SHOULD be the LAST Power Amplifier Audiophiles Buy..."BUT." Benchmark AHB2 Amplifier Review
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- čas přidán 12. 06. 2024
- Benchmark AHB2 Amplifier is one of the best performing Audiophile Home Amplifier and Studio Amplifier For Passive Speakers. This Amplifier is better than any Class D amplifier I have heard.
Benchmark AHB2: benchmarkmedia.com/collection...
More details about Benchmark Technologies: benchmarkmedia.com/blogs/appl...
Benchmark SpeakON Speaker Cables: benchmarkmedia.com/products/b...
KLH Model 5 Measurements: www.soundstagenetwork.com/ind...
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0:00 Lowest Distortion Amplifier For Home and Studio?
1:58 Benchmark AHB2 Technology
3:32 How Powerful (Watts) is the Benchmark AHB2
5:21 Best Cable To Use With Benchmark AHB2
7:25 Benchmark AHB2 Sensitivity/Gain Setting
10:26 Benchmark AHB2 Options and Build
12:14 Benchmark Sound Review
16:47 Best Speakers For Benchmark AHB2 Amplifier
#hifi #audiophile #studio - Zábava
*Hey guys! Let me know your experiences with Benchmark products or The most transparent amplifier you've heard - I'm curious!*
Benchmark AHB2: benchmarkmedia.com/collections/all-products/products/benchmark-ahb2-power-amplifier
More details about Benchmark Technologies: benchmarkmedia.com/blogs/application_notes/what-is-a-benchmark
Benchmark SpeakON Speaker Cables: benchmarkmedia.com/products/benchmark-speaker-cable-nl2-to-banana-2-pole
KLH Model 5 Measurements: www.soundstagenetwork.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2666:nrc-measurements-klh-model-five-loudspeakers&catid=77:loudspeaker-measurements&Itemid=153
0:00 Lowest Distortion Amplifier For Home and Studio?
1:58 Benchmark AHB2 Technology
3:32 How Powerful (Watts) is the Benchmark AHB2
5:21 Best Cable To Use With Benchmark AHB2
7:25 Benchmark AHB2 Sensitivity/Gain Setting
10:26 Benchmark AHB2 Options and Build
12:14 Benchmark Sound Review
16:47 Best Speakers For Benchmark AHB2 Amplifier
Support on Patreon: www.patreon.com/jayiyagi
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Follow soundstage take 2 reviews: czcams.com/play/PLPOzvlhtSqn5xdc__ftuSt4Rxy_wm5Af0.html
Speaker stands: amzn.to/3ssRhI3
Better speaker stands: solidsteel.it/my-product/ss-7-vintage-hi-fi-speaker-stands/
acoustic panels I use: ua-acoustics.com/
acoustic curtain: amzn.to/31d1zAM
BDI Cabinet I use: bit.ly/2OJRwQQ
amzn.to/3chBuFZ
other BDI Cabinets: bit.ly/3ctxXV1
amzn.to/30bsUCH
my fav hifi tweaks: (Isoacoustics devices) amzn.to/3j5FGvM
I would be curious to hear this amplifier, for sure. It is a lot higher priced than any that I have owned - but it is great that it isn't "super expensive".
My current reference amplifier is an AkitikA GT-104. I assembled it from the kit ($425) but it is sold factory assembled and tested for $625. It is much more modest - it is very modest - it is 60W/ch @ 4ohm and 30+W/ch @ 8ohm. But it is *very* transparent, and very dynamic, and has amazing timbre and soundstage and layering and detail.
It is the best amplifier I have ever heard in my nearly 40 years of passionate listening.
Oh, and the chassis is completely Plain Jane - steel painted black, and it is single ended. You can use two in parallel mode to double the power. So, close your eyes and listen!
