Benchmark's DAC1 and DAC2 D/A converter families have been the reference to which other converters have been compared. It is rare to find a converter review that does not draw comparisons to the DAC1 or the DAC2. Benchmark converters are in daily use at many of the world's finest recording studios and mastering rooms. Benchmark converters are also enjoyed by thousands of audiophiles. Benchmark has raised the bar again ... the DAC3 defines a new reference.

Reference Performance
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. 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 analog output. This 4:1 summation provides a 6 dB noise reduction, and gives the DAC3 industry-leading performance.

DAC3 vs. DAC2
The DAC3 builds upon Benchmark's highly successful DAC2 product family. The DAC3 maintains the familiar DAC2 form factor and feature set, but adds the higher performance available from the new ES9028PRO D/A converter. The DAC3 offers the following improvements over the DAC2:
Active 2nd Harmonic Compensation
Active 3rd Harmonic Compensation
Lower THD+N
Lower passband ripple
Improved frequency response
Faster PLL lock times
Faster switching between input signals

DAC3 vs. DAC1
The DAC3 and DAC2 added these features that were not found on the DAC1

Asynchronous 192kHz USB Audio 2.0
32-bit D/A conversion system
Word Length Display
Sample Rate Display
Polarity Control
Direct DSD D/A Conversion
-20 dB DIM
Bi-Directional 12V Trigger
Power Switch with Auto-On Function
Home Theater Bypass
Digital Pass-Through
High-Headroom DSP
Dual-Domain Hybrid Gain Control
Additional I/O

Native DSD Conversion
All digital inputs on the DAC3 support native PCM or DSD conversion. From any input, DSD is transported with bit accuracy over DoP 1.1. DSD and PCM are both natively converted to analog. There are no DSD to PCM or PCM to DSD conversions to compromise the quality of the music. The DAC3 conversion system seamlessly switches between native PCM and native DSD conversion. DSD over DoP 1.1 is supported by many media players, and DSD downloads are now available from several sources.

Direct Connectivity to Power Amplifiers
Benchmark DAC1, DAC2, and DAC3 converters are designed to directly drive power amplifiers and speakers. Benchmark converters feature adjustable low-impedance passive attenuators at the XLR outputs that can be used to optimize the interface to the power amplifier (or powered monitor). This unique Benchmark feature optimizes the gain staging between the DAC and the power amplifier. Proper gain staging cannot be overemphasised. When audio stages are properly matched, each component in the audio chain is able to operate at its optimum signal level, and the system performance is significantly improved.

Sonically-Neutral Studio Monitoring
All Benchmark converters are designed for maximum transparency. This transparency is absolutely essential in the studio monitoring chain. For this reason, DAC3 converters are ideal for critical reference-quality professional systems. Unlike many competing products, the DAC3 is not designed to add "euphonic" coloration to the audio. Instead it is designed to be as uncolored and natural as possible.

Step Into the Studio
When Benchmark's professional converters are used in hi-fi applications, studio-quality sound can be enjoyed in a home environment. Enjoy pure music without any coloration from the electronics. Hear the music exactly the way it was heard in the studio, and exactly the way the artists intended.

Discover the natural, uncolored, analog sound of the DAC3.

Sit in the Performance Space
Transparent sound can go beyond replicating the studio experience. Recordings that have been produced with a natural and unprocessed sound can transport you to the performance space. But, this can only happen when the entire playback chain is selected for maximum transparency.

This experience of "being there" cannot be created by systems that are designed to add "warmth" or "euphonic color" to the music.

HPA2? Headphone Power Amplifier
The DAC3 features the HPA2? - Benchmark's signature high-current, 0-Ohm headphone power amplifier. The HPA2? is arguably the ultimate reference headphone power amplifier. It will deliver the full rated performance of the DAC3 to the headphones. The DAC3 has two 1/4" headphone jacks on the front panel. The performance of the HPA2? remains consistent even when two headphones are being driven simultaneously.

