Thoughts on Benchmark DAC1

[lan]

I recognise the important and effects premium parts have in components so I would rather have the cheaper DAC and mod it. As a matter of economic scales, the more expensive DACs are more expensive because there's less demand, less supply, and just higher production costs. That doesn't make them necessarily much better. A demo is always important though in passing final judgement.

 

[PeAK]

Quote:

Originally Posted by fr4c After owning the DAC1 for about 3 months, I finally decided to sell the unit and move on to other DACs or equipment upgrades. I find the DAC1 to be over-analytical, and sometimes that takes the fun out of listening to music... Its just not my cup of tea with the kind of music that I'm listening to nowadays...Anyone else have similiar experiences? And also any DACs that I should be looking into?

A similar experience with the Benchmarkwas experienced by one of the reviewers of Positive Feedback who auditioned the Dodson DACs (see link further down in thread). Your mileage will vary depending on synergy with your system components

PeAK

 

[elmoe]

Quote:

Originally Posted by lan A demo is always important though in passing final judgement.

I'm not the type to spend 1800USD on a unit I haven't heard

 

[gpalmer]

I've really been enjoying my DAC1. I'm using it as part of a vaugely transportable system with Mackie HR-824's and my headphones. I would certify the onboard headphone amp as a disaster area, I mean, I wasn't expecting much and durn if it didn't deliver it in spades! in spite of that, it's a nice source.

I also have experimented with it driving the Mackies directly and that was a nice combo, but the headphone amp performance made it untenable as a system. Right now I'm running the optical out from my portable DVD player into the optical input on the Benchmark through Cardas Neutral References to my upgraded Gilmore V2-SE and again this is a nice combo. The top end is a little softer than I would like, but the system is very good, great detail, speed and top shelf low volume performance. Even at volume levels I would judge to be in the 40s through the Mackies, it can still manage to give the music body. (And the combination through the Mackie's does piano VERY well). I really can't identify with the comments about holes in the sound, haziness, brightness, coldness etc. Neutral yes, cold or analytical no, it's about as right down the middle as you're going to find. At least for me it gets my foot tapping pretty well and I find I'm listening to the music, not the gear.

 

[nspindel]

Resurrecting this old thread I just came upon.....

I just got a DAC1 a few weeks ago, and am using it to bring some old loudspeakers back to life. I've got a pair of 1989ish vintage Polk SDA 2's (replaced the tweeters with the newer silk ones Polk now sells) with an NAD 2200 amp, currently using the DAC1 as the preamp fed by my optical out from my soundcard, but I have a Squeezebox 3 on order, should be arriving this week.

Unfortunately, I had to sell off my headphone gear to afford the SB3, DAC1, and 2200, but I was really mssing loudspeakers.

I'm in total agreement with the posters here saying the DAC1 works great in a speaker setup. I have to say that the DAC1 is blowing me away with this rig.

I've vowed to one day pick up another set of HD650's. I've seen some threads where people are feeding them with a balanced cable straight off the balanced outputs of the DAC1. Some folks seem to love it, others insist an amp is necessary to even it all out.

Now a balanced amp is definitely out of the budget. But from what I'm reading here, it sounds like a nice tube amp would do the trick. Shame, because there's a HeadRoom Desktop Millett Hybrid with all the extra goodies + Power Supply up for sale right now in the amp forum, but I just can't swing it at this time. I'll be kicking myself when I see that thread go to SOLD.

Any of you have any thoughts on the Senns with the balanced outs from the DAC1?

 

[Snacks]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nspindel /img/forum/go_quote.gif Resurrecting this old thread I just came upon..... Any of you have any thoughts on the Senns with the balanced outs from the DAC1?

^^^I'm interested on hearing thoughts on this as well as the Turbo mod. The DAC1 subject seems pretty much dead.

I've searched, and it seems like everyone was down, be it because of cost or the unknown or both, on getting the Turbo Benchmark. However, I'm still searching...

 

[Davesrose]

I can say the SP PPX3 SLAM does really well with the HD650 and Benchmark. As for whether to go balanced, or go with an amp.....it's a tough call. The 650 does go well with the Benchmark: even using its amp. Haven't tried using its balanced output myself. I have noticed a few threads that claim that the 650s get to be too harsh being balanced. Others claim it's the greatest. I can say that a dedicated amp helps eliminate any "graininess", gives the 650s some nice details in the mids, and also gives it some wonderful soundstage.

