Lavry DA10 vs Benchmark DAC1: DEATHMATCH!




http://www.benchmarkmedia.com/dac1/


http://www.lavryengineering.com/productspage_da_10.html

The Benchmark DAC1 - the crowning champion for stand-alone D/A converters in the $1000 range - is now being challenged by the Lavry DA10; a newcomer from a highly-respected converter company, Lavry Engineering.

The two will go head-to-head in a no-rules deathmatch. And will compete in a range of categories, including:

Sound Quality
Features
Interconnectivity
Ergonomics
Build Quality
Styling

The match will include various sample rates, monitors, systems, rooms, program/source material, and interconnect cables.

Stay tuned as we report on this blow-by-blow LIVE as it happens.

As the bell sounds for Round 1, the DAC1 and DA10 waste no time getting down to business.

Ergonomics

And as the match gets underway the DAC1 lands a solid blow to the DA10. The DAC1 has a nice, big volume [attenuator] knob that feels great in the hands and turns like a dream. The DA10 has an Up/Down toggle switch for volume [attenuator] control. The toggle switch is small, feels cheap, and makes an audible clicking [ not in the monitors, but the physical toggle itself ] sound when engaged. Also because the weight of the DA10 is so light, the DA10 module can lift up from its resting position when the volume toggle switch is pushed up.

The DA10 turns tail as the DAC10 moves in.

DAC1 - 1 point - for beautiful, big, smooth volume [attenuator] knob.
DA10 - 0 points - for cheap toggle switch and unit lifting when toggled UP.



Total score so far:

DAC1 - 1 point
DA10 - 0 points

Features

The DA10 recovers and, answering to the volume control threat, delivers a kick to the back of the knee of the DAC1. The DA10 uses detented volume control with digital parameters from 00 through 56 - allowing for exact levels to be recalled. The DAC1, sensing the danger, simultaneously lands a kick to the side of the DA10. The DAC1 has continously-variable volume control through the entire range.

DAC1 - 1 point - for continously-variable volume control.
DA10 - 1 point - for detented volume control, instant recall of exact dB levels.



Total score so far:

DAC1 - 2 points
DA10 - 1 point

This is most excellent.....!
I have the Bass Ales warmed up and have the little lady pulling ut a bag of pretzels.

Seriously Dan.....informative and fun.....great way to do this!

Styling

The DAC1 moves in with its sleek styling - available in standard black and optional silver faceplate - and
lands a solid punch right in the eye of the DA10. The DA10 goes down!



The referee calls time!

One of the judges calls for a style comparison with a cable de-scrambler box and the DA10.




The judges determine it's too close of a resemblance in styling between the DA10 and the Millennium InVIEW cable box.

The judges also call in a silver Porsche 996, and awe at the similarities in styling approach, the lines, the statement in design between the 996 and the optional brush aluminum silver-faceplaced DAC1.




DAC1 - 1 point - for overall sleek styling. Standard black and optional silver.
DA10 - 0 points - easily mistaken for a cable box.

Total score so far:

DAC1 - 3 points
DA10 - 1 point

Porsche, the other internet porn!

I think the Lavry should have lost a point for being ugly.

That thing's gonna have to sound daaamn good to beat the DAC1... I can't wait to read the reults on sound.

-Dusty

Quality Control

The DA10 takes a falls in the QC department - tripping on its own footwork. At first we just thought having the RIGHT output on the left side and the LEFT output on the right side were a decision made at the factory, possibly due to a touch of clever eccentricity.

On closer examination we found the output labled RIGHT was actually the LEFT output, and the output labled LEFT was actually the RIGHT output.



We're choosing to see the lesser of what could be two mistakes on the QC of the DA10, and are assuming that it's the silkscreens on the outputs that were put on incorrectly.

Either way, the DA10 is hurt and in the ropes, and looses a point for lack of QC and someone not paying attention at Lavry.

DAC1 - N/A
DA10 - minus 1 point



Updated total score so far:

DAC1 - 3 points
DA10 - 0 points

My DAC1 has them backwards as well. It makes sense if you turn the unit around.

But the screening lines up with the output!

