Topic: Benchmark DAC for sale on Agon

[carlbeck]

Not mine but I do love mine:

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?dgtlconv&1145662377

[Nick's Picks]

I like them new silver finish ones.

[MattD]

I've been demoing a friend's this week. While I can see the appeal, I'm not sold on it. The "sterile" complaints certainly have merit, IMO. I really like the clean sound and the black background it provides, but on my HD600s, there's a lot of stuff that comes off sounding lifeless to me.

I want to demo the other similar-functioning units before I decide. Anyone know where I can do that with a MiniDAC, Mytek, Lavry, or Grace?

[carlbeck]

I imagine without tubes the Benchmark is extremely dry, possible even metallic sounding. The only way I know to demo those other pieces is to purchase if you don't have a friend with one. Expensive proposition if you are not prepared to buy.

[Mic D]

I like them new silver finish ones.

Me too.

[Brian Skalinder]

I want to demo the other similar-functioning units before I decide. Anyone know where I can do that with a MiniDAC, Mytek, Lavry, or Grace?

You might try Audio Consultants on Davis, Matt.  Dunno if they'll have any of that stuff, but worth a try.  And you're welcome to my Bel Canto 1.1 if you want to give it a try for a while.

[BC]

I've been demoing a friend's this week. While I can see the appeal, I'm not sold on it. The "sterile" complaints certainly have merit, IMO. I really like the clean sound and the black background it provides, but on my HD600s, there's a lot of stuff that comes off sounding lifeless to me.

How about on speakers?
I would think listening on cans would make it sound even more sterile.

[BC]

I want to demo the other similar-functioning units before I decide. Anyone know where I can do that with a MiniDAC, Mytek, Lavry, or Grace?

Might also want to check out the Musical Fidelity X-DAC V3. Seen em' going for ~$625 in a few places. Killer measurements in a recent stereophile review.

[MattD]

Thanks for the recs, all. I'm really looking for an all-in-one at the point (DAC, system control, HP amp). While speakers will be a consideration eventually (once I get my VR1s again after I'm done with grad school), there will always be a place for HP listening in my setup.

[Kyle]

I've been demoing a friend's this week. While I can see the appeal, I'm not sold on it. The "sterile" complaints certainly have merit, IMO. I really like the clean sound and the black background it provides, but on my HD600s, there's a lot of stuff that comes off sounding lifeless to me.

I want to demo the other similar-functioning units before I decide. Anyone know where I can do that with a MiniDAC, Mytek, Lavry, or Grace?

I havew the ad2k+ (aka Benchmark 24/02) and while I love its transparent sound - it can come off somewhat steriel and dry. Add a v2 and Schoeps - Ip icked up the psps-2 cause I felt like I might need a bit of color. Don't get me wrong - I love the unit - but it does sound like a piece of wire....  clean and transparent *which I like, but it seems to be mssing somethnig. However, I did not yet ru it at 24bit, so we shall see....

[Nick Culbreth]

I havew the ad2k+ (aka Benchmark 24/02) and while I love its transparent sound - it can come off somewhat steriel and dry. Add a v2 and Schoeps - Ip icked up the psps-2 cause I felt like I might need a bit of color. Don't get me wrong - I love the unit - but it does sound like a piece of wire....  clean and transparent *which I like, but it seems to be mssing somethnig. However, I did not yet ru it at 24bit, so we shall see....

Not to be rude but what does this have to do with digital to analog converters?

[BobW]

I imagine without tubes the Benchmark is extremely dry, possible even metallic sounding. The only way I know to demo those other pieces is to purchase if you don't have a friend with one. Expensive proposition if you are not prepared to buy.

No way metallic.
Clean, articulate, and separated.
Sterile, only if you don't follow it up with a tube linestage.
But, I'm not sure that I'd call it sterile as much as transparent.
It is formidable.
Like everything, it's all a matter of taste and what other components that you use it with.

[BC]

I havew the ad2k+ (aka Benchmark 24/02) and while I love its transparent sound - it can come off somewhat steriel and dry. Add a v2 and Schoeps - Ip icked up the psps-2 cause I felt like I might need a bit of color. Don't get me wrong - I love the unit - but it does sound like a piece of wire....  clean and transparent *which I like, but it seems to be mssing somethnig. However, I did not yet ru it at 24bit, so we shall see....

Not to be rude but what does this have to do with digital to analog converters?

Could be related to Benchmark's design philosophy and "house sound"?
 

[Kyle]

I havew the ad2k+ (aka Benchmark 24/02) and while I love its transparent sound - it can come off somewhat steriel and dry. Add a v2 and Schoeps - Ip icked up the psps-2 cause I felt like I might need a bit of color. Don't get me wrong - I love the unit - but it does sound like a piece of wire....  clean and transparent *which I like, but it seems to be mssing somethnig. However, I did not yet ru it at 24bit, so we shall see....

Not to be rude but what does this have to do with digital to analog converters?

just speaking in general about the Benchmark sound, guess I started rambling there