As a manufacturer of external digital-to-analog converters, Benchmark initiated a survey of DVD transports to determine which to recommend to their customers. The research was focused on bit-transparency – the ability to deliver the audio da...
With the introduction of Benchmark’s HDR-VC™ (High Dynamic Range Volume Control), many audio enthusiasts are taking another look at volume control methods. What are the differences between the different volume control topologies? Is on...
In 1986, the founder of Benchmark Media Systems, Inc., Allen Burdick (since-retired), wrote an application note titled "Clean Audio Installation Guide". The paper began circulating among engineers at broadcast facilities and recording st...
When connecting audio equipment, it is important to understand the differences between various types of 'inputs' and 'outputs'. It is especially important to understand differences in electrical specifications. Connecting gear without proper elect...
The age of computer-based media storage and playback has brought innumerable conveniences and features to the music-lover. With inexpensive hard drives and configurable media players, your entire music catalog is never more then a few clicks away....
iTunes has made great improvements with version 7 under both Mac and Windows platforms. The sample-rate conversion, word-length handling, and volume control are all greatly improved. If the correct settings are applied, iTunes 7 can achieve very h...
The output attenuators of the DAC1 and the DAC1 USB optimize the signal to noise ratio (SNR) of the interface for maximum performance. They also determine the volume ...
‘Hot-plugging’ a microphone – that is, plugging or unplugging a microphone while phantom power is on – will damage the performance of some preamplifiers, and may completely destroy them. The damage usually begins as a rise ...
