Wow, a lot of mis-information here. I've owned benchmark DACs for a few years. I started with the plain DAC1 and now own the DAC1 pre. The DAC1 pre has the same upgrade op amps throughout the analog stage that are in the HDR model. It also has the upgraded RCA plugs AND the DAC1 pre has the USB input along with the toslink and coax digital inputs. There are only 2 differences between the top of the line HDR model and the DAC1 Pre model.
1. The HDR has a remote control.
2. The HDR has a motorized ALPS volume control.
Other than that, the HDR and the PRE models are identical. If you do not plan to use the DAC1 as the preamp, then the two models are effectively identical.
Regarding the sound, the HDR and the PRE sound identical when used in fixed output mode to a preamp. They do not sound identical to the USB and base DAC1 model though. the HDR and the PRE models are more transparent and smidge more forward sounding. This is my findings after hundreds of listening hours with these DACs. They are all world class DACs IMO.
1. The HDR has a remote control.
2. The HDR has a motorized ALPS volume control.
Other than that, the HDR and the PRE models are identical. If you do not plan to use the DAC1 as the preamp, then the two models are effectively identical.
Regarding the sound, the HDR and the PRE sound identical when used in fixed output mode to a preamp. They do not sound identical to the USB and base DAC1 model though. the HDR and the PRE models are more transparent and smidge more forward sounding. This is my findings after hundreds of listening hours with these DACs. They are all world class DACs IMO.