Benchmark DAC-1 USB DAC Shipping - PENDING

[cheez]

It will be delivered today. Oh I'm so excited it's not even funny.

I will have a busy thanksgiving weekend (I have Monday off also).


Once received I will take pics and do my good'ol cheez's first impression review about the product. It is for the Focal CMS40 speakers and SVS SB12-NSD subwoofer. Stay tuned.


Oh and I already have a high quality toslink fiber optic cable from BetterCable that I purchased several months ago. I'll probably start off with this connection.


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[gus6464]

What's the point of getting the DAC1 USB if you are not going to use the USB. Might as well just bought the regular one if you going to use toslink. And no the fancy toslink cable you have is not going to make it sound better than a $2 usb cable.

 

[cheez]

What's the point of getting the DAC1 USB if you are not going to use the USB. Might as well just bought the regular one if you going to use toslink. And no the fancy toslink cable you have is not going to make it sound better than a $2 usb cable.

Because it's better to have more options for connecting from source to DAC instead of only relying on toslink.

The toslink cable I've got isn't all that expensive, I only spent around $50 for that.

But no... $2 USB cable will hurt sound quality. Terrible idea.

 

[Number1]

What a monumental waste of time and money.

Let see
Focal speakers $1000
Dumb audio cable $1200
DA converter $1200.

Total $3400 +

Let see what can be obtained with this kind of cash.

ONKYO TX-NR818 7.2-Channel Network A/V Receiver – Black $1200

Definitive Technology SuperCube 6000 1500W High-Performance Powered Subwoofer Each $1000

Polk Audio RTi A9 $750 each

 

[Howard]

Could've just gotten an ODAC.

http://www.jdslabs.com/item.php?fetchitem=46

 

[Number1]

Could've just gotten an ODAC.

http://www.jdslabs.com/item.php?fetchitem=46

Buy one and offer it to him for $1200. The extra cost would improve the sound significantly.

 

[gus6464]

Because it's better to have more options for connecting from source to DAC instead of only relying on toslink.

The toslink cable I've got isn't all that expensive, I only spent around $50 for that.

But no... $2 USB cable will hurt sound quality. Terrible idea.

Welcome to the world of digital audio where the information either gets there or it doesn't. No such thing as an audiophile USB cable and you will never find anyone who will dispute that.

And btw a monoprice $4 mini toslink cable would've been enough. Digital audio is straight forward unlike the analog world where it's full of snake oil.

 

[gus6464]

Could've just gotten an ODAC.

http://www.jdslabs.com/item.php?fetchitem=46

Their O2 headphone amp is very nice.

 

[cheez]

What a monumental waste of time and money.

Let see
Focal speakers $1000
Dumb audio cable $1200
DA converter $1200.

Total $3400 +

The sexy cable ($1200) is connected to Audioengine A2 speakers, not the Focal speakers. The cable is 3.5mm mini-mini. It's coming with XLR cables from the manufacturer (I added them when ordering).

Let see what can be obtained with this kind of cash.

ONKYO TX-NR818 7.2-Channel Network A/V Receiver – Black $1200

I don't use receiver. And I don't use passive system. Sorry.

Definitive Technology SuperCube 6000 1500W High-Performance Powered Subwoofer Each $1000

I don't need a 1500 watt junk quality subwoofer. Sorry.

Polk Audio RTi A9 $750 each

That's a lower rank quality speaker. And it won't be as good as the Focal speakers in the mid range and the superb stereo imaging. Sorry.


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[cheez]

Buy one and offer it to him for $1200. The extra cost would improve the sound significantly.

Hey it's not my fault you can't hear the changes in sound with aftermarket cables. It's your loss not mine...

 

[cheez]

Welcome to the world of digital audio where the information either gets there or it doesn't. No such thing as an audiophile USB cable and you will never find anyone who will dispute that.

You must only read this forum and not seeing what's out there. There are a lot of people experiencing sound improvements by going with higher end USB cables. You must be new...

And btw a monoprice $4 mini toslink cable would've been enough. Digital audio is straight forward unlike the analog world where it's full of snake oil.

Incorrect, they still carry electrical noise in the cable which hurts SQ. I have experienced this issue before. The analog audio cable (aftermarket) will outperform it easily.

 

[cheez]

Guys, this is about the external DAC, not audio cables... what's the need for going off topic?

 

[gus6464]

Incorrect, they still carry electrical noise in the cable which hurts SQ. I have experienced this issue before. The analog audio cable (aftermarket) will outperform it easily.

Um toslink is fiber optic which is light... Electrical noise and interference doesn't exist on a fiber optic line lol. You should read up on what some of this stuff actually is.

 

[nsafreak]

Um toslink is fiber optic which is light... Electrical noise and interference doesn't exist on a fiber optic line lol. You should read up on what some of this stuff actually is.

Trying to convince cheez that the cable he purchases for digital audio or especially analog audio equipment to hook up to his speakers is way overpriced is like banging your head against a brick wall. Save yourself the trouble and just laugh at his posts. I guess the one good thing coming out of his purchases is he's stimulating the economy.

 

[uhohs]

Could've just gotten an ODAC.

http://www.jdslabs.com/item.php?fetchitem=46

yeah, that toslink on the ODAC sure is nice.

 

[Number1]

snip snip


Incorrect, they still carry electrical noise in the cable which hurts SQ. I have experienced this issue before. The analog audio cable (aftermarket) will outperform it easily.