Sample Rate Display

Word Length Display

5 Digital Inputs

2 Stereo Analog Inputs (2 RCA)

3 Stereo Analog Outputs (2 RCA, 1 XLR)

Digital Pass Through

Native DSD Conversion

Polarity Switch

Asynchronous USB 2.0

Driverless Asynchronous USB 1.1

Home Theater Bypass

Bi-Directional 12 Volt Trigger

Power Switch

Low Power Consumption

ES9028PRO Converter

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 = +28 dBu: 127 dB
SNR - Unweighted, 0 dBFS = +28 dBu: 125 dB
THD+N, 1 kHz at 0 dBFS: -111 dBFS, -111 dB, 0.00028%
THD+N, 1 kHz at -1 dBFS: -112 dBFS, -111 dB, 0.00028%
THD+N, 1 kHz at -3 dBFS: -116 dBFS, -113 dB, 0.00022%
THD+N, 20 to 20 kHz test tone at -3 dBFS: -108 dBFS, -105 dB, < 0.00056%
Frequency Response at Fs=192 kHz

+/- 0.005 dB (20 to 20 kHz)

-0.013 dB at 10 Hz

+0.005 dB at 20 kHz

+0.006 dB at 40 kHz

-0.002 dB at 80 kHz

Frequency Response at Fs=48 kHz

+/- 0.006 dB (20 to 20 kHz)

-0.015 dB at 10 Hz

-0.001 dB at 20 kHz

Crosstalk

-120 dB at 20 Hz

-120 dB at 1 kHz

-106 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: < -135 dB
Inter-channel Differential Phase (Stereo Pair - any sample rate): +/- 0.25 degrees at 20 kHz
Inter-channel Differential Phase (Between DAC3 DX Units Fs< 110 kHz) Any sample rate.: +/- 0.25 degrees at 20 kHz
Maximum Lock Time after Fs change: 400 ms
Soft Mute Ramp Up/Down Time: 50 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 IIR
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): 6 (1 USB, 2 Optical, 1 XLR, 2 Coaxial)
Number of Channels: 2

Input Sample Frequency Range

28 to 210 kHz (Coaxial and XLR)

28 to 96 kHz (Optical)

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

Maximum Input Word Length: 24 bits
Digital Input Impedance: 75 Ohms Coaxial, 110 Ohms XLR
DC Blocking Capacitors on Digital Inputs: Yes (Coaxial and XLR Inputs)
Transient and Over-Voltage Protection on Digital Inputs: Yes (Coaxial and XLR Inputs)
Transformer Coupling on Digital Inputs: Yes (XLR Input)
Minimum Digital Input Level: 250 mVpp (Coaxial and XLR 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: +29 dBu
Factory Set Bypass Level (at 0 dBFS): +24 dBu (Attenuator = 0 dB)

Output Level Range (at 0 dBFS) In 'Variable' Mode

Off to +28 dBu (Attenuator off)

Off to +18 dBu (Attenuator = 10 dB)

Off to +8 dBu (Attenuator = 20 dB)

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

UNBALANCED ANALOG OUTPUTS
Number of Unbalanced Analog Outputs: 4
Output Connector: RCA
Output Impedance: 30 Ohms
Analog Output Clip Point: +13.5 dBu
Factory Set Home Theater Bypass Output Level (at 0 dBFS): +8.2 dBu (2 Vrms)
Output Level Range (at 0 dBFS): Off to +12.2 dBu (3.2 Vrms)
Output Level Variation with Sample Rate (44.1 kHz vs. 96 kHz): < +/- 0.006 dB

HPA2TM HEADPHONE OUTPUTS
Number of Headphone Outputs: 2
Output Connectors: ¼" TRS with switch on left-hand jack
Output Impedance: < 0.11 Ohms
Output Level Control: Stereo Control on Front Panel
Output Level Range (at 0 dBFS) into 60-Ohm Load: Off to +22 dBu (9.7 Vrms)
Maximum Output Current: 250 mA
Overload Protection (independent per channel): Current limited at 300 mA, also thermally protected
Bandwidth: 500 kHz

THD+N

-100 dB, 0.001% into 30 Ohms at 50 mW

1.26W maximum into 30 Ohms

STATUS DISPLAY
Indicators - Type and Location: 16 LED's on Front Panel

Selection/Status Indication

2 - Mute, Dim

6 - Input

2 - Bypass/Calibrated Output

2 - Word length

4 - Sample Rate

AC POWER REQUIREMENTS
Nominal Input Operating Voltage Range (VAC RMS): 100 - 240V
Frequency: 50-60 Hz

Power

< 0.5 Watts Idle

12 Watts Typical Program

15 Watts Maximum

Fuses

5 x 20 mm (2 required)

0.5 A 250 V Slo-Blo Type

Min/Max Operating range (VAC RMS)

90 - 260

47 - 63Hz

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 DX only: 3 lb.
DAC3 DX with remote control, power cord, extra fuses, and manual: 4 lb.
Shipping weight: 7 lb.