Esoteric SA-50 or Benchmark/SA-60?

[Prestige Worldwide]

I currently don't have a cd player in my main 2 channel rig. All my rebook cds have been downloaded onto a headless mac mini which I connect to a Benchmark DAC1. I'm contemplating adding a SACD player for the handful of SACDs that I have (bought them when I purchased a Denon 2900 years back) and for the occasional time I have need to play a CD and don't want to bother downloading it first.

Top of my list are the Esoteric models. My dilemma is whether to get rid of the Benchmark and replace it with the SA-50 (which also enjoys digital inputs) or go for a less expensive SA-60 and keep the Benchmark.

Can anyone tell me whether the SA-50 dacs are vastly superior to the Benchmark's? I don't really have an opportunity to do an a/b comparison, so any thoughts would be helpful. If the difference is minimal, I think it probably makes more sense for me to go with the SA-60.

As an aside, I don't care about multichannel (which I think is not an option with the SA-50). Also, the overwhelming majority of music that I listen to is either on vinyl or ripped (in AIFF), so the quality of the transport system isn't a deciding factor for me. It's the DACs that really will sway my decision.

Thanks!

David

[Talk2me]

LOL. If you put McIntosh in your title, you would have 100 posts by now.

[jdandy]

Prestige Worldwide.......LOL. Just think, if you'd put Burmester in your title you would have at least two posts by now. Wait, you do have two posts, and neither one very helpful.

Seriously, our resident member with the most Esoteric experience has been absent for a week or so. Perhaps when he returns he'll chime in.

[Prestige Worldwide]

Lol. Yeah, I was about to post a "Bueller? ... Bueller??" response but figured it would equally go unnoticed. I'm still a month or two away from making a purchase, so hopefully someone will chime in by then..

[Car commander]

I have tried the Bench Mark DAC. It is good but the Mietner MA1 sounds a great deal better. I also had a X03SE it sounded better when used as a transport with either the Bench Mark or preferably the Mietner. But you loose SACD ability.

[Audioseduction]

I owned the Esoteric X03SE and compared it to my friends Benchmark DAC1 and it just trumped it. The Esoteric was much more pleasing to the ear, more organic and smoother extended highs and yes, much better bass. I say go with the stand alone Esoteric. I may be picking up the Esoteric K-01 down the road for a solution to play my SACDs.