Koss Totem Mani-2 - Manual (Page 41)

Fe
ed
ba
ck
Lis
te
n
in
g R
oo
m
complicated things.
Here’s how we solved the problem.
The source we selected for these tests
was a combination of our CEC TL51X
belt-driven transport and the Bench-
mark DAC1 converter reviewed in
our last issue. We did that because the
Benchmark’s headphone section was one
of the products to be reviewed, and that
way we could keep the source constant.
We listened first to three recordings
through the DAC1, but kept our conclu-
sions for later, since we had as yet noth-
ing to compare it to. We then listened
to the same three recordings through
the Lehmann and CEC amplifiers, and
then returned to the Benchmark. So let
us begin with the end, as it were.
I
f the name is familiar it’s because
we reviewed this digital-to-analog
converter from a little-known
company in our last issue. It’s
not expensive as high end DACs go, at
US$975, and fortunately it really is high
end. Benchmark Media, which produces
the unit, sells directly where it has no
local dealers.
But there’s more to the DAC1 than its
obvious function. Notice the volume
control on the front panel? It
can be disabled, and we
had disabled it in our
original session. Now
notice the two headphone
jacks? Yes, the DAC1 is
also a headphone ampli-
fier, a function which, you
might say, is thrown in for free…as if the
DAC1 weren’t enough of a bargain in the
first place!
Because we know that the DAC1,
plus our CEC TL51X transport, is a
highly credible source, we used that
combination for the listening sessions.
That way the source would always be the
same. We would listen to the Benchmark
itself first, and return to it last for a final
comparison (since we have no reference
headphone amp). To try the other two
amplifiers, we would disable the DAC1’s
volume control (by flicking a switch on
the rear panel), and run a pair of our
reference interconnect cables from the
DAC1 output to the input of the test
amplifier.
We began the session with the
Margie Gibson song we had used in
the headphone evaluation. It really did
sound…
Oh well…back to Latin!
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odolesectem am vent autat utpat, conul-
lan henim dolor suscipit volore molorper
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eum eu facilit inci eugueri liquat nis ad te
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dit aut velis ad dipsumm odipsuscipis
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do doluptat. Ut acipit amet wismolore
dolore esto commy nim nisisl ut eum
acillaor se facipis senisl ulluptatie diam
ipisisim zzrit wisis autpatie el ute con-
secte tismolobore ea con utet amconse
voleseniat, quipis ad min verostrud tion
henit wisl ut laore do ea feum zzriureros
auguerci blan velenisl ea faciliqui euisi.
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Duisl ut am aliscin.
Brand/model: Benchmark DAC1
Price: US$975
Size (WDH): 20.5 x 21 x 4.5 cm
Most liked: Volore dipit dit wis num
aliquis dolore
Least liked: Ut nisl dolorer iuscidu-
ipsum
Verdict: Dolor suscipit volore
molorper sed mod tat
Summing it up…
Headphone Amplifiers
Benchmark DAC1
ULTRA HIGH FIDELITY Magazine 3