John Siau Interview at CAF2025 - Carlo Lo Raso, SECRETS of Home Theater and High Fidelity

"I got a chance to sit down with John Siau, VP of Benchmark Media Systems, while at Capital Audiofest 2025. John talks to me about what makes the current crop of Benchmark DACs a little extra special." - Carlo Lo Raso

... and much more!

Contents:

0:00 Intersample Overs and Interpolator Overload Distortion in DACs

9:35 DAC Chipsets

12:59 DAC Filters

16:13 The Advantages of Professional vs. Consumer Signal Levels on XLR Connectors

17:42 Benchmark LA4 Relay-Controlled Preamplifier

18:53 Carlo Describes the Sound of His Benchmark Signal Chain (DAC3, HPA4, AHB2)

21:32 Ten AHB2 Amplifiers Powering the Krix Room at CAF2025

Products Discussed in this Video

The Benchmark AHB2 Power Amplifier

• Radically Different Topology
• Hi-Frequency Fully-Regulated Switched-Mode Power Supply
• Linear Class-AB output Stage with Class-H Tracking Rails
• Much more Efficient than a Traditional Class-AB Amplifier
• Feed-Forward Error Correction
• Correction Amplifier is Passively Summed with the Main Amplifier
• No Magnetic Interference
• No Relays in Output Stage
• Protection Circuits are not in Series with Output Path
• Low Gain Design
• Tweeter Protection
• 0.1 Hz to 250 kHz Bandwidth
• Stable into Inductive and Capacitive Loads
• Stable into Very Low Impedances
• 135 dB SNR
• THD is Better Than -110 dB at Full Output Power

The Benchmark HPA4 Headphone Amplifier

• THX-888 Headphone Amplifier featuring Feed-Forward Error Correction
• Entire Signal Path is Relay Controlled
• 256-Step Relay-Controlled Volume
• Lowest Noise, Lowest Distortion Preamplifier Available
• International Power Supply
• High Power Headphone Output
• Independent Line-Level Output
• Certified for Pro or Hi-Fi Applications
• Supports full Studio-Level Balanced Inputs and Outputs
• 0.1 Hz to 500 kHz Bandwidth

The Benchmark LA4