Burson HA160D or Benchmark Dac1

I just sold my Benchmark DAC1 USB and purchased a Burson HA-160d to replace it. All I can say is "wow".

I used the USB connected to a PC running Foobar 2000 with ASIO player FLAC files with both DACs and the Burson does not make me miss the Benchmark at all. So much easier to picture myself still listening to in 5 years.

I have not noticed any loss of detail. The most apparent things that I have lost are the harshness and cringe factor of the Benchmark. The Burson just presents the music in a more musical way that makes me want to listen more.

Kinda torn between the Dac 1 and a Grace M902b for Recording studio use, monitoring and headphones.

Starting to wonder if the Burson should be considered as well.
I tend to lean toward the Grace, but ? Hmmmmm...

UPDATE:
Just received the replacement Burson HA-160d unit.

Changes noted:
1) transformers have a center wrap that looks like copper foil.
Previous unit has paper sticker.

2) Build quality slipped a notch. Several frame screws were not fully seated.

3) source LED is now a yellow/amber. Previous unit had bright blue LED.
The blue LEDs were actually piercingly bright on the previous unit.

Have not been able to do a great deal of critical listening as it is the work week. Good news- the USB receiver in the Burson registers in the macbook pro Audio Midi control. Now 96kHz is selectable and 2ch/16bit, 2ch/24bit and "encoded digital" show in the other pull down.

HOWEVER - when playing 24/96 files, the audio is muted for 24/96 but plays for 16/96. This is using the AyreWave player 1.0b (9).

If I select 24/96 in the Audio Midi control and then launch the AyreWave player with a 24/96 file - the output has no sound.

If I select 16/96 and launch the AyreWave to play 24/96 file - the output has sound.

Then during the playing of the 24/96 file - one can "select" 2ch/24bit in the pull down of the Audio Midi control but I don't hear any difference.

In other words, it seems for this particular set of circumstances, 24/96 plays only at 16/96 which seems odd to me and less than promised.

I will try other configurations this weekend and report back.

If anyone has a successful method for playing back 24/96 files via USB on the Burson HA-160D I would love to hear about it.

UPDATE:
Tried other configurations and was able to get 24/96 files to play back.

Using the newly renamed "Decibel" Hi-rez player

Set audio midi input to 44/16, output to 96/24

Incredible sound! Most noticeable is the tremendous dynamic range.

Will post more detailed review later.

Jmdesignz,

No need to mess with the midi settings if you are using decibel. It will automatically switch them for you unlike iTunes.