Benchmark DAC3 BD/A converter

The DAC3 B is the ideal converter for use in front of Benchmark's HPA4 headphone amplifier or LA4 line amplifier. It is also ideal for many professional studio applications. It offers the full performance of the flagship DAC3 HGC, but eliminates the volume control, analog inputs, mute and polarity controls, and headphone amp.

The DAC3 B sounds exactly like the DAC3 HGC because it uses the exact same circuit board and the exact same audio path. Benchmark has simply removed the unnecessary parts of the converter to deliver a stripped down race car. If you want a basic D/A converter that produces the finest conversion available, the DAC3 B is for you.

The DAC3 B is a 2-channel D/A converter incorporating the new ESS Technologies ES9028PRO converter. The DAC3 converter has lower THD and THD + N noise than Benchmark's DAC2 converter.

Benchmark's DAC1 and DAC2 D/A converters have been reference devices that have been compared to other converters. Benchmark converters are used daily in many of the world's finest recording studios and mastering rooms. Benchmark transformers are also enjoyed by thousands of audiophiles. Benchmark has raised the bar higher with the DAC3 converter.

The DAC3 offers excellent musical detail and a precise stereo image. It features an advanced digital filter design and a high sampling rate asynchronous USB audio interface. Benchmark's new UltraLock3 ™ interference suppression system isolates the echo inputs from interface jitter.

Internal digital processing and conversion is 32-bit, and this processing includes 3.5 dB of headroom above 0 dBFS. This height prevents DSP overloads commonly found in other D/A converters. Four balanced 32-bit D/A converters are summed together to create each balanced analog output. This 4:1 summation provides 6 dB of noise reduction and gives the DAC3 industry-leading performance.

Technical information:

AUDIO PERFORMANCE

• Fs = 44.1 to 96 kHz, 20 to 20 kHz BW, 1 kHz test tone, 0 dBFS = +24 dBu (unless noted)

• SNR – A-Weighted, 0 dBFS = +24 dBu 125 dB, 128 dB relative to intersample Peaks

• SNR – Unweighted, 0 dBFS = +24 dBu 123 dB, 126 dB relative to intersample Peaks

• THD+N, 1 kHz at 0 dBFS -113 dBFS, -113 dB, 0.00022%

• THD+N, 1 kHz at -1 dBFS -114 dBFS, -113 dB, 0.00022%

• THD+N, 1 kHz at –3 dBFS -119 dBFS, -116 dB, 0.00016%

• THD+N, 20 to 20 kHz test tone at –3 dBFS -113 dBFS, -110 dB, 0.00032%

• Frequency Response at Fs=192 kHz

  • +0 dB, -0.015 dB (20 to 20 kHz)

  • -0.015 dB at 10 Hz

  • -0.005 dB at 20 kHz

  • -0.031 dB at 40 kHz

  • -0.15 dB at 80 kHz

• Frequency Response at Fs=48 kHz

  • +0 dB, -0.015 dB (20 to 20 kHz)

  • -0.015 dB at 10 Hz

  • -0.005 dB at 20 kHz

• Crosstalk

  • -137 dB at 20 Hz

  • -130 dB at 1 kHz

  • -116 dB at 20 kHz

• Maximum Amplitude of Jitter Induced Sidebands (10 kHz 0 dBFS test tone, 12.75 UI sinusoidal jitter at 1 kHz) < -144 dB

• Maximum Amplitude of Spurious Tones with 0 dBFS test signal < -138 dB

• Maximum Amplitude of Idle Tones < -147 dB

• Maximum Amplitude of AC line related Hum & Noise < -133 dB

• Inter-channel Differential Phase (Stereo Pair – any sample rate) +/- 0.25 degrees at 20 kHz

• Inter-channel Differential Phase (Between DAC3 Units Fs<110 kHz) Any sample rate. +/- 0.25 degrees at 20 kHz

• Maximum Lock Time after Fs change 6 ms

• Soft Mute Ramp Up/Down Time 9.6 ms

• Mute on Receive Error Yes

• Mute on Lock Error Yes

• Mute on Idle Channel No

• 50/15 us De-Emphasis Enable

• Automatic in Consumer Mode

• De-Emphasis Method

• Digital IR

• De-Emphasis Supported at Fs = 32, 44.1, 48 kHz

GROUP DELAY (LATENCY)

• Delay – Digital Input to Analog Output (function of sample rate)

  • 1.36 ms at 44.1 kHz

  • 1.27 ms at 48 kHz

  • 0.90 ms at 88.2 kHz

  • 0.82 ms at 96 kHz

  • 0.51 ms at 176.4 kHz

  • 0.47 ms at 192 kHz

DIGITAL AUDIO INPUTS

• Number of Digital Inputs (switch selected) 5 (1 USB, 2 Optical, 2 Coaxial)

• Number of Channels 2

• Input Sample Frequency Range

  • 28 to 210 kHz (Coaxial Inputs)

  • 28 to 96 kHz (Optical Inputs)

  • 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192 kHz (USB Input)

• Maximum Input Word Length 24 bits

• Digital Input Impedance 75 Ohms (Coaxial Inputs)

• DC Blocking Capacitors on Digital Inputs Yes (Coaxial Inputs)

• Transient and Over-Voltage Protection on Digital Inputs Yes (Coaxial Inputs)

• Minimum Digital Input Level 250 mVpp (Coaxial Inputs)

• Jitter Tolerance(With no Measurable Change in Performance)

  • >12.75 UI sine, 100 Hz to 3 kHz

  • >1.5 UI sine at 20 kHz

  • >1.5 UI sine at 40 kHz

  • >1.5 UI sine at 80 kHz

  • >1.5 UI sine at 90 kHz

  • >0.25 UI sine above 160 kHz

• Jitter Attenuation Method Benchmark UltraLock3™ - all inputs

BALANCED ANALOG OUTPUTS

• Number of Balanced Analog Outputs 2

• Output Connector Gold-Pin Neutrik™ male XLR

• Output Impedance

  • 60 Ohms (Attenuator off)

  • 425 Ohms (Attenuator = 10 dB)

  • 135 Ohms (Attenuator = 20 dB)

• Analog Output Clip Point +30 dBu

• Factory Calibration (at 0 dBFS) +24 dBu (Attenuator off)

• Output Level Variation with Sample Rate (44.1 kHz vs. 96 kHz) < +/- 0.006 dB

UNBALANCED ANALOG OUTPUTS

• Number of Unbalanced Analog Outputs 2

• Output Connector RCA

• Output Impedance 30 Ohms

• Analog Output Clip Point +13.5 dBu (3.7 Vrms)

• Factory Calibration (at 0 dBFS) +8.2 dBu (2 Vrms)

• Output Level Variation with Sample Rate < +/- 0.006 dB

STATUS DISPLAY

• Indicators - Type and Location

• 12 LED's on the Front Panel

• Selection/Status Indication

  • 1 – Control Lock

  • 5 – Input

  • 2 – Word length

  • 4 – Sample Rate

Power

• < 0.5 Watts Idle

• 12 Watts Typical Program

• 13 Watts Maximum

• Fuses 5 x 20 mm (2 required) 0.5 A 250 V Slo-Blo® Type

• Min/Max Operating range (VAC RMS)

DIMENSIONS

• Form Factor ½ Rack Wide, 1 RU High

• Depth behind front panel 8.5" (216 mm)

• Overall depth including connectors but without power cord 9.33" (237 mm)

• Width 9.5” (249 mm)

• Height 1.725” (44.5 mm)

WEIGHT

• DAC3 only 3 lb, 1.3 kg

• Shipping weight 7 lb, 3.2 kg