Short answer
Both are desktop DAC/amps, $2399 against $2050.
The Benchmark DAC3 HGC reaches 100 dB on 567 of the 567 models here, the Ferrum ERCO on 566.
| Specification | Benchmark DAC3 HGC | Ferrum ERCO |
|---|---|---|
| Power into 32Ω | 1.2 W | 1.1 W |
| Power into 150Ω | 250 mW | 580 mW |
| Power into 300Ω | 125 mW | 300 mW |
| Power into 600Ω | 62 mW | 150 mW |
| Output impedance | 0.11 Ω | 0.3 Ω |
| Output noise | not published | not published |
| Price | $2399 | $2050 |
| Headphones it reaches 100 dB on out of 567 | 567 | 566 |
Not published means the maker leaves it out, so that axis cannot be compared.
| Balanced | Benchmark DAC3 HGC | Ferrum ERCO |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | no separate rating | 4-pin XLR |
| Power into 32Ω | — | 3.9 W derived |
| Power into 300Ω | — | 1.2 W |
| Output impedance | — | 0.3 Ω |
| Output noise | — | not published |
| Headphones it reaches 100 dB on out of 567 | — | 567 |
Only the Ferrum ERCO has a separate balanced rating from its maker; through it, it reaches 100 dB on 567 of the 567 models here. The Benchmark DAC3 HGC may still have a balanced socket — its spec sheet simply gives no figure for one, so there is nothing to put beside it. Derived figures are worked out from the loads the maker did publish.
| Load | Benchmark DAC3 HGC | Ferrum ERCO |
|---|---|---|
| 32 Ω | Derived | Derived |
| 150 Ω | Derived | Derived |
| 300 Ω | Derived | Published |
| 600 Ω | Derived | Derived |
Only one of these two columns starts from a power rating. Ferrum ERCO publishes one at 300 Ω; Benchmark DAC3 HGC publishes none at any of these four loads, so its column is worked out from power it published at other loads. Both are arithmetic on a maker’s own figures rather than guesses, and the method used for the Benchmark DAC3 HGC understates rather than flatters — but at 300 Ω is the only load here at which its maker can be held to a figure.
1 headphone reaches 100 dB on the Benchmark DAC3 HGC but not on the Ferrum ERCO — Symphonium Titan.
566 of the 567 models here reach 100 dB on both.
Headroom is at a 100 dB SPL peak.
The widest gap on the list is the Audio-Technica ATH-R70X: Ferrum ERCO has +21 dB of headroom there against +17 dB. 4 dB is about 2.4 times the power, which matters for peaks rather than for how loud the music sits.
The hiss columns are empty for Benchmark DAC3 HGC and Ferrum ERCO because neither maker publishes no output noise figure.
| Headphone | Impedance | Needs | Benchmark DAC3 HGC headroom | Ferrum ERCO headroom | Benchmark DAC3 HGC hiss | Ferrum ERCO hiss |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shure SE846 | 9 Ω | 0.04 mW | +40 dB | +39 dB | not published | not published |
| Campfire Audio Andromeda 2020 | 9 Ω | 4.0 mW | +20 dB | +19 dB | not published | not published |
| Audeze LCD-2 Classic | 70 Ω | 0.79 mW | +28 dB | +32 dB | not published | not published |
| Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro (250Ω) | 250 Ω | 0.63 mW | +24 dB | +28 dB | not published | not published |
| HiFiMAN HE400se | 25 Ω | 7.9 mW | +21 dB | +20 dB | not published | not published |
| Audio-Technica ATH-R70X | 470 Ω | 1.6 mW | +17 dB | +21 dB | not published | not published |
| Sennheiser HD 600 | 300 Ω | 6.6 mW | +13 dB | +17 dB | not published | not published |
| HiFiMAN Susvara | 60 Ω | 50 mW | +11 dB | +15 dB | not published | not published |
The Benchmark DAC3 HGC costs $349 more than the Ferrum ERCO. Out of the 567 models here, that difference buys 1 more model driven to 100 dB.
Nothing runs the other way: there is no axis here on which the cheaper of the two does better.
Only published figures count here; blank axes are counted separately.
Each in full: Benchmark DAC3 HGC and Ferrum ERCO.