AudioWaves - Benchmark Media Systems

BENCHMARK

new DAC3!

5 year warranty

Benchmark entered the high end audio world with stunning reviews of their DAC1 Digital to Analog Converter. Stereophile awarded it their 2004 Editor's Choice award, and it is a yearly Stereophile Class A Recommended DAC and Headphone Amp. Benchmark followed up with the DAC1 USB, also Stereophile Class A Recommended , which adds a usb connection for computers and improved sound. Benchmark's next offering was the DAC1 PRE, a near state of the art line preamplifier that was a HI-Fi News Outstanding Product, called "stupefyingly good". The Absolute Sound lavished praise on the DAC1 PRE in its August 2008 issue: "it is excellent compared to anything I have encountered at any price."
Then comes the DAC1 HDR with remote, followed by the 32 bit Benchmark DAC2 HGC, the DAC2 D, and the DAC2 L. More Rave reviews for the 2 Series.

And now the 3 Series: DAC3 HGC, DAC3 B and DAC3 L with these improvements:

-Active 2nd Harmonic Compensation

-Active 3rd Harmonic Compensation

-Lower THD

-Lower passband ripple

-Improved frequency response

-Increased Dynamic Range

-Faster PLL lock times

-Faster switching between inputs.

$2195 for the DAC3 HGC
$1699 for the DAC3 B
$1995 for the DAC3 L

Benchmark DAC2 L
the DAC2 HGC without the headphone amp
replaced by the DAC3 L - $1999

Benchmark DAC2 D
A New Reference

The DAC2 D is a digital reference DAC without the analog inputs.

The DAC2 D has the same performance of the DAC2 HGC but without the analog inputs and the 12V trigger. Keeping the specs inline with DAC2 D, it has lower noise, lower distortion, improved accuracy, outstanding musical detail, precise stereo imaging, an advanced digital filter design, and a new high-sample-rate Asynchronous USB Audio interface. All inputs are fully isolated from interface jitter by Benchmark's new UltraLock2™ jitter attenuation system. Internal digital processing and conversion is 32-bits, and includes 3.5 dB of headroom above 0 dBFS. Four balanced 32-bit D/A converter are summed together for each balanced output. The performance of the DAC2 D exceeds the measurement limits of today's state-of-the art test equipment. Discover the analog sound of the DAC2 D.

DAC2 D Features:
Sample Rate Display
Word Length Display
More Digital Inputs (5 total)
More Analog Outputs (3 total)
Digital Pass Through
Native DSD Conversion
Polarity Switch
Asynchronous USB 2.0
Driverless Asynchronous USB 1.1
Home Theater Bypass
Power Switch
Low Power Consumption
Remote

Benchmark introduces some exciting new technologies in the DAC2 D:
Hybrid Gain Control
High-Headroom DSP
UltraLock2™ Jitter Attenuation System
Quad 32-bit balanced D/A Conversion System
Multi-Mode Asynchronous USB Audio System
Distributed Power Regulation

Benchmark DAC2 HGC with Remote
upgraded to the DAC3 HGC - $2195

"The latest incarnation of the Benchmark DAC remains a comprehensively equipped and highly capable piece of kit. Those looking for flexibility of operation will find little that competes while listeners in search of the ultimate affordable DAC have a small but remarkable contender to add to the must hear list." Jason Kennedy, Hi-Fi +. Read the entire review

Sample Rate Display
Word Length Display
More Digital Inputs (5 total)
More Analog Inputs (2 total)
More Analog Outputs (3 total)
Digital Pass Through
Native DSD Conversion
Polarity Switch
Asynchronous USB 2.0
Driverless Asynchronous USB 1.1
Home Theater Bypass
Bi-Directional 12 Volt Trigger
Power Switch
Low Power Consumption