I personally am a fan of transparency, especially transparent amplifiers and speakers. I really love the NAD M23. See the Audioholics review, just an awesome amp and load invariant. That said, if the amplifier is that transparent to the source, and the front-end, my question is, what does that say about your other components? 🫢🫢. If the amp isn't doing anything to the signal before passing it to the speakers, and you sometimes don't like the sound, then how good is your front-end really? Next to the speaker, the DAC has the most influence on the sound of your music, or at least it should, from my experience. What does that say about the PreAmp? While I know that synergy is important in hifi, an amp that transparent, as you say, can not be the problem with what you're hearing. And IMHO, it should never be. I don't think you're being "fair" to the Benchmark. It should be your reference amp if it does, and it sounds like you say. The truth would seem, based on your review, that you let your other gear off the hook, and the Benchmark became a scapegoat, IMHO. That said, keep up the good work. I'm looking forward to following you on the rest of your journey. Have a great weekend, and stay safe.
@@isaacsykes3re you might see it that way but the question before that would be what I addressed in the video “what does that say about the recording quality of your music?” - like I said I enjoy some poorly recorded music that has nostalgic emotional value. Do I really want to hear the absolute truth of those recordings or do I want to be able to enjoy them with imperfect/less truthful gear that colours the sound the way I want to hear? - my answer and conclusion was the latter because I am not building a studio here but my personal entertainment space with that being said, everyone is different and your choices may be different and that is why I said this amp might be end game for certain audiophiles. It does not make any side wrong
I just saw your review of the NAD C298 and now I’m not sure which one I want.
Hi Jay, I’ve got a AHB2+ HPA4 combo with Lii Audio Silver 10 (Jay’s Audio CDT 2, Chord Hugo M-Scaler, Hugo TT2), while I’m waiting for my Decware SE84UFO2.1.
The Chord Hugo TT2 output is very low for the Benchmark. What dac do you recommend? And the best speakers for Benchmark?
Your review understates just how amazing the specs are on this amp. They are not simply “good” they are instrument quality good. Beyond frequency response and distortion you need to look at peak current and output impedance which make it easy to mate with almost any speaker. This amp should be considered the reference. Everything else is adding coloration ( which may sound nice )
Benchmark literally means “reference.” So they’ve named their company appropriately.
Like he said he likes pleasure, not truth. I could only stand a few hours with these truth-tellers lmao and I love how my big OTLs and Soundlab A1PXs lie to me.
I have had Benchmark products as well as other studio equipment. Another way to look at this: because the Benchmark is a straight wire with gain, it is a way to eliminate one variable from the audio chain in your sound. If you have a speaker, or a dac or a pre with a presentation you like, the Benchmark will not change it. It will take one ingredient out of the complicated audio soup.
That’s an awesome way to put it. What I noticed though and something to keep in mind is that it shows the unwanted or the bad of your system components that you didn’t notice before. With transparency you get both good and the bad. Like I said… Truth hurts sometimes haha
A perfect way to understand it! enough said.
But still, fantastic specs are not good enough for many audiophiles, as they believe they can still hear magical differences that even a $100K instrument can not detect
That's nonsense. Every straight wire has a color. We all know it. Speaker, intetconnect, digital cables all have a sound. Secondly, the boring Benchmark will make everything sound Benchmark-like ie lifeless and dull.
If it were really such an advance, everyone would know it immediately and want it, but to hear it is to hate it.
I have an AHB2 paired with a Benchmark HPA4 preamp and a Benchmark DAC3 B into a pair of JBL 4349s. The Benchmark gear is brutally transparent, and yes it makes some recordings sound like absolute trash. Van Halen's "1984" comes to mind as sounding comically bad through this setup.
However, you can manipulate any track by how you're feeding it into your system. Vinyl can easily be manipulated (for better or for worse) by cartidges, tonearms, preamps, you name it. And for digital I've added a MiniDSP DDRC-22D Dirac Live module to "flavor" the sound exactly how I want it.
With the Benchmark gear you get the true sound of the source you're using, with other gear it's the source plus the gear. There's no wrong way to listen, it's what sounds good to you that matters.
I'm 100% with you, if I want color I will add it to the system. I'm tired of manufacturers selling "their signature " sound! If they have a signature sound then why don't they give a switch and put their extra circuitry on a separate board! 🤔
I want squeaky clean chain...if I want distortion then I will add it, not sure how a manufacturer can decide what distortion I like.
