[Otto]

Hey Joe,

I'm going through the same thing you are right now, except I'm not happy with my player. Actually, I'm using a digital out from a PC to my Outlaw 990, so I'm using the 990's DACs. I'm frustrated with the Outlaw right now, so I'm considering an external DAC and perhaps a preamp with HT bypass.

Anyway, in the past I've used a Cal Audio Labs Sigma (tube based), and that definitely added a different sound. I sold it a while ago because I wasn't using it, and I wasn't spending much time doing any critical listening. Now I'm back into 2 channel listening (I find it very relaxing), so I want to play with this type of thing again.

My friend has the Benchmark, so I'm sure I can get my hands on one of those for testing. He also has a higher-end Sony CD player that he said was close with the Benchmark. Someone also pointed me to the Channel Island Audio DAC ($599). Both the CI and the Benchmark are touted as "giant killers", so sometimes it's possible to get into this stuff without breaking the bank.

Now, my friend above has a much nicer system that I have, and he was pleased with the Benchmark when compared against much more expensive DACs. If he thought one of the multi-thousand-dollar DACs that he listened to was better, he would have bought it. But he bought the Benchmark. I respect his ear, so I'm pretty sure that the Benchmark won't detract from the music (FWIW he was using a Sunfire Theater Grand 3 or 4 for DACs previously).

So, I'll be considering those two in the near future. As you know, once you get this far into it, things aren't specifically and discernibly "good" or "bad", but they just impart a different quality to the music, and you have to decide if it's "for you", or not.

Have you played with any tube-based DAC or preamp? Some like it, and some don't, but it's defintely a little different than solid state stuff.