Benchmark DAC-1 vs. PS Audio - Digital Link III Audio DAC

SolidSqual
SolidSqual Posts: 5,218
edited June 2007 in Electronics
. . . which DAC do you like better? Any experience? Help me decide? I like how the Benchmark automatically recognizes the sample rate, but I wish it had USB interface like the PS Audio.
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  • zombie boy 2000
    zombie boy 2000 Posts: 6,641
    edited June 2007
    I haven't heard either, but the Benchmark retains pretty much all of it's MSRP value on the used market. You could snag one and give it a go..
    I never had it like this where I grew up. But I send my kids here because the fact is you go to one of the best schools in the country: Rushmore. Now, for some of you it doesn't matter. You were born rich and you're going to stay rich. But here's my advice to the rest of you: Take dead aim on the rich boys. Get them in the crosshairs and take them down. Just remember, they can buy anything but they can't buy backbone. Don't let them forget it. Thank you.Herman Blume - Rushmore
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  • SolidSqual
    SolidSqual Posts: 5,218
    edited June 2007
    I really want that USB interface. I would love to burn cds onto my computer in a lossless format to have one large localized library of high-end sound. Do you think it would sound as good as the CD itself?
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  • Emlyn
    Emlyn Posts: 4,536
    edited June 2007
    They just added USB to the Benchmark DAC.

    http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=BEDAC1USB
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  • SolidSqual
    SolidSqual Posts: 5,218
    edited June 2007
    yeah but for a considerable amoutn more $$$ compared to audiogon. I guess I'm wondering if the Benchmark will sound that much better than the PS Audio.
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,217
    edited June 2007
    SolidSqual wrote: »
    I really want that USB interface. I would love to burn cds onto my computer in a lossless format to have one large localized library of high-end sound. Do you think it would sound as good as the CD itself?

    Why can't you use the digital out on your soundcard? If you configure it correctly (depending on the soundcard) you can stream direct digital info w/o the soundcard processing the info.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • SolidSqual
    SolidSqual Posts: 5,218
    edited June 2007
    No digital out on my computer. It's just a laptop.
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,217
    edited June 2007
    SolidSqual wrote: »
    No digital out on my computer. It's just a laptop.

    Well then, a USB port on the dac might be important. :)

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited June 2007
    Haven't heard the Digital Link III, but I've been very satisfied with my Benchmark. See the reviews link in my sig below. As stated above, the new DAC1 is now available with USB.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • tryrrthg
    tryrrthg Posts: 1,896
    edited June 2007
    You can buy a USB soundcard that has a digital out...

    LINK
    Sony KDL-40V2500 HDTV, Rotel RSX-1067 Receiver, Sony BDP-S550 Blu-ray, Slim Devices Squeezebox, Polk RTi6, CSi3 & R15, DIY sub with Atlas 15
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  • SolidSqual
    SolidSqual Posts: 5,218
    edited June 2007
    I thought about buying a soundcard, but then I am just adding one more component into the mix. Plus, any sound card worth adding would probably equal the cost of just buying the USB version.
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  • dudeinaroom
    dudeinaroom Posts: 3,609
    edited June 2007
    Stay away from creative. I had one of their first Audigy sound cards, not a bad card, but it died 3 months after I got it. Call thier CS and got the run around for another 3 months. At this point the warranty was up, and was told so. If i wanted it fixed I would have to pay the cost of parts and labor. I will never own another creative product. Sorry for the hi-jack, now back to your normal dac ramblings
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  • SolidSqual
    SolidSqual Posts: 5,218
    edited June 2007
    I had a crap creative card too. The sound quality they claim is nothing compared to buying a good separate.
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited June 2007
    I have a Sound blaster Audigy 2 Pro in my htpc that use the AC3 cable right into the receiver: Seen in this picture:
    My gamming machine has the new SB Xfi Pro with ac3 to my logitech 5.1 thx computer speakers:

    http://www.silverti.com/ht/DSC06172.JPG
    Testing
    Testing
    Testing
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  • SolidSqual
    SolidSqual Posts: 5,218
    edited June 2007
    That's great, but I don't want to buy an expensive soundcard only to turn off all the extras I paid for so I can run a Toslink to my DAC. It's ridiculous. The $300 I would save by buying the USB-less DAC would be spent on buying a sound card to hook everything up. Not to mention, given my previous experience with Creative, I don't want anymore of their "Hi-End, Hi-fi" snake oil.

    No offense to your setup of course. It looks amazing.
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