My appreciation for my Benchmark DAC3 DX has only grown over time. No, it is not perfect, but my wish list for its improvements is not sonic, but functional.
I hear nothing "wrong," nothing "missing" from its presentation. Of the DACs I've used, it is peerless in terms of revealing the tonal and spatial differences among recordings, sonic details, and being tonally even-tempered. It never gives the impression of being anything but sonically neutral in terms of tonal balance or the spatial qualities of the recording. It has the blackest of backgrounds and the highest level of audible sonic detail without ever making me feel or hear any edge/etch/overbrightness, etc. which I can reasonably lay at its feet. It is more immune to the quality of cables and sources feeding it than any other DAC I have owned--not totally immune, but the sonic results are not nearly as sensitive to cables and sources as with other DACs I've used.
It's volume control, source selections, and cable driving capability allow it to function as the preamp of my system. No analog preamp is necessary. Benchmark makes other versions of the DAC3 which incorporate analog inputs if they are needed and those analog inputs are never converted to digital when fed through those versions of the DAC3. For me, an array of digital inputs is sufficient, so I went with the DX version.
The DAC3 DX also includes one heck of a headphone amplifier. Even with my very low sensitivity Audeze LCD-4, the sound quality and SPL capability is basically on par with what I hear from my SimAudio Moon Neo 430HA separate headphone amp, a unit which costs 2.5 times as much as the DAC3. Lately for headphone listening I find myself listening more through the DAC3 DX than through the SimAudio. The SimAudio is more laid back with a more relaxed/sweet high end with a "bigger" left/right presentation, while the Benchmark sounds more focused, dynamically punchier (especially in the bass), and involves me more in both the rhythm and dynamic ebb and flow of the presentation. Also, the spatial qualities of the driven headphones vary more from one recording to another with the Benchmark, just as they do when the Benchmark is driving my Janszen Valentina Active speakers. For these results from the Audeze LCD-4s, the SimAudio is set to high gain and the Benchmark is set for 0 dB attenuation from its headphone outputs.
The remote control is hefty and sturdy, not the lightweight plastic variety that one usually sees. The buttons require a firm push to engage, which I like so as not to inadvertently change settings with routine handling. Once firmly pushed, the button controls are utterly reliable with the remote aimed only in the general direction of the unit. The operation of the volume control via the remote is signaled by a flashing pair of lights on the front panel of the DAC3 chassis. Other lights change as the mute or volume attenuation is engaged, or inputs are changed via the remote. The lights on the Benchmark also indicate the quality of the digital signal reaching the DAC, both in bit depth and sampling rate.
The included paper/online manual is fantastic, explaining all functions in great detail with clear close-up pictures where helpful. This is special importance since several functions, such as adjusting the gain for the XLR and headphone outputs, require opening the case and moving internal jumpers. The manual also includes a full set of measurements, the most technical detail for an audio electronics product I have seen. The packaging is also first rate in terms of protecting the unit during shipment and being custom designed for this unit so as to provide that protection without any messy packing materials. Shipping for my in-stock unit was lightning fast and the online ordering process was painless.
Note that my sonic comments are based on using basically the type of cables Benchmark recommends for use on the inputs and outputs of the DAC3--solid pro-audio type cables, nothing exotic or overly expensive. I think the analog output cable type is especially important and I do use the recommended Canare Star Quad L-4E6S cable.
In my opinion, at a current price of just under $2,100, the Benchmark DAC3 DX gives great value for money. Now, if Benchmark wants to offer a new deluxe model, perhaps on a larger chassis, then here is what I'd wish for, but only to the extent that these changes could be implemented without compromising the unit's current sonics in any way:
1. For functions which now require opening the chassis to implement, implement these functions via a remote control and/or chassis push button method.
2. Provide dim and off states for the front panel lights. Yes, the lights are useful for determining status of the unit and it inputs, but the LCDs are bright if you look at them while listening in semi-darkness as I often do.
3. Add backlighting to the buttons and identifiers on the remote control.
4. Add a balanced headphone output.
5. Add additional DAC chips so that the Aux output buss has the same fidelity as the Main output buss. I use the Aux to drive my separate headphone amp. Right now, to drive a separate headphone amp with the same fidelity as the Main output buss, I'd need to buy another DAC3 and use the digital pass through to feed it. Of course, the need for a separate headphone amp is questionable, given my sonic findings.
6. Implement the current digital pass through on a separate coax jack so that enabling that function does not eliminate one of the coax digital inputs.
7. If the chassis is made larger, a dimmable LCD display of all the status functions would be possible to include and the bright lights on the front panel could be eliminated.
8. Add an HDMI input which can accept both PCM and DSD signals. This would make it possible to use the HDMI output on my Oppo BDP-105D (and many other digital disc players) without the need to feed the signal through an HDMI audio de-embedder like the Kanex Pro I use and would also allow the input of DSD signals (rather than PCM) from SACDs from my Oppo.
