I suggest you try the Benchmark DAC-1. Go to Benchmark's website and follow the links to Robert Greene's recent comments in Absolute Sound (he reviewed the new DAC/PRE but comments along the way on the DAC-1). Benchmark is currently offering a 30-day in-home trial period -- if you don't like it, you get a full refund. If you search the Audiogon forums, you will find various people commenting on the Benchmark's "dry" or "overly detailed" sound -- though some are simply repeating hearsay and do not own a DAC-1. I own one and, at least in my system, it has proven musical, transparent, and detailed in a good way -- not etched or tizzy, but allowing insights into what's in the recording. (I'm not a dealer or affiliated with Benchmark in any way -- just a longtime listener who has gone thru lots of equipment and found a keeper in the Benchmark.)
Upgrade for better redbook performance
I have a MCH music system for CD, SACD and DVD Audio. I am very satisfied with the SACD performance. The SACD sound is smooth, airy, and very transparent. DVD Audio is not the best I've heard, but it's still pretty good. Redbook CD is okay. I would like more transparency and air and silkier midrange.
My system is somewhat unconventional. I have Linn Unidisk SC driving the power amps without a separate preamp. Unidisk SC is a universal player that plays all the formats, plus it has digital inputs and outputs, analog inputs, and variable level analog output.
One popular configuration these days seems to be HDMI based universal transport combined with HDMI 1.3 processor, such as Integra DTC-9.8 or Marantz AV8003. That would also mean a significant change in my setup, as I'll be replacing both the digital front end and the preamp section. That's a lot of risk and unknowns. I don't want to compromise on SACD sound for better redbook. Also if the improvement is small enough, I'd rather keep my current Unidisk.
Another option is adding a high quality redbook only player to the system. I can connect the redbook player to the analog input of Unidisk SC. The Unidisk analog inputs are good, but still could be the bottleneck in the system and could obscure the detail. I do have a MCH analog preamp, McCormack MAP-1, in the closet that I'm not using right now. I can put it into the system and connect the both Unidisk SC and the new redbook player. But that means more complexity, and I need to get three more pairs of interconnects.
Third option is adding a DAC with volume control, such as Benchmark or Bel Canto. I'd be using digital out from Unidisk SC to drive the DAC. My main amp has both XLR and RCA inputs. I could connect Unidisk using RCA and the DAC using XLR and switch the source without a separate preamp.
What do you think?
My system is somewhat unconventional. I have Linn Unidisk SC driving the power amps without a separate preamp. Unidisk SC is a universal player that plays all the formats, plus it has digital inputs and outputs, analog inputs, and variable level analog output.
One popular configuration these days seems to be HDMI based universal transport combined with HDMI 1.3 processor, such as Integra DTC-9.8 or Marantz AV8003. That would also mean a significant change in my setup, as I'll be replacing both the digital front end and the preamp section. That's a lot of risk and unknowns. I don't want to compromise on SACD sound for better redbook. Also if the improvement is small enough, I'd rather keep my current Unidisk.
Another option is adding a high quality redbook only player to the system. I can connect the redbook player to the analog input of Unidisk SC. The Unidisk analog inputs are good, but still could be the bottleneck in the system and could obscure the detail. I do have a MCH analog preamp, McCormack MAP-1, in the closet that I'm not using right now. I can put it into the system and connect the both Unidisk SC and the new redbook player. But that means more complexity, and I need to get three more pairs of interconnects.
Third option is adding a DAC with volume control, such as Benchmark or Bel Canto. I'd be using digital out from Unidisk SC to drive the DAC. My main amp has both XLR and RCA inputs. I could connect Unidisk using RCA and the DAC using XLR and switch the source without a separate preamp.
What do you think?