' class H ' , wow, that's class ee
I have a Bahringer Mixer a 200 watt Crown XLi800 Amp & a pair of 8" TurboSound 4 Ohm speakers & I noticed the exact same thing. David Lee Roth can't Sing. & 1970's Elton John Songs have good Base Sound. I just put a cvr d-1502 amp into my Cart & will Mary it with a pair of Dual 15" Pro Loudspeakers because thta sound is intransicating, gets dah Wows facters.
I have to second this. If you use Roon, the EQ allows you to tailor your sound through the benchmark. Especially if you have low distortion transducers eg planar magnetics. These products in a way make audio boring, but are revelatory.
I have same gear, I recently pulled the DAC3 & installed Schiit yggy LIM & it's way way better system now. Cleaner, detailed, instruments have their own space. Loving it!
Incredibly powerful, ultraclean tight tolerances, built like a tank
Running a pair in mono block for the Susvara, I have heard many many high end systems pushing these, but in my experience, as of yet nothing has touched this set up for now
By one, you will not regret it, most importantly, it’s got every safety feature under the Sun, with a high end pre-integrated into the system, you can use it as a headphone amplifier for some of the hardest to drive headphones with more headroom than you can possibly imagine
🐅🥃😉
Might give it a try , im finding it hard to move on from my myryad set up . Mp100 @ M240 plus m40 pre and M120 upstairs.
I think i found my power and pre for live but for some releaon im still looking. I wish i knew why lol.
Here is what John Siau has to say about depth when it comes amps
"Stereo depth is very dependent upon a precise phase matching between the right and left channels at all frequencies in the audio band. Differential (left/right) phase errors will blur the location left to right and especially front to back. Left to right positioning can be overridden by left to right amplitude differences. Depth can only be conveyed by accurately preserving the phase response in both channels all the way from a stereo microphone pair to the pair of loudspeakers. You also must be seated in the sweet spot to hear depth.
Many very fine studio recordings have absolutely no depth because the left/right stereo image was entirely created with pan pots. The left/right positions of the musical voices are entirely determined by the left/right amplitude differences. Some fine examples are all of the tracks on Steely Dan's "Two Against Nature". This CD is a great recording but it has absolutely no stereo depth when played on a system with an accurate phase response. Systems with a poor phase response may give these tracks a false sense of depth. This false sense of depth is easily identifiable because each musical voice will fill the entire depth instead of locating to a specific distance behind the plane of the speakers.
If you want a good explanation of depth and a good demonstration play tracks 4 and 5 of "The Ultimate Demonstration Disk" from Chesky Classics. In fact, the entire disk contains tracks that have wonderful stereo depth with pinpoint focus of location. These recordings were made with stereo microphone arrays and the stereo images were simply captured (not created with pan pots).
It is now possible to artificially create stereo recordings that have depth. DSP techniques can be used to place a musical voice anywhere in a 3-D space. This 3-D space can then be rendered by a pair of stereo speakers or by an array of speakers (Atmos). 3-D position is determined by phase and amplitude. Left/right phase errors will expand the size of each musical voice (blurring its location).
Whenever a musical voice is mixed to the phantom center of the stereo image, this image is easily blurred by differential phase errors. If the high frequencies seem to come from the speakers instead of from the phantom center image, this is an indication that there is a left/right differential phase error at high frequencies. I have some recordings that are essentially mono in stereo. In other words, the entire mix is dead center. Phase errors immediately destroy this phantom center image by moving some frequencies away from the center and toward the speakers. Some of the tracks on Eric Clapton's "Old Sock" CD are useful for this test."
From this alone, many will not like what they hear because it does not exist on the recording in the first place. The lack of distortion and noise can and will take away (added) dimensionality from the music too. It is a straight wire with gain.
what kind of music do you listen?
Excellent tutorial on phase accuracy !
My friend, that is much appreciated. Thank you for your education and insight.
