DAC3 wins DAC Shootout - Alpha-Audio.net

Alpha-Audio.net tested 10 DACs side-by-side. Only one received the "Alpha-Audio Approved" award. That DAC was the Benchmark DAC3.

"Are you looking for the best DAC (d/a converter) in the price range from 1500 euro to 2500 euro? That’s great! Because we’ve put ten beauties side by side. And we tested it live on camera for you."

"The Benchmark – which we tested as the last one – comes across as very clean, detailed, dynamic and quiet."

"The DAC puts down a particularly well-balanced pallet."

"If we take the notes, we see terms like: kick, punch, inaudible, ink-black background. Your editor finds the ‘silence’ particularly striking with this converter."

"The silence between the notes can be heard and felt with this dac. And that’s very impressive considering the price tag of about 2000 euros."

"We can conclude that the Benchmark is definitely a good choice in this price range. It brings everything the discerning audio and music lover desires. And that in a cabinet that exudes functionality and a no-nonsense approach. Top product."

"It was incredibly instructive to put so many converters side by side. We clearly hear differences - and the viewers could as well. Also dacs with the same chips show differences. And that's logical, because not only is the output stage different (which gives a different signature to the dac), the implementation of jitter reduction, power supply and clocking are also different."

"One of the models we all agreed on is the benchmark DAC3. This is a delicious musical product. Virtually no coloring, nice stereo image and plenty of inputs. Approved!"

- Alpha-Audio.net

Read the entire review here →

Watch the live-stream replay here →

DAC3 - "Alpha-Audio Approved"