Benchmark Media Systems

Benchmark listening recommendation:

Harriet

Harriet has the sweet alto voice of Karen Carpenter. She’s been posting covers and original songs on social media. Here’s her recent release. A cover of the England Dan & John Ford Coley hit “I’d Really Love To See You Tonight”

I'd Really Love to See You Tonight Provided to YouTube by Virgin Music GroupI'd Really Love to See You Tonight · HarrietI'd Really Love to See You Tonight℗ 2024 Bright Star RecordsReleased on:...

A run of HPA4 chassis getting fitted with their circuit boards.

All tested and ready for shipping.

Thanks, SoundClub!

Such an incredible talent. Rest in peace.

It is with sad and heavy hearts that we convey to you the loss of internationally renowned, 6 time Grammy Award-winning, saxophonist, David Sanborn. Mr. Sanborn passed Sunday afternoon, May 12th, after an extended battle with prostate cancer with complications.

Mr. Sanborn had been dealing with prostate cancer since 2018, but had been able to maintain his normal schedule of concerts until just recently. Indeed he already had concerts scheduled into 2025.

David Sanborn was a seminal figure in contemporary pop and jazz music. It has been said that he "put the saxophone back into Rock ’n Roll.”

Audiophiles live in the wild west. $495 will buy an "audiophile fuse", $10,000 will buy a set of "audiophile speaker cables", and a top-of-the line power cord could run $5000. One magazine claims that "the majority of listeners were able to hear the difference between a $5 power cable and a $5,000 power cord".

Can you hear the difference? If not, are you really an audiophile? https://ctoz.omnicamp1.com/view/66295a80a1c51e5a2898f295/0

Axpona 2024 Recap. We teamed up with Meze who used our HPA4 headphone amp. We also had a great time with Studio Electric and Porzilli Audio. It was great seeing all of you. ✌🏼

Andrew K from Massachusetts is the winner of our Can Jam 2024 DAC3 B give away.

Congratulations, Andrew. 🙌🏼👏🎆

It’s a beautiful sunny Saturday morning for day two of Axpona 2024 Chicago.

We’re teaming up with Parzilli Audio. Makers of The Note line array speakers. .

We’ve landed in the Windy City. See you all at Axpona this weekend.

"If you are like me, and you aim to get that in-the-studio, immediate, visceral, detailed, three-dimensional sound that so few audiophile systems can accomplish, then a little under $2,000 might be needed to get invested for you to hear the Benchmark DAC3 B."
- Future Audiophile Magazine

Benchmark Media DAC3 B Digital to Analog Converter Reviewed - Future Audiophile Magazine Benchmark Media DAC3 B Digital to Analog Converter is a pro audio inspired DAC that many audiophiles use in their systems

Set up is underway!

We’re hittin’ the road! See you at CanJam!

We’re going to CanJam!

Visit our booth to hear the HPA4 & DAC3.
You can also enter for a chance to win a DAC3 B.
See full article for details.

CANJAM 2024 New York - March 9-10 Head-Fi Presents the World's Premier Headphone Audio Show If you enjoy listening with headphones, a CANJAM show should be on your bucket list. Register for a CANJAM show today! When you go, be sure to visit the Benchmark booth. We will be showing our reference-quality HPA4 headphone amplifier and DA...

We just uploaded a new video to our YouTube channel.

Do you have a REL Subwoofer with speaker level inputs?

Here is how you can hook it up to our AHB2 power amplifier.

Connecting AHB2 Subwoofer to REL Subwoofer REL makes a series of subwoofers that use SpeakOn Connectors.This video walks you through various sets. Check it out to see which set up is right for your sy...

Benchmark Recommended Listening

Hyperion by St. Lucia

Although the album was released in 2018 it sounds like an album you’ve owned since 1986.

Catchy indie-pop melodies with great synth keys.

Check out the tracks
- Bigger
- Paradise Is Waiting
- Walking Away
- Last Dance

Maybe you've owned our DACs and want to expand your system. Maybe you're a budding enthusiast and don't know where to start. This video goes through our whole product line to help you make to right choice.

The Benchmark Product Line Here's an overview of our DACs, Pre-Amps, and Power Amplifier.We break everything down and help you decide which set up is right for you.Jumper Settings: htt...

Benchmark Recommended Listening.

It’s a cold, cloudy, and snowy day in Syracuse, New York.

Here are some awesome 80’s tracks to blast away the winter blues.

Enola Gay by OMD
Bizarre Love Triangle by New Order
Mirror in the Bathroom by The English Beat

A few AHB2 main boards getting fitted with rear panels and prepped for testing.

One more look back before the new year.

Thank you to everyone who has used our products over the last 40 years.

Hoping you all have a healthy and fulfilling New Year

More 40th Anniversary photos featuring our old headquarters and assembly line.

You’ll also see some vintage products along with a wonderful photo of our supply manager serenading the staff.

More 40th anniversary photos.

Here we have a handful of pictures of the Benchmark System-1000.

The System-1000 was a stereo distribution amplifier system for radio & television broadcasters.

Hello everyone. Here’s quick tip.

If an album is available at a high bit-rate (i.e. 24/192) but our DAC3 is showing it at a lower sample rate you’ll need to check the streaming settings.

Happy Holidays from Benchmark.

2023 marked the 40th anniversary of Benchmark Media Systems. Originally called “Benchmark Sound Company”, Allen H. Burdick made mixing consoles for radio and television broadcasting.

Here are the earliest pictures we have of Allen and his team working out of his garage in Dallas.

Keep an eye out for more posts celebrating our 40th anniversary.

The original launch advertisement of the AHB2 power amplifier.

Get Your System Ready For The Holidays!

The AHB2 Power Amplifier made the Stereophile Fall 2023 Recommended Components List. It’s also made the Editors’ Choice List in Stereophile’s December 2023 issue.

Benchmark Recommended Listening:

Blue Train by John Coltrane

Originally released in January 1958, Blue Train would go on to become one of the most influential Jazz recordings of all time.

My personal favorite track is Locomotion featuring an incredible solo by trumpet player Lee Morgan.
(He was 19 when this album was recorded 😳)

Personnel:
John Coltrane - Tenor Saxophone
Lee Morgan - Trumpet
Curtis Fuller - Trombone
Kenny Drew - Piano
Paul Chambers - Bass
Philly Joe Jones - Drums