@@georgemartinezza dont matter, phase accuracy applies for everything
I have an AHB2 as the foundation of my system. The best sound I get is when I plug my dac (RME ADC-2 FS) directly into the amp using balanced interconnects.The dac has volume, bass , treble , eq and other features which makes the preamp superfluous. I have a simple swith box for switching in phono, and tape. But streaming with the direct connection (with WIIM PLUS) gives me very satisfying results into Heresy IV's. Its a huge room but the Hereseys/Benchmark covers it. Try DAC directly to amp topology. Its amazing
I started with one AHB2. I liked it so much that I ordered a second unit for my second system.
My first system has the Triangle Comète 40th anniversary speakers. The soundstage was eerily good, wide and a match made in heaven in my smaller room with high frequency air floating around my ears.
Moving to my Dynaudio Special 40th, the AHB2 required an uptick in volume setting (less sensitive speakers) and it sounded good, and for some folks, they'll love the Dyns over the Triangles immediately due to a more impactful bass presence. I did note that the soundstage was narrower even with more bass being present with the Dyns.
I then had the idea to use the AHB2 in mono-bloc (bridged) mode with the Dynaudios and they scaled up very nicely; the soundstage vastly improved.
Moving to DSD material further enhanced the sound, especially the bass resolution.
My source is an RME ADI-2 DAC as my pre-dac and Audirvana on a MacBook Pro to stream DSD 64 from my redbook rips (16 bit, 44.1 kHz).
PS: The Triangles did not benefit much with the mono-bloc configurations, hence it's a match made in heaven with one AHB2.
I do NOT ever find the sound harsh; just honest and some material is just WOW! YMMV.
hey im running denefrips ares2 to benchmark ahb2. will adding the LA4 have an audible differences? ilim using the streamer to control volume
@@ryantanchan1 what streamer is doing volume control? The benchmark pre should not add any flavor, tone, or 'sound' but you may experience an improvement if your current volume control is lossy due to the way it attenuates the signal.
@@ryantanchan1 you would experience big sound improvement if you add proper preamp like Hades in between the dac and power amp
@@erics.4113 wiim home streamer
@@dariuszsalamon9441do you think RME is bad preamp?
Back in 2020, I started with one AHB2. By late 2022, I had the full Benchmark equipment in my system - DAC 3 B, LA4, and two AHB2 in mono. They are driving the Thiel Audio CS2.7 speakers. Just like many other comments here, it is ruthless and transparent sounding. It is not made to please. I am in a love-hate relationship with this setup because when the recording is fantastic, you're in for a great ride. Sometimes, a ride out of this world. And when the recording is "meh", it really is... meh.
IMO, the Benchmark is not for everyone. However, I do think that it offers a great deal of learning points to take away, especially so when adopting a mindset of a curious and knowledge hungry student. On the other hand, when one has Benchmark AHB2 in the system, i think it offers a crossroad (or junction) for many people in this journey to reflect and to seek what they really want - Is it reference? Or preference? How much of this and/or that do I want?
Everyone walk their own path in this journey. Pick the one that leaves you feeling contented, and happiness will follow closely behind. Cheers.
Thank you Jay for this video. It has brought fellow Benchmark users together.
I will take preference over reference, thanks.
I love my AHB2. It’s very neutral. No extra extension of the highs. Mids aren’t a bit more forward or recessed. No extra bass. Love the compact size too.
Great review Jay! Never heard anyone go into that amount of detail regarding its electronic/ speaker connection options and the things you need to be aware of. Very useful! Its probably gonna be my next amp too.
Thanks. Mostly because I live with what I buy or get in for review for a while before I make these videos. I also make note of stuff as I go including sound so I don’t forget
As a speaker designer, these amps are golden nuggets.
Like an artist paints a picture under natural light, the designer needs to design in absolute reference.
This is the irony, the more accurate my system has become as I made "improvements", the less of my music collection I can listen to....It's been a shocking truth for me and I'm now going a very different route of low power, simple tube amps and high efficiency speakers.....
Been there! And can’t agree more.
Tubes tubes tubes. Good distortion.
You make me laugh about my experience many years ago with an especially revealing amp/preamp combo that I had in my vinyl days. I could hear the splices in the master tape on the record and noticed whenever the engineers changed their choice of recording tape by the different tape noise patterns. It's tough to appreciate a recording when you hear those details but the sound was heaven when I played great recordings, like my dbx disks. I sold that amp/preamp combo as it was 'too good'.
