Subscribe to Our Youtube Channel
Related Manuals for Benchmark DAC2 D
Summary of Contents for Benchmark DAC2 D
- Page 1 Benchmark DAC2 D Instruction Manual Reference Stereo Preamplifier PCM and DSD D/A Converter Asynchronous USB ESS9018 Conversion System (Version 2.X Firmware)
-
Page 2: Safety Information
EQUIPPED WITH A STANDARD IEC POWER ENTRY MODULE. USE AN IEC POWER CORD THAT IS EQUIPPED WITH THE APPROPRIATE CONNECTOR FOR YOUR LOCATION. CORDS ARE AVAILABLE FROM YOUR DEALER. Manual for DAC2 D with 2.X Firmware - Rev. H Page 2... -
Page 3: Table Of Contents
Jumper-Configured Options Benchmark 1-Year Warranty Removing Top Cover Benchmark Extended Warranty Options 69 XLR Output Pads Notes on Warranty Repairs Headphone Switch Configuration Headphone Amplifier Gain Digital PASS-THROUGH Function Manual for DAC2 D with 2.X Firmware - Rev. H Page 3... -
Page 4: Features
SABRE PRO – Native DSD D/A conversion system, four 1-bit DSD D/A converters per channel Benchmark UltraLock2™ Jitter Attenuation System – eliminates jitter-induced distortion High Headroom DSP - provides 3.5 dB of analog and digital headroom above 0 dBFS to ... -
Page 5: Introduction
The DAC2 has generous amounts of analog The DAC2 D is designed to directly drive a and digital headroom. The analog clip point is wide variety of power amplifiers and powered above 29 dBu. The digital clip point is 27.5 monitors. - Page 6 HGC™ Hybrid Gain Control The magnetic components in the DAC2 power supplies operate at over 800 kHz. This allows HGC™ is Benchmark’s unique hybrid gain the use of very small magnetic components control that combines analog and digital gain that emit correspondingly small magnetic control into a single volume control knob.
- Page 7 The HT mode is similar to the CALIBRATED switch setting on the DAC1 except that it is programmable per input. This flexibility allows seamless integration into home theater Manual for DAC2 D with 2.X Firmware - Rev. H Page 7...
-
Page 8: Front Panel
Front Panel Rear Panel Manual for DAC2 D with 2.X Firmware - Rev. H Page 8... -
Page 9: Quick Start Guide
Turns the unit on. Audio Inputs Press and hold the ON button for 3 seconds to toggle the The DAC2 D features five stereo digital inputs POLARITY function. (2 coaxial, 2 optical, and 1 USB). The coaxial and optical inputs accept professional (AES) VOLUME Turns the volume up or down. -
Page 10: Front Panel Controls
3 seconds to toggle between the USB 1.1 and USB The AUTO-ON function keeps the 2.0 modes. DAC2 D on whenever AC line voltage is supplied. The COMPATIBILITY mode disables VOLUME This motor-driven knob can be... -
Page 11: Front Panel Displays
D4 cannot be selected if the Digital Pass Through function is enabled. Instructions for configuring this jumper- selected function can be found in the Internal Settings section of this manual (Page 28). Manual for DAC2 D with 2.X Firmware - Rev. H Page 11... - Page 12 DIM, MUTE, and POLARITY Indicators The 16 and 24 lights indicate the measured word length of the selected digital input. The DAC2 D detects active data bits and displays the results as follows: 16 Only Measured input word length is 16 bits.
