Benchmark AHB2 Amp

[PHC1]

If it really sounds as good as you guys and the other reviews say it does, at $2995 I would say this is fantastic value. My curiosity is peaked.

[ylee]

Originally Posted by PHC1

If it really sounds as good as you guys and the other reviews say it does, at $2995 I would say this is fantastic value. My curiosity is peaked.

It's cheap enough it's worth getting and playing around with. I did and the AHB2 wound up being my primary amp.

Pair it with a tubed preamp with low output impedance and you will enjoy fine results.

[rghanbari]

Definitely worth getting an eval unit (the 30 day return policy is extremely generous, but Benchmark can do that selling direct). I found that you need at least a week with the unit to really start to hear what it can do (very similar to my experience when listening to Chord DACs for the first time...there is some brain retraining going on)

I just got my permanent one this week. Now I need to decide whether to get a second one to run as mono blocks.

[PHC1]

Originally Posted by ylee

It's cheap enough it's worth getting and playing around with. I did and the AHB2 wound up being my primary amp.

Pair it with a tubed preamp with low output impedance and you will enjoy fine results.

I just might! I’m looking to build a value system this time around. Good sound for sane price.

[W9TR]

Serge,
I really like the Benchmark stuff I've owned and wouldn't hesitate to get their amp. It sounded great driving some ML speakers at RMAF.
I think the DAC 3 HGC and this amp would make a great combo and would drive any speakers you choose.
Tom

[PHC1]

Originally Posted by W9TR

Serge,
I really like the Benchmark stuff I've owned and wouldn't hesitate to get their amp. It sounded great driving some ML speakers at RMAF.
I think the DAC 3 HGC and this amp would make a great combo and would drive any speakers you choose.
Tom

Tom, the Benchmark amp sounds like a great deal, especially if it is not analytical, bleached and sterile sounding as is often the case with lower priced amps. The reviews seem to point to the fact it is not which is great.

As far as preamps and DACs, it's been a while since I've experimented but I've never been a big fan of digital domain volume control or even passive preamps for that matter. The music always seems to be missing body and bloom. I can't say since I've never heard the DAC 3 HGC but I would guess that a tube preamp between a DAC and amp would be more to my liking.

[W9TR]

Could be - I'm using a C1100 and MC 2301's after the DAC. Sounds fantastic. I've never tried it direct. Since the HGC has an analog input I'm guessing it has an analog volume control - otherwise they'd have to digitize the analog input which I know they are not doing.

[PHC1]

Originally Posted by W9TR

Could be - I'm using a C1100 and MC 2301's after the DAC. Sounds fantastic. I've never tried it direct. Since the HGC has an analog input I'm guessing it has an analog volume control - otherwise they'd have to digitize the analog input which I know they are not doing.

Between the C1100 and MC2301 you have the "great sound" covered. I also owned the MC2301 pair so I do remember how impressive they sounded. I'll have to take a closer look at the Benchmark DAC.

[W9TR]

I am loving the C1100 MC 2301 combo - McIntosh really has something going with this pair.

The Benchmark I heard @ RMAF 2017 was playing a pair of Martin Logan speakers. I don't remember the model #. They had the amps setup as monoblocs but the guy said running a single amp in Stereo mode sounds the same, just less power. It didn't sound harsh, dry or strident. But I don't know these speakers very well, so YMMV.

With a 30 day trial, the risk gets a lot lower. Happy hunting!

[PHC1]

Originally Posted by W9TR

I am loving the C1100 MC 2301 combo - McIntosh really has something going with this pair.

The Benchmark I heard @ RMAF 2017 was playing a pair of Martin Logan speakers. I don't remember the model #. They had the amps setup as monoblocs but the guy said running a single amp in Stereo mode sounds the same, just less power. It didn't sound harsh, dry or strident. But I don't know these speakers very well, so YMMV.

With a 30 day trial, the risk gets a lot lower. Happy hunting!

Electrostatic speakers tend to reveal any bad traits in the chain so if that system sounded good, I’m not worried! Thank you for sharing your thoughts