Benchmark DAC3 HGC - Digital to Analog Audio Converter

Sonically-Neutral Studio Monitoring

Benchmark converters are designed to be sonically neutral. This sonic transparency is absolutely essential in the studio monitoring chain.

Benchmark converters have become a standard fixture in many of the world's finest studios.

Bring the Studio into Your Living Room

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 Benchmark converters.

• Nearly Exclusive to Benchmark
• Provides 3 dB Headroom Above 0 dBFS
• Prevents Clipping of Intersample Peaks
• 0 dBS+ Intersample Peaks Often Occur 100s of Times per Second
• Prevents Short Bursts of High-Amplitude Distortion
• Not Available on Most Other D/A Converters
• May Be the Single Most Important Difference

• DAC Reconstruction Filter has a Linear Phase Brick Wall Response
• Accurately Reproduces the Original Analog Waveform
• Preserves the Analog Waveshape Through Multiple A/D and D/A Conversions
• Waveform Integrity is Extremely Important for Studio Applications
• Delivers a Studio Experience to the Listening Space
• The "Custom" Filters Found in Other DACs Change the Analog Waveform

• Low THD+N - Below the 0 dB SPL Threshold of Hearing
• Near 0-Ohm Output Impedance for Tight Control of Drivers
• No increase in THD when Driving Loads as Low as 30 Ohms
• Drives Two Sets of Headphones Simultaneously
• One Headphone Jack Mutes the Line Outputs

• Motorized Volume Control
• Single Knob Controls Digital and Analog Inputs
• Digital Inputs are Controlled in the Digital Domain
• Analog Inputs are Controlled in the Analog Domain
• This System Avoids Conversion of Analog Inputs
• Remote Control Rotates the Volume Control Knob

• High Signal Levels can Increase the System SNR
• Studios use Levels that are 10 dB Higher than Hi-Fi Levels
• The DAC3 Balanced Outputs Can be Configured for Studio or Hi-Fi Output Levels
• All Benchmark Products use Studio Levels Internally
• In an All-Benchmark System, Every Balanced Interface Operates at Studio Levels

• Removes Jitter From the Digital Interface
• Keeps Jitter-Induced Distortion 140 dB Below the Music
• Jitter-Induced Distortion is Held Well Below the 0 dB SPL Threshold of Hearing
• Immune to the Jitter Induced by Long Cables
• Immune to the Jitter Induced by Low-Quality Transports
• Immune to the Jitter Induced by USB Interfaces

Upgrade to an external Benchmark DAC and experience the full capabilities of high-resolution audio.

Each member of the DAC3 converter family is sonically identical, and they share identical performance specifications. Each model is built on the same circuit board, but the higher-priced models add additional features.

• DAC3 HGC - Full-Featured Version of the DAC3
• DAC3 L - Removes the HPA2 Headphone Amplifier
• DAC3 B - Removes the Volume Control and Analog Inputs

The Benchmark DAC3 delivers a clear, open, and uncluttered playback across the entire frequency range.

Instrumental overtones are rendered with exceptional precision and realism. Vocals are reproduced with outstanding accuracy and natural tones. Transients are fast and precise. Bass is deep and well controlled.

The ultra-linear phase response of the DAC3, allows it to create a precise three-dimensional rendering of the recorded space. This space is open and uncluttered because noise and distortion are held below the 0-dB SPL threshold of hearing at all playback levels.

This experience is not limited to the line-level outputs. The DAC3 HGC includes Benchmark's HPA2 0-Ohm Headphone Amplifier which easily drives difficult headphone loads.

• POWER - On/Off Momentary Switch
• MUTE/DIM - Enables Mute or -20 dB Dim
• POLARITY - Inverts Output Polarity
• INPUT - Up/Down Buttons

• Analog Inputs - A1 and A2
• USB Input - U
• Digital Inputs - D1 to D4
• Home Theater Bypass - HT
• Bit Depth - 16 and 24
• Sample Rate - 44, 48, 2X, 4X
• DSD Indicator - 2X and 4X both on

• HPA2 Headphone Amplifier
• High Power, Low THD+N
• Right Jack Mutes Line Outputs
• 2nd Jack Allows Simultaneous Outputs
• Designed to Drive 2 Headphones

• Motorized Volume Control
• HGC - Hybrid Gain Control
• Controls Digital Inputs with DSP
• Controls Analog Inputs with a Potentiometer

• L & R XLR Outputs
• Studio Output Levels - Default
• Hi-Fi Output Levels - Attenuators Enabled
• Passive 10 dB and 20 dB Attenuators
• +24 dBu @ 0 dBFS - Attenuator Off
• 4 Vrms @ 0 dBFS - 10 dB Attenuator On
• Dedicated Output Buffers

• L & R RCA - Output 1
• L & R RCA - Output 2
• 2 Vrms @ 0 dBFS
• Dedicated Output Buffers

• L & R RCA - Input A1
• L & R RCA - Input A1

• TOSLINK Optical Inputs - D1 & D2
• S/PDIF Coaxial Inputs - D3 & D4
• USB Audio Input - USB

• Bidirectional 12V Trigger Port

• IEC Power Connector
• Dual Fuses
• International Power Supply