Please describe to us how electrical noise travel in an optical cable. Take your time, research it.

 

[Howard]

yeah, that toslink on the ODAC sure is nice.

oh.

Still should've got an ODAC though.

 

[cheez]

Um toslink is fiber optic which is light... Electrical noise and interference doesn't exist on a fiber optic line lol. You should read up on what some of this stuff actually is.

Um? Electrical noise still exists in the outer layer of the cable and that's how you get dirty signal via FIBER OPTIC. You are new....

Aey, read this again:

Guys, this is about the external DAC, not audio cables... what's the need for going off topic?

 

[cheez]

Trying to convince cheez that the cable he purchases for digital audio or especially analog audio equipment to hook up to his speakers is way overpriced is like banging your head against a brick wall. Save yourself the trouble and just laugh at his posts. I guess the one good thing coming out of his purchases is he's stimulating the economy.

Yes, laughing is good. You can laugh all you want. It's good for your health. I am not laughing however because I am PISSED AS F#@$. Damn UPS didn't drop off my package (Benchmark DAC) because they required signature when I was at work. Waited at the UPS pickup station till 8PM only to find out the truck driver won't get back till 8 or 8:30 PM and they close at 7:30 PM! They said they'll redeliver on MONDAY.

Guys, don't do business with UPS. I always had good experience with FedEx. The Benchmark manufacturer must have signed contract with UPS or something cause they don't deliver via FedEx. I should have ordered from Amazon damn!! Then I would have gotten the package by now. I paid top dollars for fast shipping only to get the s##t on Monday what is this bull ........

And yes, I buy expensive stuff and I DO help stimulate the economy in the U.S. They better thank me.... I also bought a brand new house a few years ago AND brand new car (near $50k Lexus). I paid big bucks on cables and I believe the ones I bought are made in the U.S. too. Hot DAYMNNNNN I'm PISSED that I can't get my hands on the Benchmark DAC today F##########.

 

[Number1]

Um? Electrical noise still exists in the outer layer of the cable and that's how you get dirty signal via FIBER OPTIC. You are new....

Aey, read this again:

BALONEY!!!! You're making this up.

Light is transmitted in the core. The protective covering, generally a layer of plastic 25 to 1000 microns thick, gives the fiber excellent mechanical properties. No electricity travel in the optical cable, NONE. The plastic outer layer and fiber core are insulators. Look up insulator if you don't know what it means.

 

[joetekubi]

You've got a constitutional right to spend your money and enjoy it as much as you like.
I think you could have done much better.
Emotiva electronics are loved by many:
http://www.emotiva.com/

Salk speakers are high-end for medium money.
Much, much better than B&W or Polk. The Focals you have are pretty good, but
are probably the weak link in your system.
http://www.salksound.com/

 

[cheez]

BALONEY!!!! You're making this up.

Light is transmitted in the core. The protective covering, generally a layer of plastic 25 to 1000 microns thick, gives the fiber excellent mechanical properties. No electricity travel in the optical cable, NONE. The plastic outer layer and fiber core are insulators. Look up insulator if you don't know what it means.

No, you are misinformed. Fiber optic lines still suffer from noise and jitter. It's a well known fact and is old. The problem is dispersed light does get through the cable, but only after it has taken a longer path, causing the data to arrive later. All these imperfections and impurities in the fiber are found in $4 fiber optic cables...and all this delayed timing affects audio. It doesn't only apply to analog cables but digital cables including FIBER OPTIC. Since you use everything cheap stuff (cables) you wouldn't have known what details and dynamics you have been missing all this time. You know some of your own gears but seem to be way behind on other things that are easily overlooked.

BTW, thanks for your useless recommendation on that cheap arse audio receiver and passive speakers which I have absolutely no use for. I wasn't asking for what to get. This thread is for posting my impression on the Benchmark DAC product.


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[Howard]

No, you are misinformed. Fiber optic lines still suffer from noise and jitter. It's a well known fact and is old. The problem is dispersed light does get through the cable, but only after it has taken a longer path, causing the data to arrive later. All these imperfections and impurities in the fiber are found in $4 fiber optic cables...and all this delayed timing affects audio. It doesn't only apply to analog cables but digital cables including FIBER OPTIC. Since you use everything cheap stuff (cables) you wouldn't have known what details and dynamics you have been missing you newb....

I, uh, wow.

Let me ask one thing only: could you possibly accept that there might be a chance that cables don't matter (within reason)? Or have you already conclusively proven to yourself that they do? If yes to the latter, I will never bother you again.

 

[boomhower]

Why's everyone arguing with the OP? He's spouting off how much he paid for it and has the prices listed for his cables in his sig. He just wants to show how big his e-peen is.

 

[skriefal]

What a monumental waste of time and money.

Let see
Focal speakers $1000
Dumb audio cable $1200
DA converter $1200.

Total $3400 +

I disagree, at least with respect to the speakers and maybe the DAC. $1000 is on the "budget" end of the spectrum for great speakers. The $1200 cable, however... that money would be much better allocated towards speakers or amplifier.

Definitive Technology SuperCube 6000 1500W High-Performance Powered Subwoofer Each $1000

I'd much rather have a Rythmik F15 at that price. Not one of those itty-bitty subs that needs to be fed insane amplifier power to work around the too-small cabinet size.