tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6890046273025265768.post2930891208763447971..comments2024-03-18T03:10:30.572-07:00Comments on NwAvGuy: Benchmark DAC1 PreNwAvGuyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00309644608738074125noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6890046273025265768.post-8856960952633516712012-02-20T17:02:53.937-08:002012-02-20T17:02:53.937-08:00That adapter will work fine, I should add it to th...That adapter will work fine, I should add it to the O2 parts list as it's only 5 British Pounds. You need all the capacitors on the O2 parts list. Please see the O2 Details article and the PDF documentation for more information. This is getting far off topic for the Benchmark DAC1.NwAvGuyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00309644608738074125noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6890046273025265768.post-37458921293350290322012-02-20T16:35:50.369-08:002012-02-20T16:35:50.369-08:00Hi,
Sorry I was a bit unclear, but thanks for the ...Hi,<br />Sorry I was a bit unclear, but thanks for the reply.<br />I was planning to put together the O2 with batteries only, because we have 240VAC here, and finding a 240->16/18/22VAC adapter was proving to be somewhat difficult. Ultimately I found this: AD3515-18.0-0267EU from RS-Online. I hope it can work. Do I need to add the desktop capacitors if I use the AC adaptor?<br /><br />I have aAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6890046273025265768.post-51450571180676143942012-02-20T08:01:35.572-08:002012-02-20T08:01:35.572-08:00I'm not sure I understand the question. There&...I'm not sure I understand the question. There's little point in using the O2 with the DAC1. The DAC1 already has a great headphone amp (and in blind tests it sounds just like the O2).<br /><br />If you mean for portable use, the O2 can drive virtually any headphone the DAC1 can drive. So short of the couple of "edge case" headphones I mention in the O2 articles, you're free NwAvGuyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00309644608738074125noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6890046273025265768.post-79859868539952268912012-02-20T07:18:53.532-08:002012-02-20T07:18:53.532-08:00Hi NwAvGuy,
I received the parts from Mouser for t...Hi NwAvGuy,<br />I received the parts from Mouser for the O2 today!<br />I'm a looking to buy my first reference grade headphones (currently I have the Senn HD238, not very neutral), and an dac/amp.<br />I use Shure SE425 with my iPod for portable use.<br />My question is this: How good is the amp with the Benchmark DAC 1 ? Do I need to buy anything else?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6890046273025265768.post-79151873796068498562012-02-10T05:58:29.283-08:002012-02-10T05:58:29.283-08:00There's a good review of the Benchmark DAC1 HD...There's a good review of the Benchmark DAC1 HDR here: http://www.theaudiocritic.com/plog/<br /><br />Also a lot of other stuff which is interesting too. Good to see that rational empiricism still has a place in reviewing audio equipment.<br /><br />;-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6890046273025265768.post-60255426925781582382011-12-22T22:11:42.623-08:002011-12-22T22:11:42.623-08:00@Anon, you're welcome. All the DAC1 models, I ...@Anon, you're welcome. All the DAC1 models, I believe, offer very similar DAC and identical headphone amp performance. The basic differences are:<br /><br />DAC1 - S/PDIF Only<br />DAC1 USB - Adds USB<br />DAC1 PRE - Adds more inputs including analog<br />DAC1 HDR - Adds remote control<br /><br />There are some other differences as well, see the Benchmark website (or call/email them) if you NwAvGuyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00309644608738074125noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6890046273025265768.post-28740675909150811232011-12-22T21:53:00.899-08:002011-12-22T21:53:00.899-08:00just for clarity - are you saying that the plain v...just for clarity - are you saying that the plain vanilla benchmark dac-1 can be both reference dac, and headphone amplifier for most headphones? or do you need to get the dac-1 pre to drive most headphones?<br />for example coud i use both of these with one of the dac-1 models? - westone es5 custom iem's (16 ohm) and LCD-2 orthos (60 ohm) <br /><br />thanks so much for your amazing blog!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6890046273025265768.post-75137779093733660812011-12-17T06:45:54.069-08:002011-12-17T06:45:54.069-08:00The only reason to get the HDR is if you want the ...The only reason to get the HDR is if you want the remote. The only reason to get the Pre is if you think you may need multiple inputs (especially an analog input). For basic DAC/headphone duty, the USB will work well. The sound quality is the same among all three.