Topic: Benchmark DAC 1 or Apogee mini DAC?

[schoepsnbox]

Thinking of pulling the trigger on one of these, any opinions, pros/cons on these DAC's

Thanks in advance,
Nick

[noahbickart]

you might also check out the Lavry DA10 and the Mytek Stereo96 DAC in the same price range...

-Noah

[Nick's Picks]

I'll be able to give you opinions this week as my Apogee shows up.
can't go wrong w/the benchmark.  the apogee has more inputs and all controls on the face.  pretty lights too....have to count that as a plus.

[joeshambro]

i love the DAC1 as used in my playback and studio monitoring setup.  really evens out the highs and the lows, eliminates a lot of that mid-range wonkiness. 

[scb]

i love the DAC1 as used in my playback and studio monitoring setup.  really evens out the highs and the lows, eliminates a lot of that mid-range wonkiness. 

does it help you rip people off?

[BC]

you might also check out the Lavry DA10 and the Mytek Stereo96 DAC in the same price range...

-Noah

also the musical fidelity XDAC v3.

http://stereophile.com/digitalprocessors/1204mf/

[Tim]

do you have to have USB capability?

If not I'll suggest the Bel Canto DAC2 - nice musical sounding DAC with excellent detail. Sort of reminds me of the old Apogee ad1000 sound

Bel Canto has released their own USB DAC, the DAC3 but I have not heard it

[Nick's Picks]

I *still* have not had a BC DAC.  though I've always wanted one.
I figure you can't go wrong with anything "Apogee" in the digital realm. 

[Tim]

I'm a little surprised you haven't had one, slut that you are

Moke had one for a while too

[MattD]

I preferred the Mytek in head-to-head comparisons with both a DAC-1 and a Bel Canto DAC (2 or 2.1, I think – my memory escapes me).

[Brian Skalinder]

I preferred the Mytek in head-to-head comparisons with both a DAC-1 and a Bel Canto DAC (2 or 2.1, I think – my memory escapes me).

If you're thinking of the Bel Canto to which we listened, Matt, it was a BC DAC 1.1.

[MattD]

Doh! Brian to the rescue. Apologies for misleading.

[Nick's Picks]

i'm hoping that after I get familiar w/the Apogee, a Mytek owner will want to do a swap w/me for a few weeks.

[Tim]

I preferred the Mytek in head-to-head comparisons with both a DAC-1 and a Bel Canto DAC (2 or 2.1, I think – my memory escapes me).

If you're thinking of the Bel Canto to which we listened, Matt, it was a BC DAC 1.1.

Having owned both the 1.1 and the 2.0 I'd reserve judgment on the BC until you hear the 2.0. They are two different beasts and other than having the same case they don't share much else in common.

[RebelRebel]

Mytek should be considered in my opinion. I preferred it by a vast margin to most everything I listened to including some really high dollar items(Lavry Gold, DCS, Prism, now Crane Song, Benchmark, Grace) that I would never be able to afford unless I was an illegal immigrant.

[spreetaper]

my vote would be for the ps audio Digital Link III
excellent price and I have been enjoying it in my setup so far..
have run dvd audio and 24 bit from my PC with excellent results (usb connection)
in my opinion its the best value for a device which includes usb

[carlbeck]

I had a Benchmark for a while & it is a great convertor. It wasn't until I switched to analog where it started to become bothersome to listen too. I think it is a little grating in the high end after a while, at first it is seductive because it is so "clean" but after a while it became an un-natural presentation to my ears. With that being said for the money it is hard to beat & I would recommend one to almost anyone, you have to spend a lot more to beat the performance.

[Nick's Picks]

that used to be the case...but in the last few years there are so many excellent DACs under $1k. 

[headroom]

El cheapo + very good sound

http://www.diyparadise.com/dackit/1545bdackit.html

Reference Audio Mods PS Audio Ultralink III Digital to Analogue Converter

http://stereotimes.com/CD022807.shtml

[aegert]

I don't know how I would live without my dac-1.. that being said I loved the mytek when I heard it too. I haven't listened to the apogee..

A

[Nick's Picks]

I can chime back in.
both units are A+
Apogee has a few more features I believe.

my opinion on their sound:
Benchmark sounds a little smoother in its presentation.  it "blends" the music in a way that is one large cohesive presentation.
the Apogee is wicked detailed, it tends to "separate" the music.  which I found cool because I was hearing shit I never heard before through it.
I'd be happy w/either, but prefer the apogee.