Digital Drive: Benchmark DAC1 & Transport Impressions by SteveJ60

Hi everyone,

I've been following the posts here and thought I'd add my 2cents. Recently I have been looking to spend $1000 to improve my redbook CD playback. I borrowed the following for a shootout: Arcam CD73T, Rotel 1072, Cambridge Audio Azur 640C, Benchmark DAC1 with a Panasonic DVD-F65 Changer (Same digital output sound as the well-known S35, one of the very few DVD players thought to be bit-transparent according to Benchmark). I had a friend do the blinding so I never knew which player I was listening to. I then listened to each for 1hour+ with no blinding. Interestingly, my rankings were the same with and without blinding.

Briefly, my rankings were as follows:

1. Arcam CD73T with Benchmark DAC1
2. Rotel 1072 with Benchmark DAC1 (not very different from 1 at all)
3. Arcam CD73T
4. Rotel 1072
5. Panasonic F65 with Benchmark DAC1
6. Cambridge Audio 640C

Without going into lots of detail, I found the benchmark did benefit from a better transport, although it was nearly impossible to distinguish the transports with the Arcam and Rotel - and it sounded sweet - much better than the Arcam FMJ CD33!! (From memory anyway) The above combinations were however, extremely different than the Panasonic+DAC1 which still produced harsh highs, thin midrange, and weak bass. So, my opinion is that if you are lucky to find a bit-transparent CDP (and apparently not all are from talking with benchmark), the DAC1 will be a wonderful addition.

Caution to those who plan to use the DAC1 with a cheap DVD player or even a cheap CDP. All I can say is try before you buy.

In the end, I would love to get both the Arcam and Benchmark, but for now, I'll be purchasing the Arcam, with the hope of adding on the DAC1 or future DAC sometime in the coming years. I just don't have the energy to try the DAC1 with a bunch of cheap (ie. $200) CDP's to figure out which combo works.

Steve

PS> If anyone knows of a good cheap CDP for $200 or so new to be used with the DAC1, please let me know. And yes, the DAC1 I demoed was burned in already.