 

[Snacks]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Davesrose /img/forum/go_quote.gif I can say the SP PPX3 SLAM does really well with the HD650 and Benchmark. As for whether to go balanced, or go with an amp.....it's a tough call. The 650 does go well with the Benchmark: even using its amp. Haven't tried using its balanced output myself. I have noticed a few threads that claim that the 650s get to be too harsh being balanced. Others claim it's the greatest. I can say that a dedicated amp helps eliminate any "graininess", gives the 650s some nice details in the mids, and also gives it some wonderful soundstage.

Thanks for the input Davesrose -- I must say, that I'm somewhat drawn to the SP, but at the same time, I don't think I'm ready for tubes. Now as far as balanced via DAC1, I'm somewhat considering that step. However, bring up some valid arguements against, I my case at least, going balanced. That's fair, but I want to hear it with my own two. Then, at least I can say that without a shadow of a doubt, this isn't for me. Seems sort of contradictory, but at least with this step I'm 60% sure that I'm going to like what I hear.

As for that DAC1 mod, I'm kind of disappointed, I assumed that more people had ventured outside the box a little on this one. I've now reassessed my assumption and come to the conclusion that no one's given it any serious consideration, because maybe its not worth considering, makes sense to me. So now it's back to reseaching regular means of getting my ideal sound.

 

[Davesrose]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snacks /img/forum/go_quote.gif Thanks for the input Davesrose -- I must say, that I'm somewhat drawn to the SP, but at the same time, I don't think I'm ready for tubes. Now as far as balanced via DAC1, I'm somewhat considering that step. However, bring up some valid arguements against, I my case at least, going balanced. That's fair, but I want to hear it with my own two. Then, at least I can say that without a shadow of a doubt, this isn't for me. Seems sort of contradictory, but at least with this step I'm 60% sure that I'm going to like what I hear. As for that DAC1 mod, I'm kind of disappointed, I assumed that more people had ventured outside the box a little on this one. I've now reassessed my assumption and come to the conclusion that no one's given it any serious consideration, because maybe its not worth considering, makes sense to me. So now it's back to reseaching regular means of getting my ideal sound.

Well if you wait long enough, you might get me to try getting a balanced cable and DAC1 mod

At least right now I have no upgraditis...so that in itself is telling

Yet I haven't listened to the HD650 balanced either: it just seems like an equal mix of people either like it, or don't like it. Only way to know is to try. So I figure if I ever see a cheap, used balanced HD650 cable around.....I'll probably snag it to hear what the difference is. My gut is telling me that it might sound better then using the DAC1 internal amp, but not as good as the SP amp.

 

[Snacks]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Davesrose /img/forum/go_quote.gif My gut is telling me that it might sound better then using the DAC1 internal amp, but not as good as the SP amp.

Based on what I've read, then I would say that your assumptions are correct. Time to dust off the old wallet, don't you think.

 

[nspindel]

Well, the only questionable issue for me is whether the DAC1 will work as a balanced source for the 650's, not whether or not the 650's sound good balanced. I listened to my Senn 650's at the national meet last year thru Ray Samuels monster balanced amp that he was showing off, and let me tell you it was the most amazing thing I have ever heard. To think that those were actually my headphones sounding so good! Beyond compare. But will the DAC1 give me anything close to that sound is my only question. No doubt about it, the Senns sound incredible balanced....

 

[woodcans]

Snacks,

I am using an EA Turbomodded DAC1 via balanced outs to a SP ES-1 driving a pair of HE90s. Transport is Slim Devices Transporter (stock) fed by flac from an Infrant ReadyNAS NV+. I had both my modded dac1 & stock dac1 for several months after I got one of the two modded. After several weeks of switching back & forth, I came to prefer the modded dac1 by no small margin. It has since been sold.

As far as the dac1 as a headphone amp, I was never very impressed w/ driving my 650's straight from the headphone out (modded or not) or the xlr balanced outs (modded or not). At least for the Senn's, the dac1 definitely needs an amp. Granted, I was comparing this to my Supra XLR, probably not a fair comparison.

