The Benchmark DAC3 HGC is the most advanced two-channel D/A converter in Benchmark’s product line, building on the respected legacy of the DAC1 and DAC2, which have long served as reference points in both professional and audiophile environments. The DAC3 HGC is used daily in leading recording and mastering studios and is equally valued by discerning listeners at home. It offers an exceptionally transparent signal path, precise stereo imaging, and a wide range of connectivity options for both analogue and digital systems.
At the centre of the Benchmark DAC3 HGC is the ESS ES9028PRO 32-bit conversion chip, configured in a quad-summed architecture. Four 32-bit D/A channels are summed for each stereo output, reducing distortion and improving the signal-to-noise ratio by 6 dB. This configuration also averages out non-linearities to achieve a lower total harmonic distortion figure. All internal processing takes place at 32-bit resolution and includes 3.5 dB of additional digital headroom above 0 dBFS to prevent clipping caused by inter-sample peaks. These peaks are common in modern digital releases and can lead to unpleasant high-frequency artefacts in converters that lack this headroom.
The Benchmark DAC3 HGC supports native PCM and DSD64 conversion on all digital inputs, with DSD carried using DoP 1.1. Benchmark’s UltraLock3 jitter attenuation system ensures complete isolation from incoming jitter and achieves lock within just 6 milliseconds. Jitter-induced distortion is suppressed to levels over 140 dB below the music, well beyond audibility. This contributes to the converter’s precise and effortless sound.
A key feature of the Benchmark DAC3 HGC is Benchmark’s Hybrid Gain Control system. This design uses a servo-driven analogue volume control, a 32-bit digital volume stage, and passive low-impedance attenuators. All inputs are governed by a single control that also responds to remote operation. Analogue inputs remain in the analogue domain, while digital inputs are controlled entirely within the DSP system. This ensures perfect stereo balance and avoids the additional distortion found in conventional potentiometers. The passive attenuators at the XLR outputs allow optimal gain staging to the power amplifier, preserving the converter’s dynamic range and reducing noise throughout the system.
The Benchmark DAC3 HGC is designed to serve as a complete system controller. It can connect directly to power amplifiers and active monitors using its adjustable XLR and RCA outputs. Proper gain staging is critical to sound quality and has been a hallmark of Benchmark designs since the original DAC1. The Benchmark DAC3 HGC continues this philosophy, making it an ideal centrepiece for high-resolution playback or professional monitoring.
For headphone users, the Benchmark DAC3 HGC features the HPA2 headphone amplifier. This zero-ohm, high-current amplifier can drive one or two headphones simultaneously without loss of performance. It delivers the same level of sonic accuracy as the main analogue outputs and is capable of revealing fine detail without introducing any additional coloration.
Additional features include real-time word-length and sample-rate indicators on the front panel. These help verify playback accuracy, especially when using media players or operating systems that may perform unnoticed sample-rate conversion or truncation. A polarity switch is included for correcting phase-inverted recordings. Home theatre integration is supported with a bypass mode that allows analogue input pass-through at unity gain. An LED indicator shows when bypass is active. The Benchmark DAC3 HGC also includes a configurable coaxial output that can pass through digital signals, including PCM, DSD, Dolby Digital and DTS, for use with external processors.
Control integration is made easy with a bi-directional 12-volt trigger. The Benchmark DAC3 HGC can follow or control the power states of other devices. The power switch supports both standby and full shutdown, with remote and trigger wake-up functionality. Power consumption is less than 0.5 watts in shutdown and only 12 watts in use. The internal power supply operates globally without user adjustment and uses distributed regulation with individual low-noise regulators for each subsystem.
The Benchmark DAC3 HGC delivers neutral, high-resolution performance that is equally at home in professional monitoring or high-end hi-fi systems. Its precise digital processing, robust analogue output stage, and advanced control features make it a complete solution for transparent and accurate sound reproduction.
Features
- 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
- Home Theater Bypass
- Bi-Directional 12 Volt Trigger
- Power Switch
- Low Power Consumption
- ES9028PRO Converter
