0dB on XLR is the best if you need lowest output impedance. Signal path "calibrated" or path with volume control are identical according to John Siau - Benchmark's technical Director. Mods done to Benchmark remove (if I'm not wrong) oversampling together with jiiter supression forcing to use better transport. Many people who modify Benchmark have a lot of experience but there are some who make it even worse. Modifications to power supply have no sense in my opinion - why would you modify thing that has measured -140dB signal to noise ratio. Amplifiers are pretty much the best LM4562 (National got reward for it). John Siau talked about somebody who was modding DAC1 by replacing previous cheap TI/Signetics amps with expensive Burr-Brown amps making this actualy worse - he even shows their measurements of harmonics (cheap amps had poor dc but excellent ac performance. Many people do mods to get warmer sound while again John Siau explains that Benchmark was designed to be cold (neutral) since warm does nasty job on some instruments like piano. Piano has complex harmonic structure different than typical overtones and "warm" equipment make it sound like out of tune (by lifting up even harmonics).
Stock Benchmark DAC-1 versus EA MSB Gold Link 3
I've been reading such wonderful reviews of the Benchmark DAC-1 that I finally decided to get one (the USB version, although I have not tried the USB input yet). I'm writing this to compare the Benchmark DAC-1 with what I have been using for some time; an MSB Gold Link 3 with power base, both with full mods from Empirical Audio.
My set up is as follows.
- Transport is a Sony DVP-7700 with 24/192 upsampler board from MSB installed. Also modded by EA. The upsampled output connects to the MSB DAC using a revelation audio cable built for the proprietary MSB network. The SPDIF output goes to the Benchmark DAC.
- MSB output (single ended) connects to a Classe 6 pre-amp. Benchmark DAC balanced outputs connect to balanced inputs on the Classe pre-amp. So I toggle between the two inputs on the pre-amp to select between the two DACs.
- The Classe preamp goes to the Linkwitz Orion ASP, and from there to an ATI 6012 12-channel amp which feeds the Orion+ speakers.
The bottom line is that the modded MSB DAC is, in my opinion, superior to the stock Benchmark DAC. This is a surprise to me actually because I had been really hoping for the opposite. I've listened now to a range of music: jazz, rock, classical.
The Benchmark DAC is very good, but I find that the modded MSB DAC with the 24/192 upsampler has more depth, separates instruments a little better, and seems to carry more detail.
I don't know if there is something on the Benchmark that can be tweaked further. I'm going to try some variations on the volume control settings, as well as the single-ended outputs.
This is preliminary. I'll post further observations as I keep at this. But my first reaction is disappointment at the Benchmark DAC. I really expected it to sound better than my current setup.
Happy listening to all.
My set up is as follows.
- Transport is a Sony DVP-7700 with 24/192 upsampler board from MSB installed. Also modded by EA. The upsampled output connects to the MSB DAC using a revelation audio cable built for the proprietary MSB network. The SPDIF output goes to the Benchmark DAC.
- MSB output (single ended) connects to a Classe 6 pre-amp. Benchmark DAC balanced outputs connect to balanced inputs on the Classe pre-amp. So I toggle between the two inputs on the pre-amp to select between the two DACs.
- The Classe preamp goes to the Linkwitz Orion ASP, and from there to an ATI 6012 12-channel amp which feeds the Orion+ speakers.
The bottom line is that the modded MSB DAC is, in my opinion, superior to the stock Benchmark DAC. This is a surprise to me actually because I had been really hoping for the opposite. I've listened now to a range of music: jazz, rock, classical.
The Benchmark DAC is very good, but I find that the modded MSB DAC with the 24/192 upsampler has more depth, separates instruments a little better, and seems to carry more detail.
I don't know if there is something on the Benchmark that can be tweaked further. I'm going to try some variations on the volume control settings, as well as the single-ended outputs.
This is preliminary. I'll post further observations as I keep at this. But my first reaction is disappointment at the Benchmark DAC. I really expected it to sound better than my current setup.
Happy listening to all.