Benchmark DAC3 HGC (Black)

Benchmark's DAC1 and DAC2 D/A converter families have been the reference to which other converters have been compared. It is rare to find a converter review that does not draw comparisons to the DAC1 or the DAC2. Benchmark converters are in daily use at many of the world's finest recording studios and mastering rooms. Benchmark converters are also enjoyed by thousands of audiophiles. Benchmark has raised the bar again ... the DAC3 defines a new reference.

Reference Performance The DAC3 delivers outstanding musical detail and precise stereo imaging. It employs an advanced high-headroom digital filter design, and a high-sample-rate Asynchronous USB Audio interface. All inputs are fully isolated from interface jitter by Benchmark's new UltraLock3™ jitter attenuation system.

Internal digital processing and conversion is 32-bits, and this processing includes 3.5 dB of headroom above 0 dBFS. This headroom prevents the DSP overloads that commonly occur in other D/A converters.

Four balanced 32-bit D/A converters are summed together to create each balanced analog output. This 4:1 summation provides a 6 dB noise reduction, and gives the DAC3 industry-leading performance.

DAC3 vs. DAC2

The DAC3 builds upon Benchmark's highly successful DAC2 product family. The DAC3 maintains the familiar DAC2 form factor and feature set, but adds the higher performance available from the new ES9028PRO D/A converter. The DAC3 offers the following improvements over the DAC2:

Active 2nd Harmonic Compensation

Active 3rd Harmonic Compensation

Lower THD+N

Lower passband ripple

Improved frequency response

Faster PLL lock times

Faster switching between input signals

DAC3 vs. DAC1 The DAC3 and DAC2 added these features that were not found on the DAC1

Asynchronous 192kHz USB Audio 2.0

32-bit D/A conversion system

Word Length Display

Sample Rate Display

Polarity Control

Direct DSD D/A Conversion

-20 dB DIM

Bi-Directional 12V Trigger

Power Switch with Auto-On Function

Home Theater Bypass

Digital Pass-Through

High-Headroom DSP

Dual-Domain Hybrid Gain Control

Additional I/O

Native DSD Conversion All digital inputs on the DAC3 support native PCM or DSD conversion. From any input, DSD is transported with bit accuracy over DoP 1.1. DSD and PCM are both natively converted to analog. There are no DSD to PCM or PCM to DSD conversions to compromise the quality of the music. The DAC3 conversion system seamlessly switches between native PCM and native DSD conversion. DSD over DoP 1.1 is supported by many media players, and DSD downloads are now available from several sources.

Direct Connectivity to Power Amplifiers Benchmark DAC1, DAC2, and DAC3 converters are designed to directly drive power amplifiers and speakers. Benchmark converters feature adjustable low-impedance passive attenuators at the XLR outputs that can be used to optimize the interface to the power amplifier (or powered monitor). This unique Benchmark feature optimizes the gain staging between the DAC and the power amplifier. Proper gain staging cannot be overemphasised. When audio stages are properly matched, each component in the audio chain is able to operate at its optimum signal level, and the system performance is significantly improved.

Sonically-Neutral Studio Monitoring All Benchmark converters are designed for maximum transparency. This transparency is absolutely essential in the studio monitoring chain. For this reason, DAC3 converters are ideal for critical reference-quality professional systems. Unlike many competing products, the DAC3 is not designed to add "euphonic" coloration to the audio. Instead it is designed to be as uncolored and natural as possible.

Step Into the Studio When Benchmark's professional converters are used in hi-fi applications, studio-quality sound can be enjoyed in a home environment. Enjoy pure music without any coloration from the electronics. Hear the music exactly the way it was heard in the studio, and exactly the way the artists intended.

Discover the natural, uncolored, analog sound of the DAC3. Sit in the Performance Space

Transparent sound can go beyond replicating the studio experience. Recordings that have been produced with a natural and unprocessed sound can transport you to the performance space. But, this can only happen when the entire playback chain is selected for maximum transparency.

This experience of "being there" cannot be created by systems that are designed to add "warmth" or "euphonic color" to the music.

