Reviews
I’m loving my new DAC3
"I’m loving my new DAC3 HGC! I’ve only been using it for a few days, but I really like what I’m hearing: tremendous clarity, excellent transient response, ease in distinguishing the various instruments in the soundstage, and better-defined bass with better slam than with the DAC it’s replacing. And the DAC it’s replacing is a good one and much more expensive than the Benchmark. It’s impossible to know what the original source recording really sounds like, but it does seem reasonable to conclude that the DAC3 is very faithful to the source. That’s what I want in a component: no editorializing, no euphoric softening, no attempting to make the music sound better than real. So far I agree with John Atkinson’s conclusion at Stereophile: Wow!"
— Norman G. (5/5)
This review refers to DAC3
"This review refers to DAC3 HCG and Benchmark's amplifier. They were purchased together, along with speaker cables, coaxial cable, and XLR cables, and replaced the Classe system. First, about the cables. Anyone buying audio cables should take Benchmark's warnings about unjustified, unscientific claims from several vendors seriously. Benchmark sells, not up-sells, excellent cables (materials & workmanship), and the price is VERY reasonable. Now, about the DAC and amplifier. The reviews almost uniformly stress the amplifier's impersonal nature; it's cold and lacks personality. But when you buy the amplifier, do you really want to enjoy "personality" or precision instead? Then the question is: what do you do if you don't like the "personality"? Send the amp to a therapist? Benchmark's DAC and amp deliver clean, pristine sound, so I hear the musician's personality. The system, paired with Philharmonic Tower speakers, beautifully reproduces dynamics from pianissimo to fortissimo and all the tonal colors of the instruments. And like the ideal butler(!), the electronics do this magnificent job without being visible. This is how it should be, precisely. When you call for pre-sale advice, you reach very polite, patient, and competent engineers who are willing to answer questions. In a world where the cost/benefit of a sound system is arbitrarily high, Benchmark scores very high on "benefit" at a really moderate price."
— Roman P. (5/5)
Remarkable. The one component you’ll
"Remarkable. The one component you’ll never want to replace. I recently added the Benchmark DAC3 HGC to my system, and it has completely exceeded my expectations. My current system is built around the Benchmark DAC3 HGC and Benchmark power amplifier, with a Cambridge Audio CXN100 as my streamer and a pair of Philharmonic Audio BMR Tower speakers. I’ve also invested in Benchmark’s own interconnects and digital cables because I wanted the signal path to be engineered as thoughtfully as the components themselves. The DAC3 HGC is simply remarkable. What struck me immediately was the combination of clarity, control, dynamics, and absolute silence. Music has an effortless quality that is difficult to describe until you hear it. There is tremendous detail, but nothing sounds exaggerated or artificially bright. Instruments occupy their own space, vocals are exceptionally well defined, and subtle details that can easily get lost simply appear in the recording. The bass is particularly impressive. It is tight, controlled, and remarkably articulate, while the overall presentation remains completely balanced. The BMR Towers are extremely revealing speakers, and the DAC3 gives them an exceptionally clean signal to work with. The result is a presentation that sounds open, natural, and incredibly precise. And then there is the noise floor—or rather, the lack of one. With the system sitting idle, it is essentially silent. When the music starts, the system goes from that silence immediately into an enormous, highly dynamic soundstage. Quiet passages are genuinely quiet, while large musical peaks have tremendous impact without sounding strained. I also love the engineering philosophy behind the DAC3 HGC. Benchmark isn’t trying to impress you with exotic materials, massive chassiswork, or audiophile mythology. It is a serious piece of engineering designed to do one job exceptionally well: convert a digital signal into an accurate analog signal and give the rest of the system the cleanest possible foundation. That approach really resonates with me. I’ve owned and listened to plenty of good audio equipment over the years, and I’ve learned that spending more money doesn’t necessarily mean getting better sound. The DAC3 HGC is one of those rare components where the engineering, functionality, build quality, and actual listening experience all come together. And the HGC is much more than just a DAC. The combination of the DAC, high-quality analog preamp functionality, headphone amplifier, multiple digital inputs, and remote control makes it an incredibly capable control center for a serious two-channel system. Most importantly, it gets out of the way and lets the music speak. I’m also proud to have built this system around American-designed and American-manufactured Benchmark equipment. The DAC3 HGC, Benchmark amplifier, and Benchmark cables give me the feeling that I’m buying engineering rather than marketing. After spending time with the DAC3 HGC, I honestly have a hard time imagining why I would ever need to replace it. Remarkable product. Remarkable engineering. And for me, the one DAC—and one control component—I’ll ever want to own."
— Michael B. (5/5)
"Perfect and fast delivery"
— Colin (5/5)
A Great Sounding Product
"HGC3 converter is a great sounding product, is ergonomically designed, and functionally perfect. I do miss the switch allowing switching between variable and stable output that was standard on Benchmark 1. I am having 2 HGC3’s in my system , using them with Benchmark AHB2 in mono configuration, feeding Perlisten s 7t speakers. The system is revealing , the soundstage deep, and instrument location easily discernible. The system shines on good recordings, but is mercilessly revealing flaws on substandard ones. For me this is a positive aspect. This system is right for me, but not for listeners who prefer distortion to conceal flaws in recordings. I am occasionally switching back and forth between tube equipment and the Benchmark setup, but find myself returning quickly to the crystalline clarity that the Benchmark system offers. Sent from my iPhone"
— WR (5/5)
Crystal clear sound!The bass is
"Crystal clear sound!The bass is detailed and refined without losing any punch. It pairs perfectly with my Benchmark amp. Could not be happier!"
— Charles U. (5/5)
Excellent sound. Review underway.
"Excellent sound. Review underway."
— Lee S. (5/5)
Simple and sounds great
"Great DAC! I love the compact size, simplicity and awesome audio performance of this. Yeah, maybe it doesn’t have all the bells and whistles ( for example - room correction, default input volume selection and eARC) but it does sound GREAT for a simple stereo set up."
— Justin (5/5)
There may be adjustments over
"There may be adjustments over time but i have a device very capable to drive my headphones. Thank you for providing an affordable instrument to explore the music i love."
— Michael E. (5/5)
Uh
"Uh"
— wolf r. (1/5)
