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Benchmark DAC2

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Posted on March 10, 2023 at 15:59:50
Jian
Audiophile

Posts: 605
Location: NYC
Joined: February 17, 2001
 I have own Benchmark DAC2 for a while due to the recommendation by Stereophile. However, I hardly use it since I listen to my own diy air-bearing arms most of time. Btw, my diy air-bearing arms can rival the performance of any commercial arms at any price point. Recently, I am trying to stream online music and bought Wiim Pro. I have to say that Wiim pro is very well worth the money. But the Benchmark DAC2 sounds terrible. I compared both stream and CD player, Sony SACD777. I don't understand how can Stereophile recommends such a piece of shit. I remember that I paid the DAC2 for almost $2000 years ago. Instrumental music is better than opera. Opera is unlistenable on the DAC2. It is very frustrating.

 

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RE: Benchmark DAC2, posted on March 11, 2023 at 06:02:41
voolston
Audiophile

Posts: 3217
Location: New Orleans
Joined: October 14, 1999
 It's not uncommon for an analog guy to be recommended a non-oversampling (NOS) type DAC. A friend and I have both fallen into that camp, served by Metrum DACs. Easier to listen to is how I described it, which is probably another way of saying non-fatiguing. I got to try the giant killer DAC1 in my system once and couldn't get rid of it fast enough.


voolston - audiophile by day, music lover by night!

 

But..., posted on March 11, 2023 at 07:22:43
E-Stat
Audiophile

Posts: 35046
Joined: May 12, 2000
Contributor
  Since: April 5, 2002
 it's measured performance is "simply superb"! ;)

 

RE: Benchmark DAC2, posted on March 11, 2023 at 09:17:31
AbeCollins
Audiophile

Posts: 43536
Location: USA
Joined: June 22, 2001
Contributor
  Since: February 2, 2002
 The Benchmark DAC2 is a decade old which is pretty old by digital standards. There are much better DAC chips out now and even better DACs for less money. But if you expect your digital setup to sound like a turntable I think you'll be disappointed. You might get closer with the softer, warmer, [and more veiled sound IMHO] of some R2R NOS DACs.

I had the current model Benchmark DAC3 B in my setup on loan from a friend. We both agreed that it was neutral, brutally honest, transparent, crisp, clean, and very detailed but ultimately found it too clinical and lacking any warmth. I switched back to my old favorite PS Audio NuWave DSD DAC.

Benchmark DAC 3B on loan in my system. I prefer my old PS Audio NuWave DSD DAC and the RME ADI-2 DAC FS.

Mac Mini M1, Benchmark DAC3 B, Raspberry Pi Streamer, RME DAC, Benchmark LA4 preamp + AHB2 Amp, PS Audio M700 Amps.




 

RE: Benchmark DAC2, posted on March 11, 2023 at 10:07:00
Jack G
Audiophile

Posts: 9667
Joined: September 24, 1999
 I heard the original Benchmark DAC, and it made my ears bleed.
Later, I heard an all Benchmark (don' know which version of the DAC) system driving Martin-Logan speakers at a show, more pain, I couldn't stay in the room more than a few minutes.
Jack

 

RE: Benchmark DAC2, posted on March 11, 2023 at 19:02:18
Jian
Audiophile

Posts: 605
Location: NYC
Joined: February 17, 2001
 I tried optical cable today. It seems that optical cable sounded better than coaxial cable with a slight loss of resolution. I have an old Mac mini as well. However, I am reluctant to use it as a streamer because I am not willing to modify the Mac mini. My logic is that the streamer should be as simple as possible. I ordered iFi Zen streamer and will compare Wiim Pro and Zen streamer.

 

RE: Benchmark DAC2, posted on March 12, 2023 at 06:20:03
AbeCollins
Audiophile

Posts: 43536
Location: USA
Joined: June 22, 2001
Contributor
  Since: February 2, 2002
 What Streaming Service are you running?

"I am reluctant to use it as a streamer because I am not willing to modify the Mac mini."

- ZERO modification necessary. I've run Mac Minis as music servers or streamers over the past 15 years or so. I've modified some and left some completely stock [as is my current Mac Mini M1]. Sounds wonderful with the right player software or streaming app. You should give it a try.

"My logic is that the streamer should be as simple as possible."

- It can be if you want but it doesn't have to be. I have a few DIY Raspberry Pi streamers.


My Mac Mini Music Server about 2009-ish + iPhone as remote control:

More Mac Minis for music over the years:

iPhone or iPad as portable Remote Control:


Some of my DIY Raspberry Pi based streamers:

Before you get the impression that the Raspberry Pi board is just a toy consider this. Some audiophile brands including Bryston use the Raspberry Pi as the core streaming technology in some of their pricey $$$ streaming products.




 

RE: Benchmark DAC2, posted on March 12, 2023 at 18:05:15
Jian
Audiophile

Posts: 605
Location: NYC
Joined: February 17, 2001
 I am using Apple music. One day, I may try the mac mini. Perhaps, I am out of date and didn't pay attention to the latest developments in streaming. I got the impression that people modified the Mac mini.

Do you use USB to connect the mac mini to a DAC? Do you need third party software to control mac mini from iphone?

 

RE: Benchmark DAC2, posted on March 13, 2023 at 14:20:41
AbeCollins
Audiophile

Posts: 43536
Location: USA
Joined: June 22, 2001
Contributor
  Since: February 2, 2002
 - On what device are you using / controlling Apple Music?

Mac, iPhone, iPad, Android phone/tablet? Windows PC?

What operating system version is running on said device?

- On what device are you outputting Apple Music?

Dedicated Streamer? I assume its the WiiM streamer to your DAC?