• Sample Rate Display

• Word Length Display

• 5 Digital Inputs

• 2 Stereo Analog Inputs (2 RCA)

• 3 Stereo Analog Outputs (2 RCA, 1 XLR)

• Digital Pass Through

• Native DSD Conversion

• Polarity Switch

• Asynchronous USB 2.0

• Driverless Asynchronous USB 1.1

• Home Theater Bypass

• Bi-Directional 12 Volt Trigger

• Power Switch

• Low Power Consumption

• ES9028PRO Converter

AUDIO PERFORMANCE:

Fs = 44.1 to 96 kHz, 20 to 20 kHz BW, 1 kHz test tone, 0 dBFS = +24 dBu (unless noted)

SNR - A-Weighted, 0 dBFS = +27 dBu: 128 dB

SNR - Unweighted, 0 dBFS = +27 dBu: 126 dB

THD+N, 1 kHz at 0 dBFS: -113 dBFS, -113 dB, 0.00022%

THD+N, 1 kHz at -1 dBFS: -114 dBFS, -113 dB, 0.00022%

THD+N, 1 kHz at -3 dBFS: -119 dBFS, -116 dB, 0.00016%

THD+N, 20 to 20 kHz test tone at -3 dBFS: -113 dBFS, -110 dB, 0.00032%

FREQUENCY RESPONSE AT FS=192 KHZ:

• +0 dB, -0.015 dB (20 to 20 kHz)

• -0.015 dB at 10 Hz

• -0.005 dB at 20 kHz

• -0.031 dB at 40 kHz

• -0.15 dB at 80 kHz

FREQUENCY RESPONSE AT FS=48 KHZ:

• +0 dB, -0.015 dB (20 to 20 kHz)

• -0.015 dB at 10 Hz

• -0.005 dB at 20 kHz

CROSSTALK:

• -116 dB at 20 kHz

• -130 dB at 1 kHz

• -137 dB at 20 Hz

Maximum Amplitude of Jitter Induced Sidebands (10 kHz 0 dBFS test tone, 12.75 UI sinusoidal jitter at 1 kHz): < -144 dB

Maximum Amplitude of Spurious Tones with 0 dBFS test signal: < -138 dB

Maximum Amplitude of Idle Tones: < -147 dB

Maximum Amplitude of AC line related Hum & Noise: < -133 dB

Inter-channel Differential Phase (Stereo Pair - any sample rate): +/- 0.25 degrees at 20 kHz

Inter-channel Differential Phase (Between DAC3 Units Fs< 110 kHz) Any sample rate.: +/- 0.25 degrees at 20 kHz

Maximum Lock Time after Fs change: 6 ms

Soft Mute Ramp Up/Down Time: 9.6 ms

Mute on Receive Error: Yes

Mute on Lock Error: Yes

Mute on Idle Channel: No

50/15 us De-Emphasis Enable: Automatic in Consumer Mode

De-Emphasis Method: Digital IIR

De-Emphasis Supported at: Fs = 32, 44.1, 48 kHz

GROUP DELAY (LATENCY):

DELAY - DIGITAL INPUT TO ANALOG OUTPUT (FUNCTION OF SAMPLE RATE):

• 1.36 ms at 44.1 kHz

• 1.27 ms at 48 kHz

• 0.90 ms at 88.2 kHz

• 0.82 ms at 96 kHz

• 0.51 ms at 176.4 kHz

• 0.47 ms at 192 kHz

DIGITAL AUDIO INPUTS:

Number of Digital Inputs (switch selected): 5 (1 USB, 2 Optical, 2 Coaxial)

Number of Channels: 2

INPUT SAMPLE FREQUENCY RANGE:

• 28 to 210 kHz (Coaxial Inputs)

• 28 to 96 kHz (Optical Inputs)

• 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192 kHz (USB Input)

Maximum Input Word Length: 24 bits

Digital Input Impedance: 75 Ohms (Coaxial Inputs)

DC Blocking Capacitors on Digital Inputs: Yes (Coaxial Inputs)

