There is a new DA converter out from Lavry engineering. I think it is priced at $975, looks like it was designed and marketed to be a direct competitor to the Benchmark DAC1. For those not familiar with the company, Dan Lavry makes some of the best digital conversion gear out there.
http://www.lavryengineering.com/index_html.htmlLavry Engineering introduces DA10, a new stand alone stereo digital to analog converter. The half rack unit can receive AES or SPDIF digital audio on XLR, RCA and optical link.
The DA provides three Clock modes. The preferred modes are CrystalLock ™ and Narrow Lock modes, but the unit also offers a Wide lock mode based on an internal Sample rate conversion for listening at non standard sampling rates.
The level of the analog outputs (balanced or unbalanced) is controlled by an up–down switch and a 2 digit display. The “potentiometer free” discrete analog attenuator provides up to 60dB very high precision volume control in 1 dB steps.
A state of the art discrete headphone driver is capable of accommodating at ease even the lowest impedance headphones. The unit includes a polarity switch, and a Stereo-Mono switch, a feature aimed at mastering studios.