Benchmark DAC3 L with Remote Control, Reference Stereo Preamplifier, PCM and DSD D/A Converter, Asynchronous USB, ESS 9028PRO (Black)

A New Reference - Going Beyond the Legendary DAC1 and DAC2 The DAC3 is Benchmark's third generation 2-channel D/A converter featuring the ESS Technologies ES9028PRO converter chip. The DAC3 converter has lower THD and THD+N noise than Benchmark's DAC2 converter. 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

• ES9028PRO
• Active 2nd and 3rd Harmonic Compensation
• Asynchronous 192kHz USB Audio 2.0
• 32-bit D/A conversion system
• High-Headroom DSP