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Hi,
I have a upgrading budget at the moment of around $1-1.5K, and do not believe this will allow me to purchase a componant that will be a sufficient upgrade to what I have already, (My system is listed in my profile). I am currently using an Arcam Alpha 5 CDP, and while I think this is a very capable CDP, with good vocal presentation, it doesn't pick out the instruments as well as I would like.
I am considering the Benchmark DAC1, after its reviews and what was written about it here, as a solution to this and as replacement for my B&K Pro 5 pre amp. I have read that the Benchmark's downfall (if it has one) would be the volume control. Is anyone using the Benchmark as a pre amp? Your advice would be appreciated.
Cheers,
Stephen
Follow Ups:
I'm using the DAC1 directly into a Spectron Musician III, balanced.
I'm very impressed, and this is coming from someone who owned a First Sound Preamp.
Hi, Stephen I am using the Benchmark DAC1 with a c-j Premier 14. Am using the outputs without attenuation and matched factory set with trim pots. Works very very well. Have been extremely pleased. Output of the DAC1 in this mode allows normal usage of volume settings of Premier 14. What I might suggest if you are wanting to optimize DAC to power amp interface and perhaps not use the attenuator built into the DAC1 ( which works fine by the way ) is consider a multi-tapped transformer attenuator. Sowter makes the part, perhaps others. This would be the purist way to do it. I am thinking once you hear the subtlety, resolution, pace, rhythm, timing, etc ad infinitum of the DAC1 you may be willing to live with its variable control until you decide what you really want to do. I admit the Prem 14 is in service as much for remote control function as anything else, but it really doesn't hurt the sonics. The DAC1 is a pure WOW. I want to live with it for another month or so before writing anything more extensive, but so far it has been a real head bender, in a good way: a sea change, paradigm shift, through the looking glass, kind of thing. Happy listening.
I use a DAC1 with an hhb850 for a transport and a mac mc2155 poweramp to my magnapan 1.6qr's. I think the volume control works great and has good feel but this combo is a little "hot" for me. My system sounds much better when I use a mac c-28 preamp buffer and the fixed output of the DAC1. It is much smoother in my system. Although there is more resolution without the preamp it's a little harsh and I keep going back to a preamp over and over again even with different power amps and I don't know why. I'm trying to find a way to keep the smooth mac sound and the resolution. Am considering trying a mac enviromental eq 107 without a preamp or perhaps a better mac preamp like a c-29 or c-32 or if oppertunity arises a c-41. Any other ideas? Perhaps with "darker" speakers it would work great but I can't, won't give up my pans.
How about a tubed preamp?--an older c-j might be just the thing (say, a PV-5). This should warm things up.
You may want to consider the new Grace m902 once reviews start coming in. The preamp stage is first-rate by all reports. There isn't much info on the new DAC circuit, but I believe it is similar if not the same as the m904 and m906, so you can try to dig up some info on those.
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