Benchmark DAC3 HGC
D/A Converter + integrated headphone amp + line-preamp/monitor controller (flagship DAC3)
AD/DA Converter$2,399Manufacturer list price
Specifications
- Type
- AD/DA Converter
- Description
- D/A Converter + integrated headphone amp + line-preamp/monitor controller (flagship DAC3)
- Topology
- ESS ES9028PRO multi-bit DAC, UltraLock3 jitter attenuation, integrated HPA2 headphone amplifier stage, relay-controlled analog attenuator
- Signal path
- Digital
- Channels
- 2
- Channel format
- 2.0 (stereo) + stereo headphone output
- Form factor
- 1/2 rack width, 1U high (rackmount adapter kit available)
- Rack units
- 1
- Connection
- USB 2.0 (asynchronous), S/PDIF coaxial, TOSLINK optical
- Sample rate (kHz)
- 44.1-192 (USB); up to 96 (optical); up to 210 (coaxial)
- Bit depth
- 24
- DSP
- High-headroom digital reconstruction (3 dB headroom above 0 dBFS), linear-phase filters
- Powered
- Yes
- Power (W)
- <0.5 idle / 12 typical / 13 max
- Frequency response
- +0/-0.015 dB, 20 Hz-20 kHz
- Introduced
- 2018
- Country of manufacture
- USA
Details
Controls: Motorized volume knob, mute/dim, polarity switch, remote control (included), bidirectional 12V trigger I/O
I/O: Digital in: 1x USB 2.0 (async), 2x TOSLINK optical, 2x S/PDIF coaxial. Analog in: 2x RCA (A1/A2). Analog out: 2x XLR balanced, 4x RCA unbalanced (2 pairs). Headphone out: 2x 1/4-inch TRS (HPA2 amp stage).
Notable use: 2025 Stereophile Recommended Component; 2024 Future Audiophile 'Best Digital Audiophile Product'
Notes: FLAG (multi-function): combines D/A conversion, headphone amplification (HPA2 stage), and line-level preamp/volume control (relay attenuator) in one chassis -- more than a pure converter. Year_intro (2018) inferred from contemporaneous third-party review dates, not explicitly stated on current product page -- FLAG as inference.