Quote:
Originally Posted by oldson /img/forum/go_quote.gif
would a benchmark owner buy a v-dac? nah
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I already had my DAC1 (Usb) when I took the V-DAC home
But do not ask me for much info because I almost not used the MF 'as is' (I bought looking for some mods, and for curiosity sake...).
To the OP: both are very good DACs and the differences are small this days unless you got something very different (tubes or NOS or something done wrong for whatever reason).
Once this is said and accepted, the DAC1 is IMO 'neutral to bright' and the V-DAC 'warm and less detailed'.
I see room for improvement inside both but DAC1 is much harder to work on (smd) and the unit price on the wrong side of the 'I will risk it' verge, so left it untouched.
The V-DAC is just the opposite: easy to work, easy to have qualitative gains with low cost and low risk mods. Keep in mind its basic design is the same as all other Musical Fidelity DAC/CD (X-Dac v8, KW, etc): same input and upsampling chip (SRC4392), same dac chip (pcm1792) and same post/analog stage (opamps IV and opamp buffer).
Actually I just got time to change some ps caps and the output opamp, I look forward to change the I/V quad opamp, then get rid of the output coupling caps, and then changing the PS all the way (it creates inside the box the -V analog rail with swithching chips from the +12V input...).
As it is now it does have still this warmish side common to all MF digital players, but is more detailed and gives less to the DAC1. On some setups and with some music, yes, I will go as far as to say I do not prefer DAC1 to V-DAC. But in a consistent way the DAC1 is still te one to beat.
Btw remember the Benchmark does have its HP amplifier/out, and it is not bad IMO, it's just that usually it gets compared to around 1k$ dedicated HP amps and unless you got a happy pairing then yes, it is inferior (!).
So to the OP: What are you using as HP amp and what HPs? Do you like/want to mod your V-DAC or want to let as is? From this point of view and IMO then yes, the DAC1 is an obvious upgrade and a 2-in-1 tool (and a nice one!). Specially if you get an used DAC1 (some always around, in fact mine has got to sale because I do no longer use it: my next step is the Buffalo ESS one, a DIY unit, but... no time!).