Been there, added minidsp ddrc24 with Dirac and my system sounded as never before!!! And de DDRC 24 is no endgame DAC but much pleasure to listen to….
Got my Pontus 2 to soften up my bryston amp and it’s been perfect for that. The chord dac made most of my music not great ( the classical osts were better with the chord dac though. )
Hi, Jay!
First of all, I’d like to say I really liked your review, as you were completely honest and forthcoming. And yes, I do think you also mention a “crucial” point that is often overlooked, which is, precisely, the definition of the word audiophile.
Many define themselves as audiophiles, but the way I see it, they only do that because they lack a better terminology to define them, so they stick with the “next best thing”, especially since it’s already widely accepted.
I wanted to highlight this, as you define the Benchmark AHB2 as an audiophile piece and, in fact, it’s one of the few brands that procure that. So, almost all the audiophiles claim to seek the audio nirvana, which is to reproduce the music “as is”, but when they finally find it, they realize that it wasn’t music “as is” they were searching for, it was something else... and I’m okay with that, as long as they admit it, like you did.
The background noise levels Benchmark gears present are simply out of this world... and unmatched, but the great majority of audiophiles makes fun of it and labels it as marketing hype. So, true facts, objective data, they’re now being passed on as hype, and we’re left with the impression that those levels of background noise mean nothing in the real world listening.
And how incoherent is that? But isn’t the audiophile world filled with these incoherencies, after all? Indeed it is... and, as I said, as long as you know what you’re searching for and what you’re satisfied with, it’s all good, what I can’t agree with, is the existing lobbying behind the scenes trying to diminish and discredit the ones which are actually trying to build products faithful to the true meaning of the word audiophile.
At first, I introduced the DAC 3L in my system, which replaced my Copland CTA-305 Pre-amplifier and Naim DAC. The Bryston 4B SST power amplifier remained. This change alone brought a night and day difference to my system, and it clearly confirmed me what I have already thought, that this was indeed the right direction through neutrality and transparency! I really loved my Bryston, and I was actually a little reticent to do the change, but when I did, another giant leap was given! And, yes, when you finally pair them, you do understand the reason why they are meant to be together, it’s because that’s the only way you’ll be able to enjoy the silence and neutrality throughout the whole chain!
So, and despite you do reckon the AHB2 is not the right amplifier for you, I still wished you could hear it paired with the DAC 3L.
The change is so drastic, that you will have to reeducate your ears... but if you give it enough time, chances are it will grow on you, and will become your new benchmark... pun intended :) So, I think the emotional link you mention will still be there, and if you’re open to it, it might even gain more depth and meaning, as new nuances are discovered, just as recovering an old photo and discovering elements you didn’t even know were there.
To finish, I do agree with your friend, yes, truth sometimes hurts... but I think it’s always better than to discover, later, we’ve been living a lie.
what a fascinating review! thanks for adding your voice. i had not yet heard any hardware critic remark in this way on this amp
I have the AHB2 amp and what I can say is that you must pair it with the LA4 preamp. I tried many combinations of preamps and direct DAC - power amp connections. The Amp always revealed that the other components where a bottleneck. As soon as I purchased the LA4 heaven descended to my living room. The LA4 is an atonishing product and every AHB2 should be used with it. Any other preamp-AHB2 combination will left performance on the table. I even tried the pre-90 from Topping that, on theory (by measurements) is more transparent, and the AHB2 revealed without mercy all that preamp flaws. I would never sell my AHB2 as is easily the best amplifier I have heard and I have been an 'audiophile' for 23 years upgrading my system two or three times per year. I have the AHB2 for almost a year already and that says a lot!. But remember you must use the LA4 preamp. No other preamp is at the level. I suspect that the author of this video didn't tried that combination. I am sure that if he had, the AHB2 will still be with him.
In your post, you were talking about the Icon Audio LA4 MkIII Signature Line Preamplifier or Benchmarks own Benchmark - LA4 Line Preamplifier?