-
Page 13: Headphone Jacks
Use the right-hand jack to keep all outputs active. Driving Two Sets of Headphones The HPA2™ is specifically designed with enough power to drive two sets of headphones. Manual for DAC2 D with 2.X Firmware - Rev. H Page 13... -
Page 14: Operational Details
If the volume is adjusted while DIM is active, switched AC outlets. When AUTO-ON is it will not change the NORMAL setting unless enabled, the DAC2 D cannot be turned off the DIM volume is turned up above the last without removing AC power. -
Page 15: Ht Mode
Starting with the DAC2 D on, press and hold noise performance of the system and they the POWER button for 3 seconds. At the end can lead to confusion. of 3 seconds the DAC2 D will power down if the AUTO-ON mode has been successfully disabled. Tip:... -
Page 16: Preamp Compatibility Mode
USB MODE can be changed. In COMPATIBILITY mode: To change the USB MODE, select the USB (U) input on DAC2 D and then press and hold HT mode is on for all inputs the USB button on the remote control for 3 ... -
Page 17: Driving Power Amplifiers
20 dB. The pads should be used to does not have a mute switch. The audio output match the output level of the DAC2 D to the on both jacks is wired in parallel and is driven input sensitivity of the power amplifier. Most by Benchmark's HPA2™... -
Page 18: Digital Pass-Through
D4. DSD files on a computer can be Proper gain settings are important for sent in DoP to the USB input on the DAC2 D. maximizing the SNR of the headphone The USB input can be routed to coaxial monitoring system. -
Page 19: Firmware Version Identification
The firmware version is displayed during the Example 2: The U and HT lamps flash. The lamp test while the DAC2 D is turning on. At firmware version is 1.1. least one lamp in the INPUT INDICATOR will flash rapidly while the remaining lamps... -
Page 20: Rear Panel
The optical inputs (D1 and D2) are not recommended for DSD or for sample rates above 96 kHz. Optical connections may be unreliable at sample rates above 96 kHz. There are five stereo inputs on the DAC2 D: Tip: The DAC2 D will not decode ... - Page 21 The USB Audio 2.0 mode was tested for compatibility with Windows XP, Vista, 7, and 8 (driver installation is required for these All of the digital inputs on the DAC2 D use Windows versions). Beginning with Windows Benchmark's UltraLock2™ system to remove 10, no driver is required.
- Page 22 75-Ohm, 0.5 Vpp, consumer format which is also known as S/PDIF, and is commonly used in hi-fi equipment. The coaxial inputs are designed to accept either type of signal. Manual for DAC2 D with 2.X Firmware - Rev. H Page 22...
-
Page 23: Outputs
(using a special adapter cable), pin 3 must be left floating. Shorting pin 3 to ground will increase the The DAC2 D has one pair of balanced XLR temperature of the output drivers, will outputs and two pairs of unbalanced RCA increase power consumption, and may cause outputs. -
Page 24: Ac Power-Entry And Fuse Module
Caution: Always use a grounded power cord. The DAC2 D is equipped with a standard IEC power entry module. Use an IEC power cord that is equipped with the appropriate connector for your location. -
Page 25: Internal Settings
The following functions are jumper reduce the output levels while preserving the configured: full dynamic range of the DAC2 D. The DAC2 D ships with the pads disabled (0 dB setting). XLR Output Pads ... -
Page 26: Headphone Switch Configuration
The right-hand headphone jack does not have a mute switch. In most cases it is convenient to have one jack that mutes the outputs and one that does not mute the outputs. If your Manual for DAC2 D with 2.X Firmware - Rev. H Page 26... -
Page 27: Headphone Amplifier Gain
Figure 4 - HPA2™ Gain is 0 dB maximizing the SNR of the headphone monitoring system. With proper settings, the full performance of the DAC2 D can be delivered to the headphones for critical monitoring tasks and for maximum musical enjoyment. -
Page 28: Digital Pass-Through Function
DAC2 D). By default, D4 functions as a digital input and the jumpers are set according to Figure 8. Figure 8 - Digital PASS-THROUGH Disabled (Factory Default) Manual for DAC2 D with 2.X Firmware - Rev. H Page 28... -
Page 29: Rack Mounting
Rack Mount Tray. It is available in black or silver. The silver panel includes an engraved Benchmark logo. The Benchmark Rack Mount Tray mounts up to two ½-wide Benchmark products in a single race space. The tray accepts any Visit BenchmarkMedia.com for a complete combination of ½-wide Benchmark products... -
Page 30: Dac1, Dac2 Family History
XLR digital input and replaced features to the basic DAC1 platform. it with two additional coaxial digital inputs. Benchmark converters are in use in many of the world's top studios. DAC1 HDR The following is a brief overview of the various... - Page 31 The DAC2 L is identical to the DAC2 HGC except that the DAC2 L has no headphone amplifier. DAC2 D The DAC2 D is identical to the DAC2 HGC except that the DAC2 D has no analog inputs and no 12V trigger. DAC2 DX The DAC2 DX replaced the DAC2 D.
