Benchmark Media DAC3 – The Preview
Musical truth…
Today we are going to visit the world of digital music. I’m referencing high-definition tunes – no
mp3 files allowed...! Why no mp3, you
ask? Remember how your TV picture looked
in 1989? Compare that to how your hi-def
TV looks today. I think you get the
picture… (the application of this pun
was thoroughly intended by the author!)
Back on point, you need gear to turn those digital files
into an analog signal that you can hear.
This brings up the subject of DACs.
“What, pray tell, is a DAC”, you ask?
Digital to Analog Converter is the
acronym, and these high-tech wonders turn a digital signal into an analog
signal. DACs are pretty much everywhere
these days. (my apologies to the turntable
crowd.) Any device playing digital audio
has one in some form. Hi-def
televisions? Yep… Cell phones? Yep…
The list goes on…
As with any other device, quality and ability vary greatly
in the world of DACs. This blog’s focus
will be the audiophile world, where DACs proliferate the market from
manufacturers near and far. Pricing can
range from wallet bucks on up to a comma and a whole bunch of zeros.
The year was 1983 and the garage was located in Garland,
Texas. Benchmark founder Allen H.
Burdick engineered and built professional audio gear used by television
broadcast facilities. Over the years,
Benchmark relocated to Syracuse, NY and grew their audio product line into
several markets, including the recording industry. Many of those products, including the
Benchmark DACs and amplifiers, are being scooped up by the at-home audiophile
crowd for use in high-end sound systems.
The DAC3 is, of course, the 3rd generation of
Benchmark’s DAC, and utilizes a brand-new converter chip from ESS Technology, along with improvements in
parts and engineering. The result is a
DAC that sounds…
Not so fast… Stay
tuned for part 2, coming soon to a blog near you...!
Marty Feldmann, The Connoisseur, is the
highly sought after consultant who assists businesses and individual clients
with the acquisition of the finer things life has to offer. Whether you are planning a weekend getaway to
wine country, selecting audio equipment to outfit your home, planning your
dream vacation or purchasing your ultimate transportation, Marty is your
personal connection to the good life…
Marty can be contacted at: 916.952.9529 Marty@ConnoisseurCorner.com