@@trubadyr99 Benchmark's LA4
I have the same setup I was running DAC3 and I recently pulled it from the system & install Schiit yggy LIM & oh man what an enjoyable ride! Buchardt s400 mk2. What DAC & speakers are you running.
Would a high-quality tube preamp with rectifier and regulation tubes give the Benchmark some soul warmth and realness to the midrange it lacks?
Benchmark LA4 preamp good, but Holo Serene better!
I reviewed this for SoundStage! and fully agree with Jay. This really is a “ruthlessly revealing” amplifier as the audiophile cliche goes. It’s unbelievably clear and transparent sounding, as well as dead silent. If you like that - and I do - you cannot do better. If like Jay you enjoy more bloom, well…look elsewhere. The only things to keep in mind:
1) in bridged mode, current ability and damping factor will go down, so only run two if your speakers are not terribly difficult to drive.
2) I found this amp kind of shockingly neutral. Some might interpret it as analytical, and fair enough I guess, but in reality it’s just the absence of any discernible distortion which makes this thing so vivid to listen to. It’s not harsh sounding in the slightest, just crazy clear and clean.
Is that you Hans? 😂
@@Jayiyagi 🤐🙃
At least by your language (shockingly neutral) we can tell your tastes. Do you like focal speakers ;-)
@@Scottlp2 Depends on the model, but generally, yes I like their more contoured frequency response with a little bit more treble and bass energy than "textbook." That said, my reference speaker is KEF's Reference 3 which, by SoundStage!'s own anechoic measurements are quite neutral. In terms of pure preferences, if Jay leans towards the warm side of strict neutrality, I probably lean slightly the other direction. Beauty is in the ear of the beholder, which is what makes this hobby so interesting!
In bridge mode, unlike other amplifiers, some things improve. For example, the Signal to Noise ratio improves by 3 db!
Thanks, Jay. Happy New Year too! 🎉❤🎉
This was one of the better reviews I've experienced, and I've been reading/watching/listening to audio reviews since the 1970's. Thank you for this.
Wow. Thats big praise. Thank you !
@@Jayiyagi You make your personal preferences plain, while offering understanding and respect to those of different preference. There is no prejudice in your work. Unlike most.
I am using AHB2 for 6 months. And I fully agree with Jay's opinion. Now I exchanged it for Burson timekeeper 3x gt. In my system it's not the day and night. But I like Burson sound better. Although the usability of Benchmark is better. The external power supply of Burson is inconvenient for me.
I am using Musician Monoceros as a preamp and Bryston Mini T speakers.
My old Luxman 5m20 and 5m21 are like that too. True 1:1 however their age is worrying me despite being rebuilt. I really wanted to find a replacement and I had a hunch this was the one. You confirmed this for me. thanks
Nice review, Jay. I steered from the Benchmark for the same reason. During your testing, did you get a chance to pair it with a warmish tube preamp? Did that take some of the edge off?
Super helpful, truthful and informative video. Thanks a lot !
My ahb2 is about six years old. My Benchmark LA4 is about 4 years old. Highly recommend Benchmarks cables and interconnects. They sounded better than the Shunyata that I had been using.
Would love to see it reviewed with the LA4 pre amp
Man, this is so astute. Dead on. Really great example of amp for this discussion. Personally, trying to find “the balance” between accuracy and tonal richness. Ideally, would be great to have one (or two) of these as a complement/alternative to a nice tube power amp.
I love your channel. Great and honest review. Yes, 100%.... This amp is so perfect you literally have to get used to it. I run Wilson wp6s on mine and sometimes Susvara headphones. Personally, I go for detail and realism vs. euphonia. Possibly my last amp. I would say swap out your DAC if you like to "soften" the sound, I shouldn't say too many nice things as want to buy another and don't want to drive the price up too much :)
Good review Jay. You surprised us. Yet again you proved amplification is about taste!. It can be the best ever but still not your cup of tea. Thanks for sharing the journey.
Sounds interesting to compare AHB2 with NAD M23, which also has a great measurement.
