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Benchmark: DAC4 around the corner?
- Thread starter tensor9
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If anything, I would love to see them introduce a more modern Lynx Hilo killer with AD/DA capabilities using either the current 9028PRO or better DAC chip. Hilo is getting long in the tooth and has its warts when it comes to bit rate changes that I'm all but fed up with but thus far its staying power seems tied to being one of the few AD/DA's on the market with a mature bidirectional/ multi-channel USB interface.
My DAC3 is a true gem in all categories so if they could combine their existing AD converter with the DAC3 DA section it would be a real winner. I'd be first in line to gobble it up
Even better yet would be an Ethernet implementation that can do all the things the USB implementation can do on the Hilo. I'm unsure why this is a challenge still these days considering how advanced ETH technology is but I suspect it has more to do with the available software which can take advantage of these capabilites.
My guess is a DAC4 will be awhile yet.
My DAC3 is a true gem in all categories so if they could combine their existing AD converter with the DAC3 DA section it would be a real winner. I'd be first in line to gobble it up
Even better yet would be an Ethernet implementation that can do all the things the USB implementation can do on the Hilo. I'm unsure why this is a challenge still these days considering how advanced ETH technology is but I suspect it has more to do with the available software which can take advantage of these capabilites.
My guess is a DAC4 will be awhile yet.
Shangri-La
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When they do release the DAC4, I'd blind buy one without need for demo/reading reviews.
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Oh boy. Can't wait. Hopefully their competitive juices were stirred by ASR's tests.
Edit: A barebones DAC4B to match the LA4 specifically.
Edit 2: Not about DACs, but an update to their discontinued MPA1 mic pre would be very welcome.
Edit: A barebones DAC4B to match the LA4 specifically.
Edit 2: Not about DACs, but an update to their discontinued MPA1 mic pre would be very welcome.
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My ideal for a future Benchmark DAC 4 HGC:
1) A balance control (since the HGC is essentially a preamp plus DAC). It seems balance controls have gone the way of tone controls. Of course I'm talking this for the analog inputs. Balance can be controlled in software for digital signals, if necessary.
2) A more positive feel for the remote, which works, but isn't quite precise for volume.
3) I'm used to the multiple LEDs, and they are quite informative. But something simpler (a digital readout screen) couldn't hurt.
1) A balance control (since the HGC is essentially a preamp plus DAC). It seems balance controls have gone the way of tone controls. Of course I'm talking this for the analog inputs. Balance can be controlled in software for digital signals, if necessary.
2) A more positive feel for the remote, which works, but isn't quite precise for volume.
3) I'm used to the multiple LEDs, and they are quite informative. But something simpler (a digital readout screen) couldn't hurt.
I hope they jump into the multichannel realm as an additional wish. Something with bi-directional communication and at least 8 channels. Two cherries on top of that would be doing it all via ETH and allowing Linux without drivers via ALSA if USB is a requirement. The DAC3 works well with Linux so kudos to them for that but I want the same support with 8 channels. Here's to wishing!
Shangri-La
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This may be trivial, but I hope on the DAC4 they will put an LED light on the volumn knob. Too difficult too see from distance where the volumne knob is, especially in dim lighting.
I agree, but the DAC3 remote volume control precision is such an improvement over that on my old DAC1-HDR that I was thrilled with it by comparison.
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@Shangri-La wrote: This may be trivial, but I hope on the DAC4 they will put an LED light on the volumn knob. Too difficult too see from distance where the volumne knob is, especially in dim lighting.
@blueone wrote: I agree, but the DAC3 remote volume control precision is such an improvement over that on my old DAC1-HDR that I was thrilled with it by comparison.
To contrast both comments, which I 100% endorse, I have an old Yamaha AX-592 integrated amp. The volume knob has a small LED on it, bright enough that you can see its position from your chair, but not so bright that it is distracting. The Yamaha remote is an el-cheapo plastic thing with too many buttons (it has the ability to control all their other period gear--like cassette decks, LOL), but it has a very positive feel to it. You can briefly blip the volume button and it will move the amp's volume knob immediately, with no lag, allowing you to make very precise (but very small and incremental volume changes; changes that can be observed by the red light on the large volume control.
Of course Benchmark build quality is on another level than the old Yamaha, but in this small and seemingly insignificant ergonomic thing, the Yamaha is on another level than the Benchmark!
@blueone wrote: I agree, but the DAC3 remote volume control precision is such an improvement over that on my old DAC1-HDR that I was thrilled with it by comparison.
To contrast both comments, which I 100% endorse, I have an old Yamaha AX-592 integrated amp. The volume knob has a small LED on it, bright enough that you can see its position from your chair, but not so bright that it is distracting. The Yamaha remote is an el-cheapo plastic thing with too many buttons (it has the ability to control all their other period gear--like cassette decks, LOL), but it has a very positive feel to it. You can briefly blip the volume button and it will move the amp's volume knob immediately, with no lag, allowing you to make very precise (but very small and incremental volume changes; changes that can be observed by the red light on the large volume control.
Of course Benchmark build quality is on another level than the old Yamaha, but in this small and seemingly insignificant ergonomic thing, the Yamaha is on another level than the Benchmark!
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Native DSDx4 and 768kHz support! I don't have that many files that are over 384kHz, but I do have a decent amount of DSD 256 albums (pure from reel-to-reel) so that would be amazing to not have to have Roon convert everything. I appreciate that the analog section ISN'T converted to the digital realm, which is one of the main reasons I use the DAC3 has a preamp (that, and I live in an apartment, so 90% of my listening is headphones).
Understood. How about something innovative in the DAC (and in any update of the LA4/HPA4) such as an ability to link multiples for synchronizing signals and controls? Sort of a modular approach to multichannel?
I want to see more headroom for intersample peaks. I'd like to see them keeping aside at least an entire bit, and I'd also like to see an upsampling filter with an extremely aggressive cut-off at 22.05 kHz. Getting the 90 kHz bandwidth THD+N under -110 dBFS would also be nice, like the Matrix Element X and X-Sabre Pro, Okto DAC8, Auralic Vega, Chord Qutest, and a couple of others. Finally, support for more PCM formats would be nice, as supported by the RME ADI-2 Pro fs.
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