Benchmark DAC2 HGC - Review
Disclaimer: Thank you to SCV London for loaning me the DAC2 for this review.
Benchmark's original DAC1 has done very well since it's 2002 launch. It claims "the best-selling 2-channel reference-quality converter", although mostly popular with studios, news and broadcasting corporations. It's an impressive boast, but perhaps many would assume a lot has happened in the DAC world in the last ten years. It doesn't seem like it was in desperate need of an upgrade, but then the DAC2 isn't exactly a replacement.
The new DAC2 range is more of a higher-specified series than a straight out replacement for the DAC1 range. This is reflected in their price and the fact that most of the DAC1s are still sold side-by-side with the DAC2s. Both of the DAC2 models can be tested on a free 30-day trial, although unfortunately only if you live in the United States. The DAC2 D will shave $200 off of the HGCs cool $2000 price tag and this will all depend on whether you need those analogue inputs or not.
Like it's predecessor the DAC2 has variants, although only two (so far), rather than the four models of DAC1 (original, USB, PRE (discontinued) and HDR). The DAC2 steps in with a huge list of reasons to dribble over its prowess. There's the base model (DAC2 D) and this one - the DAC2 HGC (Hybrid Gain Control), which adds analogue inputs, active gain control of those inputs and a 12v trigger.
Sound
The audio quality of the DAC2 is pretty stunning and like a lot of high quality amplifiers, the first thing to jump out here was the soundstage. This and instrument separation gave a presentation which is hugely revealing and very enjoyable with good recordings, although that comes with it an obvious double-edged sword (depending on your preferences). After these wow factors came the detail, now I'm not saying the detail is the 3rd best aspect, it's just that it hit me in that order. I think the best way to describe the detail is precise and edgy. Combine this machine with a pair of headphones that already display those traits, and you have yourself a pretty impressive experience.
Tonality, I really don't think it adds anything to a presentation except maybe some speed. I have enjoyed amplifiers that have had a touch more warmth and smoothness in this price range. Perhaps this is due to the machine's roots of being more about authoring sounds than listening to music, but it's not anywhere near as bad as that statement sounds for the latter. Whether it's quite worth the money for purely listening purposes will be a very personal thing, so in this case I would highly recommend using that 30 day trial if you can. Better yet, see if you can listen to it next to a couple of other equally priced DAC/amps in a shop.
Comparisons
For my limited uses (USB to Headphones) and preferred presentation (more smooth than revealing) I can't help but be remind of large diminishing returns with the DAC2. It's good, really good, but just not quite good enough for me to justify it purely for headphone listening. It's technicalities are very good, but for me it lacks a little excitement in its presentation. Perhaps most of this is down to the emphasis here being on the DAC rather than the headphone amplifier and when I remind myself of that I feel like I'm missing the point of this machine somewhat.
The price of the DAC2 makes me think of beasts like the Fostex HP-A8 and even the Resonessence Invicta. The former costing a bit less than the DAC2, while the latter costs considerably more. When thinking purely of the headphone outputs of these machines the DAC2 leaves me feeling a little dry and sterile. Perhaps this is because the others are built more around the headphone amplification than the DAC stage and thus they elevate the headphone experience this way, but it's worth noting here that the DAC2 is almost certainly better suited for professional recording and mastering. It's not like the headphone sound of the DAC2 is bad at all, far from it, it's just that the price gives me pause given my application.
Technology
The specifications and feature list of the DAC2 are quite vast, especially the HGC model. This machine does a lot and it does it very well. The amount of connections and functionality that Benchmark have managed to cram onto the exterior of this tiny chassis blows my mind. I will go over some of the features that impressed me the most in the next paragraph, but if you haven't already looked it over I advise you check out the full specification of the DAC2 HGC here first.
DSD - many high end machines are adding this functionality now, although most allow it via SD card, which can be a real pain. The DAC2's ability to decode DSD via any of it's digital input is a brilliant addition and quite unusual as far as I've seen up to this point. Yes the support of this via USB requires a special driver on Windows, but this is the operating system's fault and not Benchmark's. This driver is also needed for 192khz support over USB (Windows), but if simply listening to 24bit 96khz material the DAC2 will function in USB1.1 mode which doesn't require drivers (with most versions of Windows) and all of these modes support asynchronous data transfer.
The DAC2 also boasts features like four balanced 32bit DACs, a Bi-driecrional 12v trigger (HGC only) and a configurable coax to name just a few. The latter feature turns one of the digital coax inputs into a digital output, which can pass through Dolby Digital, or DTS (eg. to a home theater receiver) and even bit-perfect DSD.
Build
This is a neat, light and well constructed little machine. The top and sides are a covered by a simple, sturdy one-piece metal cover. There's little embellishment here other than a nice texture, but it's functional. Being so small and having so many connections, there isn't much scope on either the front and back panels for careful design either. It's straight forward simplicity and low-key flair seems to reflect its sound design as well. Whether this was intentional or not, it works well for its target market. If you want something pretty to stare at, something that shows how much money you spent on it from every angle, then the DAC2 isn't for you. This machine is more about functionality and more importantly it's accurate sound. It does everything it sets out to do, and it does it well. No messing around.
Despite a small chassis, you get five digital inputs (the HGC model also has two analog inputs), one XLR & two RCA analog outputs on the back. The front panel might be rather simple, but I really like what styling it has used to organize the buttons and outputs. Here Benchmark have squeezed a motorized volume dial, a bunch of buttons & LED indicators as well as two 6.35mm (1/4") headphone outputs. Personally, I really like the dual headphone terminals for testing headphones, but they are useful for other things too, like two people listening to headphones together or swaping between your two favorite cans for different genres (if that's your thing).
You would expect a remote control for this price, so it's nice that you get one, but I'm not completely convinced by it. This is not the horrendously tiny and thoughtless piece of rubbish you get with the Fostex HP-A8. My problem here is mostly with the materials and the weight that it adds. I'm sure that Benchmark is not the first people to make a heavy metal remote control, but I'm also sure that there are good reasons why this isn't more common. I do appreciate that some effort has gone into it's design and I respect them for trying to make something 'different', but it hasn't made it very pleasant to use in my opinion. The physical buttons are hidden under a layer of solid plastic, this has made them rather fiddly and just a bit annoying to operate. I'm not hugely disappointed by it, mostly because I rarely use it. I think I'm mostly upset because it just doesn't match the nicely understated design ethos of the machine it goes with.
Final Words
I've been very impressed by the DAC2 HGC (and the DAC2 D is essentially the same - minus the analog inputs). It's packed with a lot of inputs, outputs and features for a DAC that includes a headphone amplifier, pre-amp and an internal power supply. The last time I was this impressed by a gadgets size was with the full-frame sensor of Sony's RX1 compact camera.
Sound wise (as well as design) I think the DAC2 suits the professional sector better than an audio enthusiast who wants to sit relaxing with a pair of high-end headphones for hours. If you think you would prefer the accuracy of purely transparent, digital audio, and you can utilize a majority of the DAC2's features, then I highly recommend giving it a listen, on the free trial (if you can).
Posted July 2013
by Edd