I hear nothing "wrong," nothing "missing" from its presentation. Of the DACs I've used, it is peerless in terms of revealing the tonal and spatial differences among recordings, sonic details, and being tonally even-tempered. It never gives the impression of being anything but sonically neutral in terms of tonal balance or the spatial qualities of the recording. It has the blackest of backgrounds and the highest level of audible sonic detail without ever making me feel or hear any edge/etch/overbrightness, etc. which I can reasonably lay at its feet. It is more immune to the quality of cables and sources feeding it than any other DAC I have owned--not totally immune, but the sonic results are not nearly as sensitive to cables and sources as with other DACs I've used.
It's volume control, source selections, and cable driving capability allow it to function as the preamp of my system. No analog preamp is necessary. Benchmark makes other versions of the DAC3 which incorporate analog inputs if they are needed and those analog inputs are never converted to digital when fed through those versions of the DAC3. For me, an array of digital inputs is sufficient, so I went with the DX version.
The DAC3 DX also includes one heck of a headphone amplifier. Even with my very low sensitivity Audeze LCD-4, the sound quality and SPL capability is basically on par with what I hear from my SimAudio Moon Neo 430HA separate headphone amp, a unit which costs 2.5 times as much as the DAC3. Lately for headphone listening I find myself listening more through the DAC3 DX than through the SimAudio. The SimAudio is more laid back with a more relaxed/sweet high end with a "bigger" left/right presentation, while the Benchmark sounds more focused, dynamically punchier (especially in the bass), and involves me more in both the rhythm and dynamic ebb and flow of the presentation. Also, the spatial qualities of the driven headphones vary more from one recording to another with the Benchmark, just as they do when the Benchmark is driving my Janszen Valentina Active speakers. For these results from the Audeze LCD-4s, the SimAudio is set to high gain and the Benchmark is set for 0 dB attenuation from its headphone outputs.
The remote control is hefty and sturdy, not the lightweight plastic variety that one usually sees. The buttons require a firm push to engage, which I like so as not to inadvertently change settings with routine handling. Once firmly pushed, the button controls are utterly reliable with the remote aimed only in the general direction of the unit. The operation of the volume control via the remote is signaled by a flashing pair of lights on the front panel of the DAC3 chassis. Other lights change as the mute or volume attenuation is engaged, or inputs are changed via the remote. The lights on the Benchmark also indicate the quality of the digital signal reaching the DAC, both in bit depth and sampling rate.
The included paper/online manual is fantastic, explaining all functions in great detail with clear close-up pictures where helpful. This is special importance since several functions, such as adjusting the gain for the XLR and headphone outputs, require opening the case and moving internal jumpers. The manual also includes a full set of measurements, the most technical detail for an audio electronics product I have seen. The packaging is also first rate in terms of protecting the unit during shipment and being custom designed for this unit so as to provide that protection without any messy packing materials. Shipping for my in-stock unit was lightning fast and the online ordering process was painless.
Note that my sonic comments are based on using basically the type of cables Benchmark recommends for use on the inputs and outputs of the DAC3--solid pro-audio type cables, nothing exotic or overly expensive. I think the analog output cable type is especially important and I do use the recommended Canare Star Quad L-4E6S cable.
In my opinion, at a current price of just under $2,100, the Benchmark DAC3 DX gives great value for money. Now, if Benchmark wants to offer a new deluxe model, perhaps on a larger chassis, then here is what I'd wish for, but only to the extent that these changes could be implemented without compromising the unit's current sonics in any way:
1. For functions which now require opening the chassis to implement, implement these functions via a remote control and/or chassis push button method.
2. Provide dim and off states for the front panel lights. Yes, the lights are useful for determining status of the unit and it inputs, but the LCDs are bright if you look at them while listening in semi-darkness as I often do.
3. Add backlighting to the buttons and identifiers on the remote control.
4. Add a balanced headphone output.
5. Add additional DAC chips so that the Aux output buss has the same fidelity as the Main output buss. I use the Aux to drive my separate headphone amp. Right now, to drive a separate headphone amp with the same fidelity as the Main output buss, I'd need to buy another DAC3 and use the digital pass through to feed it. Of course, the need for a separate headphone amp is questionable, given my sonic findings.
6. Implement the current digital pass through on a separate coax jack so that enabling that function does not eliminate one of the coax digital inputs.
7. If the chassis is made larger, a dimmable LCD display of all the status functions would be possible to include and the bright lights on the front panel could be eliminated.
8. Add an HDMI input which can accept both PCM and DSD signals. This would make it possible to use the HDMI output on my Oppo BDP-105D (and many other digital disc players) without the need to feed the signal through an HDMI audio de-embedder like the Kanex Pro I use and would also allow the input of DSD signals (rather than PCM) from SACDs from my Oppo.