As far as were the mods worth it, I think so. I have gotten more enjoyment out of this dac than any other source. And don't let anyone tell you it is transport immune or 'jitter immune'. I have used several different transports with it and it definitely reveals differences in transport quality. As a matter of fact, after upgrading to the Transporter and using EAC ripped flac files, this dac1 is sounding better than ever - by a large margin.

These are my 2 cents. Fire away with any questions.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snacks /img/forum/go_quote.gif ^^^I'm interested on hearing thoughts on this as well as the Turbo mod. The DAC1 subject seems pretty much dead. I've searched, and it seems like everyone was down, be it because of cost or the unknown or both, on getting the Turbo Benchmark. However, I'm still searching...

 

[woodcans]

Balanced is definitely better, no question. But not necessarily straight outta the dac1. An amp is recommended. By me, at least.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nspindel /img/forum/go_quote.gif Well, the only questionable issue for me is whether the DAC1 will work as a balanced source for the 650's, not whether or not the 650's sound good balanced. I listened to my Senn 650's at the national meet last year thru Ray Samuels monster balanced amp that he was showing off, and let me tell you it was the most amazing thing I have ever heard. To think that those were actually my headphones sounding so good! Beyond compare. But will the DAC1 give me anything close to that sound is my only question. No doubt about it, the Senns sound incredible balanced....

 

[Snacks]

Double post.

 

[Snacks]

Quote:

Originally Posted by woodcans /img/forum/go_quote.gif Snacks, I am using an EA Turbomodded DAC1 via balanced outs to a SP ES-1 driving a pair of HE90s. Transport is Slim Devices Transporter (stock) fed by flac from an Infrant ReadyNAS NV+. I had both my modded dac1 & stock dac1 for several months after I got one of the two modded. After several weeks of switching back & forth, I came to prefer the modded dac1 by no small margin. It has since been sold. As far as the dac1 as a headphone amp, I was never very impressed w/ driving my 650's straight from the headphone out (modded or not) or the xlr balanced outs (modded or not). At least for the Senn's, the dac1 definitely needs an amp. Granted, I was comparing this to my Supra XLR, probably not a fair comparison. As far as were the mods worth it, I think so. I have gotten more enjoyment out of this dac than any other source. And don't let anyone tell you it is transport immune or 'jitter immune'. I have used several different transports with it and it definitely reveals differences in transport quality. As a matter of fact, after upgrading to the Transporter and using EAC ripped flac files, this dac1 is sounding better than ever - by a large margin. These are my 2 cents. Fire away with any questions.

Woodcans - Thank you for providing some real-time feedback on this.

I'm not very familiar with the Supra XLR, but I've read quite a few times that the headphone outs on the DAC1 weren't quite up to snuff. Also in my reading, I gathered that the DAC1 was considered to be "overly" analytical, and unable to make music fun. I was wondering about impressions before and after modification of the DAC1; in this small sample you've somewhat cleared that up.

It seems that, in order to make the Turbo mod truely worthwhile, you'll need a healthy source. Cost-wise, I was wondering is this mod worth it? Also parts conneXcion offers a "similar" service to EA, I was wondering how the two compare? Of course, one charges more than the other, but do they both accomplish the same outcome? However, you may not be able to answer that question, most likely no one, unless they broke down each mod piece by piece and compared the two inventory sheet style, would be able to tell and probably even still, it would proven difficult to discern. There is also the more simpler choice, the weapon of choice if you will, here on head-fi, the auditory comparison. What you hear with "your" ears, of course, which will never sound the same as what I hear with "my" ears.

To make a long boring story short, bottom line: I was wondering if the Turbo mod was worth it? (A: Yes) And at the same time I was wondering about the differences between the DAC1/OEM/EA/PCX modded, and which would be the most bang-for-the-buck effective? It's one of those you'll have to try it and see questions that you run into all the time in a community such as ours; problem is, once you have someone perform all of that work, if you don't like it, oh well.

All that said, I really appreciate you dropping in and giving us your thoughts on the Turbo modded DAC1, maybe someone such as myself, might take the other route (PCX) so that we could compare the two modded DAC1's and possibly someone chip in with an unmodded DAC1 so that we can have ourselves an old fashion comparo if you will. In any case, thanks for your thoughts.

~Snacks