Hi Jay! I'm new to your channel, and getting caught up with all the informative videos. I think the discussion of forgiving and non-forgiving components is one that should be further explored. I have been slowly improving my system and currently I have a Bryston BDC3 player, a Michi P5 preamp, and a Bryston 4B3 amp. My speakers are B&W 803 D4 paired with a B&W sub. I have a treated room. The sound I get with this setup is astounding and exacting - so of course, poor recordings are cringe-worthy at best. So if I wanted to get more forgiving sound, given what I presently have, what would you recommend I change?
Speakers first. Then the preamp.
Thank you for your great review! I don’t know if is better to buy 2 AHB2’s amps or the new Naim 250 amp for my Naim NSC 222 preamp. What is your recommendation? Thanks for your support.
Would like to try two of them for my mid and high active Horns
Your observations align quite similarly to mine.
I have a DAC2 HGC. I've found it to be exceedingly accurate, but ultimately too accurate. I tried the Denafrips Pontus II, and ultimately decided it was more fun, even if seemed to exaggerate things. (Music is supposed to be fun, after all.)
I built a Neurochrome Modulus-686 power amp, which uses a feed forward design like the Benchmark AHB2. Curiously, it's also very accurate, clean, and powerful, but again wasn't as fun as the many Avondale Audio amps that I've built.
Finally, I had been using the DAC2 HGC as an analog pre-amp as well (a strange feature in a DAC, but quite handy). When I switched to the Denafrips Pontus II, I needed a pre-amp. Given my DAC and power-amp were both adding "fun" to the presentation, I figured I should probably get something neutral. I ended up with a Benchmark HPA4, which has done exactly what I wanted. I was also pleased to discover that it was even better than the pre-amp section in the DAC2.
I started with benchmark. Ended up with McIntosh. I felt like the benchmark struggled with 2 ohm load Thiels. Nothing but love for benchmark though. But probably be sticking with Mac. I like the looks and the sound.
When I replaced my vintage Luxman I had to decide between the ABH2 and Bel Canto Ref 600M mono blocks. I went with Bel Canto. I would love to hear you compare the two.
Agree w/ your final conclusion, Jay. I have a fair bit of experience w/ Benchmark amps in various studios in N. America/U.K. & presently, Japan. Great for mixing & mastering through hi-quality studio monitors from companies like, ATC, Pro-Ac, Dynaudio & Amphion. However, as you so rightly pointed out, I couldn't have one (or 2 [in monoblock mode]), as I want to enjoy the warmth and depth of soundstage, etc., with my present preferred balance of synergy I have in the non-professional studio, 'home audio category", pre/power amp combination. Great review, really on-the-money right across the board! Nice goin' - All the very best from a long-time subscriber/first-time commenter in Japan!, G. (Orig. from Scotland).
What do you use for personal use? Thank you
Hello Jay. Great video. I've a question: Why audiophile wire is wide and solid if into speakers usually it's very weak?
I'm just beginning to search components for a high end build. My goal is to piece together a system that's the best value for the money spent. This amp is very appealing. The fact that it's upgradable to mono blocks is a plus. I'm also shopping for a DAC, preamp and speakers. I also like tube preamps. My most listened to type of music is classical, mostly strings. But I also listen to soft jazz. Occasionally classic rock. What components would be a good match for these amps as mono blocks for my type of music?
how to give a review of something that does nothing. I LOVE my AHB2. Perfect review.
What Jay achieved by selling his AHB2s (better sounding bad recordings) could be done using different means: using the tube amps as he has done or using some other DACs, adding equalizers, DSPs, and tube pre-amps. The viewers, who own these amps and want to achieve similar results as Jay, need to know this.
Great review!
Jay- I have this amp, and this is not for everyone. I chose this because it was in search for an amp that is truly a straight wire with gain. And the AHB2 is it. As a comparison (side be side), i have a Pass Xa30 and , yes, it is it’s Polar opposite . So choosing this amp must be though of first because it does have a n effect on the system being analytical, dry, emotionless, BUT all these can be adjusted by tuning your front end(TUbes) . When i listen to it, my expectations are set to listen to the recording, how it was made and what the Artist intended it to be.
Artist intent... Dry, analytical, emotionless? You may need to hang out with some musicians and artists!
