What do you replace a Benchmark with for 24/96?

Plato, I would love to try one but I would really prefer a DAC with two coax inputs if possible. I have my transport & DAT deck. I don't know of a super high quality optical cable so I would need dual coax.

Benie, I have been thinking that lately but I am also looking for a way to warm up the sound a little. The Benchmark sounds a little cold vs. the Onkyo but the Benchmark is certainly more dynamic with better impact. If I could get that but with a alittle tube sound I would be in heaven.

I love my pre-amp, a modwright 9.0, I am really looking to get the DAC up to the next level. Seems like it is pretty hard to beat this DAC at the price & slightly above.

I wouldn't mind a tube DAC but I really want to stay in the $1,000 or under range. It would be really sweet though if that Monarchy sounded as good as my Modwright, that would be a deal & a half if it did!

Plato, I will give him an e-mail but what other choices are out there for a DAC in $1,000 range used that will sound better than the Benchmark, is there even one to be found in this price range?

I find it interesting that all the other hi-fi sites claim that this or that flavor of the month off shore DAC far surpasses the Benchmark but most of us in Agon don't seem to feel that way. I am curious about this new generation of low cost DAC's but don't know if they do in fact pass the test.

My other question is regarding the non oversample or upsample DAC's. If I am not mistaken it seems they will play the source as it was recorded without up-sampling. So, does that mean it will play a 24/48 recording as such & a 16/44.1 recording as it was recorded or will they truncate everything down to 16 bits? I ned a DAC that will play 24 bits as 24 bits & 16 bits as 16 bits.

Great idea Benie, I will have to check into that!