Digital to Analog Converters

Benchmark DAC3 Digital to Analog Converters

High-Resolution Playback Begins with an External D/A Converter

Upgrade to an external Benchmark DAC and experience the full capabilities of high-resolution audio.

Sonically-Neutral Studio Monitoring

Benchmark converters are designed to be sonically neutral. This sonic transparency is absolutely essential in the studio monitoring chain.

Benchmark converters have become a standard fixture in many of the world's finest studios.

Bring the Studio into Your Living Room

When Benchmark's professional converters are used in hi-fi applications, studio-quality sound can be enjoyed in a home environment. Enjoy pure music without any coloration from the electronics. Hear the music exactly the way it was heard in the studio, and exactly the way the artists intended.

Discover the natural, uncolored, analog sound of Benchmark converters.

Sit in the Performance Space

Transparent sound can go beyond replicating the studio experience. Recordings that have been produced with a natural and unprocessed sound can transport you to the performance space. Close your eyes and get ready to be transported!

The experience of "being there" can only happen when the entire audio chain is selected for maximum transparency.

Benchmark DAC3 Product Family

Each member of the DAC3 converter family is sonically identical, and they share identical performance specifications. Each model is built on the same circuit board, but the higher-priced models add additional features.

DAC3 B

• Digital Inputs Only
• No Volume Control
• Ideal for use with a separate preamplifier such as the LA4 or HPA4
• Excellent choice for professional studio applications
• The DAC3 B to HPA4 to AHB2 signal chain is our flagship HiFi system.
• The DAC3 B to LA4 to AHB2 signal chain provides the same performance when a headphone amplifier is not needed.

DAC3 L

• Includes all of the features found on the DAC3 B
• Adds our Hybrid Gain Control (combined analog and digital volume control)
• Adds two pairs of unbalanced inputs
• Excellent choice when the DAC will act as the system volume control.
• The DAC3 L to AHB2 signal chain is our second-best signal chain.
• An LA4 or HPA4 can be added to the chain to raise the performance to that of our flagship system.
• Volume control is bypassed when an LA4 or HPA4 is added

DAC3 HGC

• Includes all of the features found on the DAC3 B and DAC3 L
• Adds our HPA2™ headphone amplifier.
• An LA4 or HPA4 can be added to the chain to upgrade the performance to the top tier.
• Volume control is bypassed when an LA4 or HPA4 is added