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Benchmark System - Steve Lefkowicz, Positive-Feedback

Benchmark System - Steve Lefkowicz, Positive-Feedback

Benchmark HRA System

HRA SYSTEM - "The Whole System was Under $10,000 and Just Killed"

 "I've enjoyed the Benchmark Media Systems rooms over the past few shows when they've shared their room with Studio Electric using their excellent sounding speakers. This time around, Benchmark were showing not just their excellent DAC2 L ($1695), but also their new AHB2 100 wpc amp ($2995) and SMS1 speakers ($2450). With the exception of real deep bass (though certainly more than you would expect from speakers this size) this system the sound was smooth, expressive, dynamic and rich. The whole system was under $10,000 and just killed."

Benchmark Sound System Setup

"The amplifier was much smaller than you would expect for a 100 watt solid sate bipolar Class AB amp. Benchmark claims SNR close to 130dB and vanishing low distortion."

"The SMS1 speaker was designed in conjunction with Studio Electric, but uses Benchmark deigned crossover and driver modifications. I've often said I'm no fan of small stand mounted speakers, but this join the very short list of those that I want to hear again."

- Steve Lefkowicz, Positive-Feedback.com

Read Steve's full article about T.H.E. Show 2014 at Positive-Feedback.com → 

Join the discussion about Steve's review of Benchmark on Facebook →


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Benchmark Converters at Abbey Road - Geoff Pesche

by Benchmark Media Systems June 02, 2025

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"Geoff Pesche weighs in on how the mastering team at Abbey Road Studios achieve first-class results." - Mix with the Masters

"The biggest sonic improvement in mastering in the last 5 or 6 years is D/A and A/D converters and that's very very important - what you have at the front and the back of the chain."

"We use fairly new Benchmark converters front and back."

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DAC3 Review - Alan Sircom, hi-fi+

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by Benchmark Media Systems May 13, 2025

Benchmark DAC3 B

"A Damn Good, No-Frills Digital Converter"

"Benchmark Media Systems’ no-nonsense approach to all things audio is rare today."

"Uniformly Good"

"This is a DAC that’s uniformly good at everything. It resolves well, has good imaging properties."

"It makes a balanced, honest sound that allows you to sit and listen to music for hours. That is what makes Benchmark’s products consistently popular with audio engineers. You don’t want ‘bright’ if you sit at a mixing desk 10 hours a day. "

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"Benchmark also uses the distortion compensation facilities built into the ESS chip to reduce second and third order distortion."

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"The Benchmark Media Systems DAC3 B is very much in the ‘leave no trace’ school of good audio."

- Alan Sircom, hi-fi+

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DAC3 - Award Nominee - Best Digital Audiophile Product of 2024 (Cost No Object)

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by Benchmark Media Systems December 01, 2024

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The Bricasti M3 is a great example of that performance in a $6,000 DAC."

"The Benchmark DAC3 B is an audiophile DAC, with pro audio roots, that punches way above its weight."

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