Hi Tony:

Thanks for the feedback. From what I've read, there are all sorts of issues with USB both in and out
of the computer. Benchmark's solution for USB playback (D-A conversion) is to just reclock the
stream before conversion. I think the big USB issue is a format limitation and the computer's
unreliable clock in most computers. There's a lot been written on this and I don't want to step into
a digital-archania debate, but if I buy the Benchmark, I plan to have my master stream be AES and
use USB just as a second-device stream sometimes. Mostly, the backup would be CDR via the
dithered-16 output.

-- Tom Fine

----- Original Message -----
From: "Tadey, Anthony Michael" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 13, 2009 8:49 AM
Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Benchmark A-D converter


I picked up a Benchmark ADC1 USB about a year and a half ago for a project I was working on. I
think it is great for the price if you only need stereo A-D. To my ears, while not completely
transparent, it is flatter then some of the others out there. I have found the converter to be rock
solid running about 8 hr a day 5 days a week for the past year and a half. I do like its stepped
gain as well, The projects contained a variety of formats and playback machines. The only problem I
had was a discrepancy when comparing the master AES out to the usb out. The Benchmark folks were
very responsive to my inquiries. I was replacing an old A-D so my system was already set up for
AES/EBU I/O which was what I was planning to use but I figured I would also try out the USB when I
was putting the box through the paces. The clocking on the usb output was different then what I was
getting to the AES/EBU at the same sample rate. Sounded fine, but the usb files were shorter when
compared to the same stream off of the AES. I am still not sure if this is a format limitation with
usb (does it require the computer processor to be somewhat of a master clock) or if I was having
driver problems but the AES out as been very stable. I am about to pick up two more of these
converters for additional workstations.

Good luck
-Tony





-----Original Message-----
From: Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Andrew
Hamilton
Sent: Monday, October 12, 2009 1:30 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Benchmark A-D converter

If the model you're looking at is anything like the Benchmark Media
AD2402-96, now discontinued (I believe), you're in for a treat. It is very
faithful to input (i.e., non-colored) and works great. Manual on that model
said pin 2 high, which ended up not being the case. Otherwise, it is
flawless at its price point. As good as Lavry blue or Mytek. I think this
model had the twin format output you mention, but I never used it on
location, so I didn't require a safety (?).

Unless you can get a Prism or a Weiss or a Lavry Gold, it's probably as good
as it gets. John Siao is an excellent engineer, from what I've read. Clock
stable to within 9 pico seconds, methinks beating Mytek's old mark by 1 pico
second. (;

Andrew


On 10/12/09 1:04 PM, "Tom Fine" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> Does anyone on-list use the Benchmark Audio A-D converter? If so, can you
> provide a short report of
> how much you like or dislike it and what features you like and dislike? It
> seems a very compelling
> product at that price point. I especially like the ability to send three
> digital streams at once,
> including two hi-rez 24-bits and a dithered 16-bit 44.1khz to a CD recorder.
> It also seems solidly
> built and seems to have a good line stage before the conversion.
>
> Thanks in advance for any user-experience comments.
>
> -- Tom Fine

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