Benchmark DAC3 HGC USB Stereo Digital to Analogue Converter, Black (No Remote)

The DAC3 delivers outstanding musical detail and precise stereo imaging. It employs an advanced high-headroom digital filter design, and a high-sample-rate Asynchronous USB Audio interface

The DAC3 HGC delivers outstanding musical detail and precise stereo imaging. It employs an advanced high-headroom digital filter design, and a high-sample-rate Asynchronous USB Audio interface. All inputs are fully isolated from interface jitter by Benchmark’s new UltraLock3™ jitter attenuation system.

Internal digital processing and conversion is 32-bits, and this processing includes 3.5 dB of headroom above 0 dBFS. This headroom prevents the DSP overloads that commonly occur in other D/A converters.

Four balanced 32-bit D/A converters are summed together to create each balanced analogue output. This 4:1 summation provides a 6 dB noise reduction, and gives the DAC3 industry-leading performance.

Any practical audio system will need a volume control. These days, most audio devices use digital volume controls. These controls place significant demands on the quality of a D/A conversion. An internal D/A converter that starts with the equivalent of 14-bit performance, may only deliver 12-bit performance at typical volume-control settings.

In contrast, the Benchmark DAC3 D/A converter uses a motor-driven 32-bit digital volume control driving a 32-bit D/A conversion stage. This combination delivers true high-resolution audio performance over a wide range of volume settings.

Specifications:

• SNR 128 dB (A-Weighted 0 dBFS = +27 dBu)
• Frequency Response +0 dB, -0.015 dB (20 to 20 kHz) @ Fs=192 kHz
• Crosstalk -137 dB at 20 Hz
• THD+N -113 dBFS, -113 dB, 0.00022% (1 kHz at 0 dBFS)
• Max Amplitude of Idle Tones < -147 dB
• Max Lock Time 6 ms (after Fs change)
• Dimensions 237 x 249 x 44.5mm, 1.36kg