Fresh From the Bench: Benchmark DAC3 HGC Stereo D/A Converter

Benchmark Media Systems' DAC series of high performance digital-to-analog converters (DACs) have earned the respect of audio enthusiasts and professional users alike for their state-of-the-art performance, including exceptional audio transparency and vanishingly-low levels of noise and distortion. Now Benchmark has made its DAC3 even better with the upgrade to ESS Technology’s new ES9028PRO DAC chip. The DAC3 HGC, reviewed here, combines an analog preamplifier with the DAC. This article was originally published in audioXpress, July 2017.

The DAC2 series are the latest digital-to-analog converters from Benchmark Media Systems, the American audio manufacturer based in Syracuse, NY. The model reviewed here is the DAC2 DX, which has been tailored for users who don’t have analog sources or who use a separate analog preamp. Read the full review.