I2S interface available for Benchmark DAC-1

audioengr · « **on:** 9 May 2006, 07:34 pm »

It is finally here and being backordered quickly. The I2S interface for the DAC-1 is simply breathtaking.

Best digital playback that I have heard, period. A level of clarity that is unprecedented. Nothing stock even touches it and my fully turbomodded DAC-1 is trounced by a minimum modded DAC-1 with the I2S interface.

Even a new stock DAC-1 with the I2S interface driven from an Off-Ramp I2S computer converter is simply amazing. It's so good that I created a "minimum mod" package for the DAC-1 just to go with the I2S interface.

For those new to computer audio, the Off-Ramp I2S converts USB to I2S interface. The I2S interface is the native interface for most DAC chips, so it eliminates completely the S/PDIF interface. The AES/EBU XLR interface on the DAC-1 is replaced with the I2S interface.

See the Component Mods page of my website under Benchmark DAC-1 for the details.

Pricing is $500 for the I2S interface mod.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio

Vtech2000 · « **Reply #1 on:** 10 May 2006, 04:10 am »

http://www.revelationaudiolabs.com/cables-digital/index.htm#CAT5-RJ45-i2s">Over-the-top i2s cable, remarkable upgrade over stock cable

audioengr · « **Reply #2 on:** 10 May 2006, 05:41 am »

Quote from: Vtech2000

http://www.revelationaudiolabs.com/cables-digital/index.htm#CAT5-RJ45-i2s">Over-the-top i2s cable, remarkable upgrade over stock cable

Brad - I have seen your cable with the Northstar Transport/DAC I got from a customer. What is the Characteristic Impedance of the cable?

Steve N.

Vtech2000 · « **Reply #3 on:** 10 May 2006, 02:41 pm »

Quote from: audioengr

Quote from: Vtech2000
http://www.revelationaudiolabs.com/cables-digital/index.htm#CAT5-RJ45-i2s">Over-the-top i2s cable, remarkable upgrade over stock cable

Brad - I have seen your cable with the Northstar Transport/DAC I got from a customer. What is the Characteristic Impedance of the cable?

Steve N.

The Characteristic Impedance of the cable is 100 ohm.

ShinOBIWAN · « **Reply #4 on:** 24 May 2006, 08:45 pm »

Vtech2000 · « **Reply #5 on:** 24 May 2006, 09:18 pm »

Every user of this cable who has commented said the improvements are immediately obvious and lucid to their ears in their system, providing a substantial performance enhancement. Under the 30-day audition policy, there are yet to be any returned by a user due to their dissatisfaction. The only definite conclution is for one to try the cable for one's self. How would one possibly know barring this?

It is yet another system upgrade path - an upgrade that addresses the all-important front-end / source - a stone unturned otherwise. Other system upgrades obviously have their own merits, at their respective price points.