, or tapes.

 

[jpelg]

Quote:

Originally Posted by arnesto Like the radio, or tapes.

Or SACDs.

 

[Music Fanatic]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpelg Or SACDs.

Not if you have i.Link -- a Firewire based connection that speaks DSD.

 

[noir]

since when does the DAC1 accept firewire streams? o.O

 

[remilard]

Quote:

Originally Posted by noir since when does the DAC1 accept firewire streams? o.O

or decode DSD for that matter. Although I am all ears if their is a detailed solution for playing SACD on the DAC1 (that is appreciably cheaper than buying a good SACD player).

 

[Music Fanatic]

Of course, the DAC-1 can't accept i.Link -- but I wanted to make the point that there are consumer digital DSD communication links out there.

But I'm still trying to figure out why half the DAC1 threads are in this forum and the other half are in the dedicated source forum.

 

[remilard]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Music Fanatic Of course, the DAC-1 can't accept i.Link -- but I wanted to make the point that there are consumer digital DSD communication links out there. But I'm still trying to figure out why half the DAC1 threads are in this forum and the other half are in the dedicated source forum.

Seems simple enough to me, threads talking about its amplifier or comparing it to other amplifiers are here. Threads talking about it as a source or comparing it to other sources are in the source forum.

 

[mjg]

the grace 901 dac is pretty damn good too, people shouldn't be eager to diss it just because benchmark dac1 is the flavor of the month.

If anyone has forgotten, i had the benchmark dac1 for a year, and i'll be the first to say i wasn't very impressed until i got my emmeline hr2. The two together were great, but for just headphone listening and amp necessity i'd probablly get a grace. Also the most advantageous thing about the dac1 has seem to gotten worse and worse, which was the dramatic price difference between the two. At 750 introductory price, the dac1 was a no brainer, but they keep raising the price.

 

[Iron_Dreamer]

Well as far as the Grace DAC is concerned, I will never forget the time Edwood and I were switching between it's digital input and analog input from the stock RME PAD (not exactly the best source around maybe 30% of the DAC1) and hearing the soundstage of the K1000 shrink dramatically every time we activated the Grace's DAC. As great of a headphone amp as it is, I don't think it can overcome being stricken with such and inferior DAC, if it is used as an all-in-one.