-
Page 32: Benchmark Technologies
The system seamlessly switches to native 32-bit digital portion of this control since DSD conversion when DoP is detected. DoP there are no analog inputs on the DAC2 D. 1.1 DSD encapsulation is supported by many media players. DSD downloads are now All inputs are controlled by the rotary volume available from several sources. - Page 33 3.5 dB of overs. Benchmark's high-headroom DSP headroom in the entire conversion system. renders low sample rates with the clarity and We believe this added headroom is a groundbreaking improvement. Manual for DAC2 D with 2.X Firmware - Rev. H Page 33...
- Page 34 Manual for DAC2 D with 2.X Firmware - Rev. H Page 34...
-
Page 35: 32-Bit Sabre-Pro D/A System
The performance of the HPA2™ does not ES9018. change when headphones are driven. THD+N measurements for no-load, 30-Ohm resistive HPA2™ Headphone Amplifier loads, 30-Ohm headphone loads, and 600- Ohm headphone loads are virtually identical. Manual for DAC2 D with 2.X Firmware - Rev. H Page 35... -
Page 36: Differential Amplifiers
(or worse). There is no point in UltraLock™ converters exceed the jitter buying a 24-bit converter if clock jitter has attenuation performance of two-stage PLL not been adequately addressed. converters while achieving near instantaneous Manual for DAC2 D with 2.X Firmware - Rev. H Page 36... - Page 37 100 dB of stop-band attenuation. But, digital from the tones in the original signal. filters are designed using the mathematical assumption that the time interval between samples is a constant. Unfortunately, sample Manual for DAC2 D with 2.X Firmware - Rev. H Page 37...
- Page 38 D/A devices. Practitioners of Digital Audio evaluate A/D performance without a good need to understand these effects. D/A. The consistent performance delivered by the DAC2 eliminates one major variable - jitter. Manual for DAC2 D with 2.X Firmware - Rev. H Page 38...
-
Page 39: Multi-Mode Asynchronous Usb Audio
USB 2.0 (High Speed) port. convenience of computer playback without compromise. Benchmark's USB Audio 1.1 and USB Audio 2.0 modes are frequency agile. This means The Asynchronous USB system supports USB that the sample rate is controlled by the Audio 2.0 for high-resolution 192kHz, and... - Page 40 The Windows USB Audio 2.0 driver is the need to reconfigure the computer every available at: time the converter is turned on. BenchmarkMedia.com/drivers Manual for DAC2 D with 2.X Firmware - Rev. H Page 40...
-
Page 41: Usb Driver Installation
The DAC2 driver is available for download at: BenchmarkMedia.com/drivers Before you install the driver, make sure the USB cable is unplugged. 1. In the DAC2 Driver folder, double click “setup.exe.” Manual for DAC2 D with 2.X Firmware - Rev. H Page 41... - Page 42 2. A welcome screen will pop-up. Click “Next.” Manual for DAC2 D with 2.X Firmware - Rev. H Page 42...
- Page 43 METHOD 2 - FRONT PANEL: From the front panel, simultaneously press and hold both INPUT buttons for three seconds (the 4X light should flash once). If the 2X light flashes instead of the 4X light, repeat this step. Manual for DAC2 D with 2.X Firmware - Rev. H...
- Page 44 We suggest keeping it in the default location. Click “Install”. 5. When the installation begins you will see the following screen. Please be patient while the driver installs. Installation may require several minutes. Manual for DAC2 D with 2.X Firmware - Rev. H...