Transient and Over-Voltage Protection on Digital Inputs: Yes (Coaxial Inputs)

Minimum Digital Input Level: 250 mVpp (Coaxial Inputs)

JITTER TOLERANCE (WITH NO MEASURABLE CHANGE IN PERFORMANCE):

• >12.75 UI sine, 100 Hz to 3 kHz

• >1.5 UI sine at 20 kHz

• >1.5 UI sine at 40 kHz

• >1.5 UI sine at 80 kHz

• >1.5 UI sine at 90 kHz

• >0.25 UI sine above 160 kHz

Jitter Attenuation Method: Benchmark UltraLock3™ - all inputs

BALANCED ANALOG OUTPUTS:

Number of Balanced Analog Outputs: 2

Output Connector: Gold-Pin Neutrik™ male XLR

OUTPUT IMPEDANCE:

• 60 Ohms (Attenuator off)

• 425 Ohms (Attenuator = 10 dB)

• 135 Ohms (Attenuator = 20 dB)

Analog Output Clip Point: +30 dBu

Factory Set Bypass Level (at 0 dBFS): +24 dBu (Attenuator = 0 dB)

OUTPUT LEVEL RANGE (AT 0 DBFS) IN 'VARIABLE' MODE:

• Off to +27.5 dBu (Attenuator off)

• Off to +17.5 dBu (Attenuator = 10 dB)

• Off to +7.5 dBu (Attenuator = 20 dB)

Output Level Variation with Sample Rate (44.1 kHz vs. 96 kHz): < +/- 0.006 dB

UNBALANCED ANALOG OUTPUTS:

Number of Unbalanced Analog Outputs: 4

Output Connector: RCA

Output Impedance: 30 Ohms

Analog Output Clip Point: +13.5 dBu (3.7 Vrms)

Factory Set Home Theater Bypass Output Level (at 0 dBFS): +8.2 dBu (2 Vrms)

Output Level Range (with 0 dBFS digital input): Off to +11.7 dBu (3 Vrms)

Output Level Variation with Sample Rate: < +/- 0.006 dB

HPA2TM HEADPHONE OUTPUTS:

Number of Headphone Outputs: 2

Output Connectors: ¼" TRS with switch on left-hand jack

Output Impedance: < 0.11 Ohms

Output Level Control: Stereo Control on Front Panel

Output Level Range (at 0 dBFS) into 60-Ohm Load: Off to +21.5 dBu (9.2 Vrms)

Output Power: 1.25 W into 30 Ohms

Maximum Output Current: 250 mA

Overload Protection (independent per channel): Current limited at 300 mA, Thermal

Bandwidth: > 500 kHz, -0.35 dB at 200 kHz

THD+N at 20 mW: -108 dB (0.0004%) into 300 Ohms, -100 dB (0.0010%) into 30 Ohms

STATUS DISPLAY:

Indicators - Type and Location: 16 LED's on Front Panel

SELECTION/STATUS INDICATION:

• 1 - Dim/Mute

• 1 - Polarity

• 6 - Input

• 2 - Bypass/Calibrated Output

• 2 - Word length

• 4 - Sample Rate

AC POWER REQUIREMENTS:

Nominal Input Operating Voltage Range (VAC RMS): 100 - 240V

Frequency: 50-60 Hz

POWER:

• < 0.5 Watts Idle

• 12 Watts Typical Program

• 15 Watts Maximum

FUSES:

• 5 x 20 mm (2 required)

• 0.5 A 250 V Slo-Blo Type

MIN/MAX OPERATING RANGE (VAC RMS):

• 90 - 260 VAC

• 47 - 63 Hz

DIMENSIONS:

Form Factor: ½ Rack Wide, 1 RU High

Depth behind front panel: 8.5" (216 mm)

Overall depth including connectors but without power cord: 9.33" (237 mm)

Width: 9.5" (249 mm)

Height: 1.725" (44.5 mm)

WEIGHT:

DAC3 only: 3 lb.

DAC3 with remote control, power cord, extra fuses, and manual: 4 lb.

Shipping weight: 7 lb.