-Dusty

How about getting a dozen of those boys and offering out to us (cheap) before they are trashed?: )

What timing!

I have both the DAC1 and DA10 on eval right now. I'll keep my opinions to myself until the Deathmatch results are all in.

Except for one - I didn't know how good digital could sound until now.

js

Hmm, okay now that we've gone through the more mundane aspects of the deathmatch, we are all awaiting the results of the more critical aspects.

Let the listening begin!

I have my suspicions where this may be heading. I too will hold off in line with the previous poster's discipline.

All Hail!

(I am using something right now. It has me smiling.)

I personally would rather wait until Dan has had a fair time to evaluate the DAC's over an appropriate time period.

There are enough quick comparisons between the DAC1 and Lavry Blue line on the net to lookup in the time being. Those should give you a rough estimation of how the two units stack up. -- Assuming the Black line is really electronically identical to the blue and the added circuitry, alternative power supply and butt-ugly casing do not significantly alter the unit’s sonics.

Most of the user reviews I have read essentially state, “the differences are very subtle, but I prefer the one I own”.

I’m positive Dan will give a non-biased opinion and can actually explain his reasoning if allowed the time to do so.

-Dusty

Hey Dusty,

This thread was booked as a Deathmatch and then left with the Lavry barely hanging by a thread...(according to my scorecard) Did Lavry survive or go down in flames and or rise from the ashes...


The suspense is killing me

Whenever Dot,

Carl

So far only superficial scores...can't wait to see what the sonic comparison is like!



BTW Dot, is that a Ruf 996 pictured with the (IMHO gaudy silver) Dac1? Hot. Very hot.

You smell that? I love that smell. Smells like.....
Victory.


You know if some of us didn't show more restraint......

I feel for you in trying to make your decision. All I'm going to say is from one perspective, there's a new sheriff in town.

In the same price catagory is the Mytek 2 channel D/A as well which I love. But between the Benchmark and Lavery, I would go with Benchmark. The Lavry Blue is a great converter, but this lower end unit is not of the same quality in sound or in it's appearance as the Blue.

Sorry for the delay folks. Between getting through and over a nasty flu-like illness, and then getting through all the listening tests - we had some snags. But we're back on course.

Connectivity



The DAC1 lands a right jab to the DA10 in the connectivity department. Both units come on strong on inputs, offering AES/EBU via XLR and Toslink optical. The DAC1 has S/PDIF coaxial connector, the DA10 an RCA S/PDIF connector. But the DAC1 edges out on outputs due to an additional set of RCA analog output jacks on the rear, as well as two headphone jacks on the front to the DA10's single headphone jack. Giving the DAC-1 a total of four analog outputs to the DA-10's two outputs.



The additional headphone jack on the DAC1 comes in handy for obvious reasons: when sharing an additional pair of headphones with another listener. And in project studio applications - often in one or two rooms when the engineer and musician or vocalist tracking both want to wear a pair of cans. Additionally, the extra set of RCA outputs on the rear of the DAC1 can feed source to wherever it's needed: a larger headphone/foldback system, a second pair of monitors, an extra analog tape machine - such as a 1" 2-track deck. In my case, I was driving an Amphony wireless headphone system from the DAC1's extra set of RCA outputs. We also sometimes used the RCA jacks to feed into an extra pair of NS-10's.

Most project/recording studio owners are typically getting into a stand-alone, two-channel DAC to drive the main pair of studio monitors. And, of course, everyone needs at least one headphones jack. As long as that's the only requirement, both the DA10 and DAC1 will do the job. But as soon as an additional headphone - even one, never mind enough cans for a band - or an additional set of monitors, a DA10 user runs into a roadblock, and the DA10 user will need to buy some sort of expensive switcher box, such as a Coleman product. [ There's no sense in buying a cheap splitter, because it will only degrade the signal of your nice DAC.] Whereas a DAC1 right out of the box will allow the user to run multiple sets of headphones and/or monitors without the need for an additional investment.

The DAC1 scores another point for having twice as many analog outputs.

Connectivity round:
DAC1 - 1 point
DA10 - N/A

Updated total score so far:

DAC1 - 4 points
DA10 - 0 points