- Page 45 7. Click “Finish.” The Setup will close automatically. This completes the installation process. You can now enjoy music over the USB Audio 2.0 connection at sample rates up to 192 kHz. DSD can also be played in DoP 1.1 format. Manual for DAC2 D with 2.X Firmware - Rev. H...
-
Page 46: Performance Graphs
The rise at 0 Hz is normal in an FFT analysis and is not an indication of noise. This 32k point FFT analysis uses a Blackman-Harris window with 16x power averaging, and spans a frequency range of DC to 32 kHz. Manual for DAC2 D with 2.X Firmware - Rev. H... - Page 47 60 Hz and 180 Hz (frequencies where we would expect to see interference from the 60 Hz AC input. There is absolutely no sign of any AC hum. Manual for DAC2 D with 2.X Firmware - Rev. H...
- Page 48 The rise at 0 Hz is normal in an FFT analysis and is not an indication of noise. This 32k point FFT analysis uses a Blackman-Harris window with 16x power averaging, and spans a frequency range of DC to 32 kHz. Manual for DAC2 D with 2.X Firmware - Rev. H...
- Page 49 The rise at 0 Hz is normal in an FFT analysis and is not an indication of noise. This 32k point FFT analysis uses a Blackman-Harris window with 16x power averaging, and spans a frequency range of DC to 32 kHz. Manual for DAC2 D with 2.X Firmware - Rev. H...
- Page 50 Graph 5 - FREQUENCY RESPONSE This plot demonstrates the ruler-flat frequency response of the DAC2. Note that the frequency response measures - 0.01 dB at 10 Hz and -0.02 dB at 40 kHz. Manual for DAC2 D with 2.X Firmware - Rev. H...
- Page 51 5.1 surround system. Four DAC2 converters can be combined to form a 7.1 system. The phase accuracy between any two channels will match the phase accuracy shown above. Manual for DAC2 D with 2.X Firmware - Rev. H...
- Page 52 AP 2700 test set. The THD+N measurements on the unbalanced outputs confirm the effectiveness of the differential amplifiers. Similar results are obtained by measuring either side of the balanced outputs relative to ground. Manual for DAC2 D with 2.X Firmware - Rev. H...
- Page 53 SABRE converters. These differential amplifiers give the unbalanced outputs the ability to approach the performance of the balanced outputs. Please note that the differential amplifiers also eliminate common-mode distortion on the balanced outputs. Manual for DAC2 D with 2.X Firmware - Rev. H...
- Page 54 This plot shows the THD+N performance of the headphone outputs under load. Note that the THD+N performance of the headphone outputs approaches that of the balanced outputs. The DAC2 includes Benchmark's HPA2™ headphone amplifier. The HPA2™ has a near 0-Ohm output impedance which provides outstanding control and damping of the headphone drivers. The HPA2™...
- Page 55 The analog output stages on the DAC2 have high slew rates and are capable of maintaining low THD levels at high frequencies even when driven to 0 dBFS. Note that there is almost no rise in THD+N with frequency, even when operating at maximum output levels. Manual for DAC2 D with 2.X Firmware - Rev. H...
- Page 56 Note that odd harmonics are lower than the more "musical" even harmonics. Both sets of harmonics are very low in amplitude (-112 dB to -120 dB), and should be entirely inaudible. Manual for DAC2 D with 2.X Firmware - Rev. H...
- Page 57 This plot demonstrates that all of the analog outputs on the DAC2 have very similar performance over the entire audio band. The unbalanced outputs, and the headphone outputs, closely match the performance of the balanced outputs. Like Graph 11, this plot shows THD (not THD+N). Manual for DAC2 D with 2.X Firmware - Rev. H...
- Page 58 Anlr.THD+N Ratio Left DAC2 - THD+N vs Sample Rate.at27 Graph 13 - THD+N versus Sample Rate The THD+N performance of the DAC2 is identical at all Sample Rates. Manual for DAC2 D with 2.X Firmware - Rev. H Page 58...