Apple now supports lossless CD quality and even higher resolution audio but you may have to adjust settings within Apple Music and how you do that depends on what device you're on and the operating system version it is running.

It's not clear to me if the Apple Music player offers a bit-perfect signal path and automatic sample rate switching as do audiophile players like Audirvana, Amarra, Roon, JRiver, LMS/piCorePlayer, etc.

[EDIT]: I found out that you will need something like the BitPerfect App [from the App Store] to run Apple Music in bit-perfect mode with automatic sample rate switching. This applies if you're running Apple Music on the Mac. Not sure how this is achieved on other devices like iPhone, iPad, Android, Windows, etc.

Yes, there's an App based remote control for Apple Music / iTunes

P.S. Additionally, AirPlay2 is will not pass 'hi-res' audio. I believe it is limited to 48-kHz. In other words, it's much easier to get high quality audio from an 'audiophile player' and an 'audiophile streaming service' like Tidal / Qobuz over a better protocol vs AirPlay2 - However, AirPlay2 is still a much better choice than Bluetooth by a wide margin.



 

RE: Benchmark DAC2, posted on March 13, 2023 at 20:04:03
Jian
Audiophile

Posts: 605
Location: NYC
Joined: February 17, 2001
 I am using iPhone to control Apple Music.

I just downloaded the iTunes Remote control and connected the iPhone with my iMac and Mac mini via home sharing. This is a wonderful little app. Thanks for letting me know that! I am a diehard Mac fan and have been using Mac since the first generation of Power Mac, but I don't know there is a such wonderful little app at all.

At this point, I am using WiiM. But I just finished setting up iFi Zen Streamer and will give the Zen Streamer a try tomorrow to see if the Zen streamer is worth $400 compared with WiiM, $149.00. The first thing I am kind of disappointed with about the Zen streamer is it doesn't have optical input.

I believe Apple Music player does switch sample rates automatically. In the setting for Apple Music, there are three options I chose. Cellular Streaming-->Hi-Res Lossless. Wi-fi Streaming-->Hi-Res Lossless. Downloads-->Hi-Res Lossless.

 

RE: Benchmark DAC2, posted on March 14, 2023 at 07:13:56
AbeCollins
Audiophile

Posts: 43536
Location: USA
Joined: June 22, 2001
Contributor
  Since: February 2, 2002
 "I believe Apple Music player does switch sample rates automatically. In the setting for Apple Music, there are three options I chose. Cellular Streaming-->Hi-Res Lossless. Wi-fi Streaming-->Hi-Res Lossless. Downloads-->Hi-Res Lossless."

This is good with regard to the source material but if you're streaming over Wifi using AirPlay2 from an iPhone I don't think it will truly send 'hi-res' audio greater than "CD Quality" but even so, it should sound pretty good.

The article linked below explains it but I wouldn't be too concerned. Once you get your feet wet with streaming you will discover other methods and streaming services. Only in recent years did Apple decide to stream lossless audio. Prior to that they streamed 256kbps AAC which is much better than MP3 but still lossy.

Tidal and Qobuz are geared more toward audiophiles and have been streaming CD quality lossless and 'hi-res' lossless for quite some time now.

Enjoy!




 

RE: Benchmark DAC2, posted on March 14, 2023 at 16:37:19
Jian
Audiophile

Posts: 605
Location: NYC
Joined: February 17, 2001
 I spent a whole day comparing WiiM pro, Zen Streamer, and Mac Mini.

You are right. Mac mini has very good sound. It is my most favorable-sounding device among these three. Its sound is very natural and not fragile. However, its sound stage is compressed.

Wiim pro has the most fragile sound. But it has the most fragile sound and high resolution. I can hear a lot of details in the sound. It has the best sound stage among all three. For the right DAC, it can sound wonderful.

Zen streamer has a soft and less fragile sound. Its sound stage is the worst among the three. Its sound doesn't have a lot of details.

I think I will stick with the Mac mini for now.

 

RE: But..., posted on March 15, 2023 at 10:36:14
dgaapc7
Audiophile

Posts: 235
Joined: August 16, 2013
 I have a Benchmark dac 3 HGC and like it very much. It is analytical and clean. I don't know about the measurements. I can add some warmth with my tube amp which I use for music, while I use a transistor amp for movies, TV, etc. It is a much friendlier sounding dac than the Benchmark dac 1 USB, which I used for a long time, but the dac 3 is still very clean, with the feeling of listening back to the source. Just me, but I like to add any flavoring to the sound as late in the sound chain as possible.
LowIQ

 

Flavoring is good in moderation ;-), posted on March 16, 2023 at 19:20:28
AbeCollins
Audiophile

Posts: 43536
Location: USA
Joined: June 22, 2001
Contributor
  Since: February 2, 2002
In my system the Benchmark LA4 preamp and AHB2 amp are very transparent, neutral, and clean. If there's any flavoring to speak of I know exactly where its coming from - the sources. And if I have multiple sources I know exactly how they compare to each other as any flavoring is from the individual source components and not the amplification chain. This may also be why many reviewers like the Benchmark setup.

That said there is no one best flavor as some audiophiles pursue and try to achieve. IMHO a lifetime of having only chocolate ice cream would bore me to tears. Likewise for vanilla.

I've been enjoying vanilla for a while now so I switched it up a few weeks ago with some chocolate!

- The Benchmark LA4 / AHB2 combo is still in the rack but inactive at the moment.

- I've been tube rolling the ole Rogue Cronus Magnum integrated amp with various power tubes over the past weeks. I will also switch-in the Benchmark system for a quick comparison.

It's all great! No one setup is "best". No one flavor is "best".


 

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