Benchmark DAC1 HDR

[Megs]

Just been reading an intersting thread on this forum about the Benchmark dac posted some time ago by jaxwired. I'm off to the States for my old mucker's wedding next month and was seriously thinking about preordering the Benchmark Dac1 HDR with remote and getting it shipped to his gaff for my arrival. Anyway my question is this...... I have my music collection stored on a 500gb mac mini feeding a dacmagic by USB and then into an old marantz pm6010 ose amp driving a pair of Epos M16 floorstanders - decent sound but not exactly audiophile. Had been looking at upgrading to Cyrus xpdqx integrated or maybe the pre amp version with an x power. Curious as to whether anyone has listened to the Cyrus options I've just mentioned and if so how they rate against the Benchmark. Also if I go for the Benchmark acting as the preamp any thoughts about a suitable power amp. In the longer run I'll obviously look at a speaker upgrade.

Cheers

 

[Craig M.]

my mac mini into a cyrus dacxp was horrible, into the benchmark it's very good. not exactly an answer to your question, but hey ho!

 

[Megs]

How did the mac into cyrus sound - how do you mean horrible? are you using the mac with the benchmark now in your system or did you listen to both options at a dealers?

 

[Megs]

How did the mac into cyrus sound - how do you mean horrible? are you using the mac with the benchmark now in your system or did you listen to both options at a dealers?

 

[Megs]

Sorry - I'm being dim - just noticed you got your system listed under your reply

 

[Craig M.]

the cyrus sounded thin and harsh, and not a small amount either. very strange as it's the only dac i've tried that sounded worse with the mac mini than with a cd transport - it sounded very good with the cdxtse transport.

as jaxwired said in his benchmark thread, the dac1 could sound lean or clinical in the wrong system.

 

[Megs]

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[Megs]

need to get off this works pc - keeps posting everything twice

 

[Megs]

thanks craig - given me food for thought