- Page 59 Over the entire range of the AES jitter tolerance test, the THD+N performance of the DAC2 is unchanged. The DAC2 easily passes the AES jitter tolerance test without any THD+N performance degradation. Manual for DAC2 D with 2.X Firmware - Rev. H...
- Page 60 Graph 3 - FFT 10 kHz. The DAC2 shows no change in performance when the AES jitter tolerance test is applied to the digital inputs. No jitter-induced sidebands are visible to a measurement limit that exceeds -140 dBFS. Manual for DAC2 D with 2.X Firmware - Rev. H...
- Page 61 This plot demonstrates that the DAC2 has very low IMD distortion. The 1 kHz difference frequency measures -122 dB, and the 10 kHz and 13 kHz products measure about -128 dB. IMD distortion should be well below audible levels. Manual for DAC2 D with 2.X Firmware - Rev. H...
-
Page 62: Specifications
Mute on Lock Error Mute on Idle Channel 50/15 us De-Emphasis Enable Automatic in Consumer Mode De-Emphasis Method Digital IIR De-Emphasis Supported at Fs = 32, 44.1, 48 kHz Manual for DAC2 D with 2.X Firmware - Rev. H Page 62... -
Page 63: Group Delay (Latency)
>1.5 UI sine at 40 kHz >1.5 UI sine at 80 kHz >1.5 UI sine at 90 kHz >0.25 UI sine above 160 kHz Jitter Attenuation Method Benchmark UltraLock2™ - all inputs Manual for DAC2 D with 2.X Firmware - Rev. H Page 63... -
Page 64: Balanced Analog Outputs
Overload Protection (independent per channel) Current limited at 300 mA, Thermal Bandwidth > 500 kHz THD+N -106 dB, 0.0005% into 30 Ohms at +18 dBu (1.26W into 30 Ohms) Manual for DAC2 D with 2.X Firmware - Rev. H Page 64... -
Page 65: Status Display
9.33” (237 mm) cord Width 9.5” (249 mm) Height 1.725” (44.5 mm) Weight DAC2 D only 3 lb. DAC2 D with accessories and manual 4 lb. Shipping weight 7 lb. Manual for DAC2 D with 2.X Firmware - Rev. H Page 65... -
Page 66: Regulatory Compliance
(European Union) directive 2002/95/EC, or, RoHS (Restrictions of Hazardous Substances). As of July 01, 2006, All Benchmark Media Systems, Inc. products placed on the European Union market are compliant (containing quantity limit weight less than or equal to 0.1% (1000 ppm) of any homogeneous Lead (Pb), Mercury (Hg), Hexavalent Chromium (Cr VI), and flame retardant Polybrominated Biphenyls (PBB) or Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDE)). -
Page 67: Ce Certificate Of Conformity
CE Certificate of Conformity Manual for DAC2 D with 2.X Firmware - Rev. H Page 67... -
Page 68: Warranty Information
In the event of failure of a product under this warranty, Benchmark Media Systems, Inc. will repair, at no charge, the product returned to its factory. Benchmark Media Systems, Inc. may, at its option, replace the product in lieu of repair. -
Page 69: Benchmark Extended Warranty Options
Benchmark Extended Warranty Options The Benchmark Extended 5-Year Warranty * Benchmark Media Systems, Inc. optionally extends the standard 1-year warranty to a period of five years from the date of delivery. *For the extended warranty to become effective, the original purchaser must register the product at the time of purchase either by way of the enclosed registration card or through the product registration section of the Benchmark Media Systems, Inc. - Page 70 Benchmark Media Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Benchmark Media Systems, Inc. Benchmark Media Systems, Inc. 203 East Hampton Place, STE 2 Syracuse, NY 13206 PHONE: +1-315-437-6300 FAX: +1-315-437-8119 benchmarkmedia.com Manual for DAC2 D with 2.X Firmware - Rev. H Page 70...
Need help?
Do you have a question about the DAC2 D and is the answer not in the manual?
Questions and answers