<br /><br />I have lots of respect for Benchmark, and can't say enough good about them, but you might also want to look at the NwAvGuyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00309644608738074125noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6890046273025265768.post-82700441439657590962011-12-17T02:24:18.865-08:002011-12-17T02:24:18.865-08:00Hey, do you think dac1-hdr is worth additional 300...Hey, do you think dac1-hdr is worth additional 300$ compared to pre? I want to buy decent dac (my pc has a lot of noise when being 100% utilized, especially gpu adds a lot of noise[GTX285SSC]), to drive "all possible headphones" (from iems to 600Ohms phones) I might get in the future including some IEMs like UE Triple.Fi 10.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6890046273025265768.post-71753929621445844962011-10-30T09:13:00.826-07:002011-10-30T09:13:00.826-07:00Your Benchmark DAC1 should work fine on your lapto...Your Benchmark DAC1 should work fine on your laptop. It has excellent jitter reduction from any of its inputs. Check the link about Computer Audio on the right hand side of this blog to make sure you are sending the best possible signal to the DAC1. <br /><br />Do you have any EQ or other processing enabled in your Transporter or on the PC? That could account for the differences you're NwAvGuyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00309644608738074125noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6890046273025265768.post-8235604898754735152011-10-30T05:25:27.106-07:002011-10-30T05:25:27.106-07:00Hello,
I own a Bancmark DAC 1 Pre. My problem is ...Hello,<br /><br />I own a Bancmark DAC 1 Pre. My problem is the source.. From my laptop through USB or optical the SQ is much worse than through for example a Slimdevice/Logitech transporter digital out or a soundcard digital out (ESI Juli@).<br />But I would like to use my laptop..<br />Do you have any suggestion? Shall I buy a "high quality" USB to Spdif coverter (galvanically Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6890046273025265768.post-5841316022968860872011-09-16T09:14:39.351-07:002011-09-16T09:14:39.351-07:00I think once you spend several hundred dollars it&...I think once you spend several hundred dollars it's good to have 24 bit support via USB but that's hard to find. My best suggestion right now is the Centrance DACport at $400. Another for Mac owners is the Apogee One. I suspect there are going to be some new options soon that will do hi-res audio via USB with native drivers.NwAvGuyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00309644608738074125noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6890046273025265768.post-60281639558424054612011-09-16T06:18:36.191-07:002011-09-16T06:18:36.191-07:00Hi NwAvGuy,
I have been enjoying your blog quite ...Hi NwAvGuy,<br /><br />I have been enjoying your blog quite a bit and it has been very eye opening compared to many sponsored forums. <br /><br />I do have a question about DAC recommendations, I see that you gave the Fiio e7 and this Benchmark Dac1 good marks, but they are on opposite ends of the cost spectrum, are there any worthwhile DACs in the $200, $300, $400 etc range?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6890046273025265768.post-52235214467445228922011-07-22T11:48:03.139-07:002011-07-22T11:48:03.139-07:00I've not seen the Anedio D1 independently test...I've not seen the Anedio D1 independently tested anywhere, but their measurements indeed look very good. The headphone amp, and design in general, is very similar to the DAC1. It's also fairly close in price and that was without USB.<br /><br />They seem like a great company mostly focused on the right things--just like Benchmark Media. The 32 bit hype is a bit hard for me to swallow, NwAvGuyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00309644608738074125noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6890046273025265768.post-26740664691073886432011-07-22T11:36:37.374-07:002011-07-22T11:36:37.374-07:00I'd be curious to hear your opinion of the Ane...I'd be curious to hear your opinion of the Anedio D1. Although now it's currently out of production it should be making a return with at least more USB support. They have posted some very impressive AP measurements which are the best I have seen for a DAC as well as a headphone amp.thegr8brianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04986196738876457526noreply@blogger.com