ADC1 Review - Garrett Haines, Tape Op
ADC1 - "Very Natural Sounding"
"The ADC1 USB is very natural sounding. What I put in, is what it captures. Should I wish to color a track, I can call upon other gear in my rack."
"In a mastering context, a neutral, flat-sounding converter is very desirable."
"Benchmark’s trademarked UltraLock clocking scheme delivers quality conversion even when slaved to a suboptimal external clock."
"The best standalone clock in the world becomes irrelevant if the receiving converter’s locking system botches the signal. Unfortunately, many manufacturers skimp on PLL synchronization. Thankfully, not Benchmark."
"One of the non-obvious features provides multiple digital outputs. The ADC1 USB has a total of five digital outs: one XLR, two coaxial, one optical, and one USB. These can operate simultaneously at up to three independent sample rates."
"You could cut a CD-R via a 16-bit, 44.1 kHz signal to a standalone CD writer in real-time, while simultaneously recording to a DAW at 24-bit, 96 kHz."
"The effective input range of the ADC1 USB spans from −5 dB to +39 dB. At a gain setting of 0 dB, the converter will reach full-scale (0 dBFS) with a +24 dBu input level. Just flip a switch from variable to calibrated to remove the potentiometers from the circuit."
"Although I like the aesthetics of the black-faced Benchmarks, I must admit that the brushed silver units are impressive in person. The online photos do not capture the added dimensionality of the textured metal. For those with an odd-number of half-wide units, the company offers a blank plate in matching brushed silver with an engraved logo. After seeing it close-up, I confess I would happily pay for the panel. It’s really sweet."
Like most of the Benchmark line, the ADC1 USB is half-wide, which means you’ll need to sort out how you want to mount it if you’re committed to a rack. The manufacturer offers two options — a joiner plate and a custom tray.
- Garrett Haines, Tape Op
Also in Reviews
Benchmark Converters at Abbey Road - Geoff Pesche
"What are the Latest Advancements in Mastering?"
"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."
"Abbey Road like a uniformity between the rooms so all of the rooms have the same A/D and D/A conversion."
- Geoff Pesche, Mastering Engineer, Abbey Road Studios
DAC3 Review - Alan Sircom, hi-fi+
"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. "
"Leave No Trace"
"It also has the latest version of Benchmark’s jitter attenuation system (UltraLock3) and doubles down on the digital demon with its multi-mode asynchronous USB system."
"Benchmark also uses the distortion compensation facilities built into the ESS chip to reduce second and third order distortion."
"The net result is a DAC that delivers lower distortion, lower noise, less passband ripple, faster signal switching and locking onto signals and a more linear frequency response."
"The Benchmark Media Systems DAC3 B is very much in the ‘leave no trace’ school of good audio."
- Alan Sircom, hi-fi+
DAC3 - Award Nominee - Best Digital Audiophile Product of 2024 (Cost No Object)
2024 Nominees
- Benchmark Media DAC3 B DAC, $1895
- Bricasti M3 DAC, $6000
- Bricasti M19 CD-SACD Player, $10,000
- T+A DAC 200, $7620
- Weiss Engineering Helios DAC, $21,995
"There was some debate about whether anybody can hear the differences above a good Chi-Fi DAC like the Topping D90. Unless you are missing most of your high-frequency hearing, you can hear where a high-end DAC makes a difference."
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."
