OK, I've listened to the Benchmark and the DACMagic in very good systems but not the same systems and not head-to-head. Still, I did not hear, from either unit, the kind of highs that I would want to live with for a long time.
DACs I have heard which did give me the smooth, clear highs I can enjoy include the Ensemble Dichrono HiDAC, the Audiomat Maestro, the Stellavox ST-2 and the Apogee Mini-DAC. Of these, the Apogee is the cheapest.
DACs I have heard which did give me the smooth, clear highs I can enjoy include the Ensemble Dichrono HiDAC, the Audiomat Maestro, the Stellavox ST-2 and the Apogee Mini-DAC. Of these, the Apogee is the cheapest.