Topspin

Would there be any benefit to placing the SPDIF iPurifier between my audiophilleo2 and my Benchmark DAC3? The AP2 claims 2.6ps of jitter, would this product reduce that number further prior to feeding the DAC?

Gosh guys, I mentioned the iDSD Micro as a bit of backstory for my decision to get the Benchmark DAC3. I believe Miska was merely offering a few suggestions I could try to get the maximum enjoyment out of the product. I don't think the intent was to hijack the thread and turn it into a DSD vs. PCM debate. Update: The Benchmark DAC3 is settling in nicely, although the unbalanced output that I use for my subwoofers do not seem to track well with the balanced outputs I use for the mains. I'm thinking of switching to unbalanced for the mains, and see if that produces better results. Other than that: In my limited experienced, it's best converter I have owned or heard yet.

I shall try those filters, thanks. I get dropouts when upsampling to DSD256-DSD512. I'm guessing my PC lacks the CPU brawn

got the Benchmark DAC3. The reason for the upgrade: I had been using a very problematic QuteHD (grounding hum, analog channel drop outs, unexplainable loud 'tapping' noises). Screw it, never buying a second-hand product ever again. While it sounded great (when it worked properly), the bass was 'fun' but not entirely natural sounding in my system. In the interim, I dropped in my Micro iDSD. Great little product, but I detected a fair amount of anxiety-inducing digititis, at least on my man-cave reference system. I still love it and will continue to use it as a dac/headphone amp on the desktop system and for the handful of multi-dsd and DXD files in my library. I gave up waiting for the iDSD pro. The constant delays were frustrating and there are feature that I realized that I do not really need (tubes) or want in a dac. I started looking at the Mytek Brooklyn, and again, many awesome looking extras including a phono input, but I realized I'm still on the fence on whether I'm ever going to go back to vinyl. Why pay for a feature I may never use? Same goes for the headphone out option. I'll never bring my headphones to the man-cave. Then there was Schiit's product lineup and Holo's Spring. Dedicated DACs, with all manner of praise. Perfect...except the price was a bit more than I wanted to spend. And size. yes, size matters here: the Man cave is laughably tiny and truly fits the term: Small, low ceiling, no natural light and underground. Full-sized and over-sized components need not apply. Sounds silly, I know, but just go with it. It's the reason why I was considering the idsd pro in the first place. It brings me to Benchmark. Everything I need, and little I do not. At first I didn't think I would even use the preamp feature, just output the analog feed to my Parasound P5. Then I realized that one less (full-sized) component would save even more space, reduce the spaghetti of cables and may just improve the overall fidelity. So how does it sound? It's been said before, but I'm a new, first-time owner so bear with me: No coloration, no gimmicky tubes, no '3D', 'Super Bass' or 'minimum phase' switches. Neutral to the extent that one could easily, but inaccurately, describe its quality as bland. the signature sound is the lack thereof. I hate to use the phrase 'analog-like'. All analog devices are not always the greatest sound to my ears. AM radio is also analog, and I just refuse to participate in that tired debate here. Instead I'll say it boosts my laptop-sourced system to sound much more natural. No digital harshness, no syrupy, tube-y coloration to get in the way. No listening fatigue after a 2 hour session. All focus is on an accurate conversion and level control. Compressed and poorly produced tracks are not flattered. Great recordings shine through. It handles red book PCM like a champ. It squeezes a surprising amount of detail from those tracks. Minimum UI, maximum user manual. No $ is wasted on a fancy chassis (Mytek). I've never had to open a case to set an attenuation level, but even an ape like myself was able to change the jumper settings easily. I was back to listening in 10-15 minutes I never heard the DAC2, so I am afraid I cannot offer a comparison. There is little reason to go back to the micro iDSD, and for better or worse, the QuteHD will gather dust for the foreseeable future. After endless weeks of agonizing research, I made my choice, and am very happy with it. It is the 'jewel' in the cave, the title previously held for many months by my Totem Acoustic Ember pair. Side note: Rory @Benchmark is an exceptional person to work with.

