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Showing results for tags 'benchmark'.
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No, not Nelson Pass (!) But I thought this was an interesting article... https://benchmarkmedia.com/blogs/application_notes/power-amplifiers-the-importance-of-the-first-watt
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The Benchmark DACs have adjustable XLR output buffer pads to improve pairing with various amps. In the pic from the owners manual, it says -10db will render the most reduction. Shouldn't -20 provide the most?
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It was definitely worth the wait on this custom A-Tech Fabrication PC chassis. The case was built by a master craftsman/machinist and is a true handmade case built in the USA; although a tad expensive, well worth it if you think about the hours they must have spent to make every part, the large heatsinks, hand brush even the inside surfaces, etc... If you don't have a CNC machine and months to spend designing such a case, it is an extreme value for what you get (compared to the snake oil stuff I see anyways) and they really do make the best PC cases I have ever seen. http://atechfabrication.com/ Glenn and his team did an incredible job. The fit and finish is something you'd see on a $10k+ audio component. A-Tech's custom mount for the Griffin PowerMate knob: Some more pics of the inside. I made the internal cables, bought and assembled the PC components, custom programmed the VFD and Griffin Powermate knob, replaced Nvidia GTX 1080 fans and power supply fan, etc... This PC is super super quiet incase you are wondering. Regrettably, I couldn't passively cool the GPU as the highest A-Tech can do right now in my case is a GTX 1070 and I had already bought the GTX 1080 on Black Friday (for under $500... crazy how video cards went up in price). Older pics of the back of the front rack. I built these and made all audio cables (this older pic has a OrigenAE case). Some note worthy technical details: Hard to find slim Pioneer UHD drive (for 4k UHD blu-ray playback) Nvidia GTX 1080, fed using MadVR for video rendering RME HDSPe AES audio card with 16 in/out channels. This card has a 42 bit internal DSP and the RME TotalMix software is used for crystal clear volume control at very low volumes. Benchmark AHB2 amps, truly a technological achievement with the best measurements ever shown on Stereophile: https://www.stereophile.com/content/benchmark-media-systems-ahb2-power-amplifier-measurements. The noise floor is so low you cannot hear it, and the distortion is the best available right now. The difference is very audible incase you were wondering too! Xilica XD4080 speaker processors (each unit has 40 bit DSPs and integrated DACs for output channels, 4 in/8 out). The Xilica's are setup to tri-amp my front speakers and cross to 5 subs to yield even lower distortion. They have FIR filters for high/mid/low, and I use a low order Bessel filter to cross to the subs. Of course the room has several sound treatments and bass traps to enhance performance evermore, and no EQ adjustment is needed to achieve +/-5dB at main listening position all the way down to about 16Hz. This took 5 time aligned and level matched subs to do without Dirac, but the performance improvement is incredible.
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I'm currently looking at the Benchmark ADC, Tascam DA-3000 and the PS Audio Analog Phono Converter. I know the Ayre is out there but it's very pricey at around $3K. If anyone could could share their experiences with any of the products I listed above that would be greatly apprecaited. Thanks! Arleigh
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Hi all Just wanted to ask if there are any PS Audio DirectStream DAC owners out there that have paired it directly with a Benchmark AHB2 power amp? I'm thinking of trying out this combination and I'm trying to arrange a demo for January but in the mean time I'm interested in hearing anyone else's thoughts, that's tried this combination specifically. Thanks in advance :-)
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Hello guys! I was really in love with my DAC1 lately but it's time to upgrade but don't know where to. Is there any of those who loved the first version and upgraded to something new from high-end line up? I love almost everything in DAC1, especially it's PRAT and signature, it's crystal clear and dead quiet. But there is one thing that forced me to sell it — there is a lack of resolution. It totally failed while I've bought my vinyl rig. Some guys told me that higher version PRE or HDR would sound better. Is that so? The owner of DAC2 told me that it sound completelly different. Other sources I've owned/listened and didn't liked are: Lavry DA10 Ps Audio DLIII VALAB NOS DAC McIntosh MCD201, MCD500 Antelope PS. I'm not into analog like sound and whatever it is. I need a quiet and crystal clear sound full of PRAT, that's what I call an egaging DAC. My rig: McIntosh MA2275 Klipsch RF-7II Technics 1210 MKII + Ortofon 2M Black