got the Benchmark DAC3. The reason for the upgrade: I had been using a very problematic QuteHD (grounding hum, analog channel drop outs, unexplainable loud 'tapping' noises). Screw it, never buying a second-hand product ever again. While it sounded great (when it worked properly), the bass was 'fun' but not entirely natural sounding in my system. In the interim, I dropped in my Micro iDSD. Great little product, but I detected a fair amount of anxiety-inducing digititis, at least on my man-cave reference system. I still love it and will continue to use it as a dac/headphone amp on the desktop system and for the handful of multi-dsd and DXD files in my library. I gave up waiting for the iDSD pro. The constant delays were frustrating and there are feature that I realized that I do not really need (tubes) or want in a dac. I started looking at the Mytek Brooklyn, and again, many awesome looking extras including a phono input, but I realized I'm still on the fence on whether I'm ever going to go back to vinyl. Why pay for a feature I may never use? Same goes for the headphone out option. I'll never bring my headphones to the man-cave. Then there was Schiit's product lineup and Holo's Spring. Dedicated DACs, with all manner of praise. Perfect...except the price was a bit more than I wanted to spend. And size. yes, size matters here: the Man cave is laughably tiny and truly fits the term: Small, low ceiling, no natural light and underground. Full-sized and over-sized components need not apply. Sounds silly, I know, but just go with it. It's the reason why I was considering the idsd pro in the first place. It brings me to Benchmark. Everything I need, and little I do not. At first I didn't think I would even use the preamp feature, just output the analog feed to my Parasound P5. Then I realized that one less (full-sized) component would save even more space, reduce the spaghetti of cables and may just improve the overall fidelity. So how does it sound? It's been said before, but I'm a new, first-time owner so bear with me: No coloration, no gimmicky tubes, no '3D', 'Super Bass' or 'minimum phase' switches. Neutral to the extent that one could easily describe the transparency quality as bland. all focus is on an accurate conversion and level control. Compressed and poorly produced tracks are not flattered. Great recordings shine through. It handles redbook PCM like a champ. It squeezes a surprising amount of detail from those tracks. Minimal UI, maximum user manual. No $ is wasted on a fancy chassis (Mytek). I've never had to open a case to set an attenuation level, but even an ape like myself was able to change the jumper settings easily. I was back to listening in 10-15 minutes I never heard the DAC2, so I am afraid I cannot offer a comparison. There's little reason to go back to the micro iDSD, and for better or worse, the QuteHD will gather dust for the foreseeable future. After endless weeks of agonizing research, I made my choice, and am very happy with it. It is the 'jewel' in the cave, the title previously held for many months by my Totem Acoustic Ember pair. Side note: Rory @Benchmark is an exceptional person to work with.

Yah...i'm pretty much done waiting. Unless AMR releases at least the final specs by Friday, I'm going for the new Benchmark DAC3. The Mytek Brooklyn has a ton of cool features, but I probably won't use them all with any regularity. The DAC3 has everything I need and nothing I don't. It's also significantly less $$ and smaller than the Yiggy (which was also on the short list). The balanced headphone output, tube option and the DSD512 (1024?) on the iDSD PRO is super cool, but not must-haves. I have no doubt it will awesome anyway. Happy listening, all!

Fair enough, thanks for your candor.

Thank you so much for your detailed reply. There are features on the brooklyn that I am more likely to use. The analog input being at the top of that list. Cheers.

I assume you've been asked this, so apologies: I have the micro idsd, and am starting to lose the fever for the pro version. I have been looking at the mytek brooklyn as an alternative. I know you have the brooklyn, and I think also the micro. Which gets more playtime? Is the brooklyn worth getting if I already have the micro? Also, do you have any reason to think the pro will feature a phono input? Thanks!

I am losing interest too. The mytek brooklyn Is catching my eye with the phono input. Apologies if this question has been asked and answered already, but will the idsd pro have this? I see on on the photos what appears to be a phono grounding post. Can someone confirm/deny this? This will be the deciding factor for me.

Got mine today. I won't be able to listen to it until I get back St. Croix. Woot.

Not yet. I won mine here in CA, I am in the US. No idea when mine will be shipping. I just have to be patient!

Thanks for the speedy images, video and initial review Totsipaki. Do you have the original iUSB? If so, how does it compare? I will soon have both, so maybe I can compare the two and post it here. On a related note. Do you have the itube? I am on the fence with that purchase... Congrats to 3rd prize winner from the 5th!

Thanks, bud! I cannot wait to pair it with my micro IDSD!