I think I understand the point you're driving at. This amp is just an amp with no coloration or additives. But I don't think you can make that leap to artist intent with ANY gear.
Artist intent is kind of bullshit. Lots of examples of artists listening to the album in a car to judge if it sounds good. A lot of mixes were made for boomboxes and not so great equipment.
Hi Jay, thanks for the review! I totally understand you selling off the Benchmark amps, they my be truthful to to the music, but then what fun is that! Like you I am a tube audiophile, right now it’s the Carver Crimson 275 driving my Maggie LRS, or when I want punch and detail a McIntosh mc352 driving the bass section of La Scala’s and the Carver driving the mid & tweeter. I also enjoy a pair of class D DIY mono blocks in the mix. I also use REL Tzero subs. I cannot live with just one amp, or one set of speakers, or one DAC, or one turntable. I have to play with the sound so it sounds good to me! That’s why I love my McIntosh c50 preamp with the 8 band tone control!
After 20 years with levinson 33h I switched to a twin benchmarks running BW801 . I agree with Jay it is a great amp . The benchmark has zeo coloration if you like tubes it wont be your amplifier
Which 801 you? I have the matrix s2 just wondering will these drive 12 inch driver with control and authority
It’s the SPL Audio 800 Performer for me. Desktop amp with a a smallish foot print with power to spare…all analogue class A/B with enough power on tap in stereo operation this bi-polar transistor power amplifier delivers up to 2x 185 watts into 8 ohms…2x 285 W into 4 ohms speakers. In Bridge Mode it delivers 450 W into a 8 ohms speaker. It has input trim switches. I use the Benchmark RCA to balanced cable from a LTA MZ3 preamp.
Benchmark for my ears sound dry therefore a bit boring. But those NAT amps you have are something. When can we expect a video about them? 😊
Keep up the good work!
very nice review, Jay. That is one impressive amplifier. Looks great too. Do you have any experience with the Jeff Rowland 125 power amp?
Yea! Jeff Rowlands can be nice amps. I will review one on my channel some day
@@Jayiyagi I ask because I recently got the 125 and I am quite happy with it. I pair it with the Schiit Freya+. Thanks!
Hey Jay, Anyang Haseo ! So let me send you a Jeff Rowland Model 125. It will be the new "Best class D" you have heard. I got 2 seperate clients out of Benchmark into Rowland as Rowland has more of an organic nature to his class D due to his proprietary input section. I see you have added some NAT Audio tube amps to your mix. Good choice... 👍
Hey Mikey. I am interested in Jeff Rowlands. You can email me with your request if you are serious about your offer as a dealer
@Jay's iyagi I'm traveling now. But yes, I'll send you one as the SouthEast USA Dealer. Let me look for your contact info.
I'm curious how this amp compares to the new NAD M23, which also measures well.
I just love how dope the amps sound. So dope
Good to know Jay. This power amplifier is on my radar. Wondering about including Holo May KTE and Holo Serene KTE .... and even open baffle speakers. I may be a crazy.
I would also be very interested to know how these amps would pair with a holo may dac and holo pre amp?
@@AH-wr1ir they would pair with rca or xlr 😜
Well explained !
I hate having my music altered. I NEED to hear those flaws and details in older recordings because it pushes me both towards better music AND better RECORDINGS of the same music I already love. I'd love a stack of these set up as monoblocks for a quartet of Martin Logan XT F200 towers.
In electronics class, the first thing you learn is what signal amplification really means. It's simple. What is a power amplifier? A wire with gain. Nothing more, nothing less. An ideal amp should disappear. It takes the incoming signal, boosts it, and sends it out to the speakers with zero signal distortion. As you said: this isn't just an amazing amplifier, it's also a tool.
And the REASON it can be a tool is BECAUSE it disappears. It does absolutely nothing to alter the source, which means it can be removed as a variable in the equation. Throw in a similarly transparent and ideal DAC - the SMSL SU-10 is a great example - and now your source can be removed as a variable too. Now, all of a sudden, if you have a pair of Blade Two Metas, you are hearing nothing BUT the source. All other variables have been eliminated, no color of ANY kind has been added to the original recording in any way, so you will hear every. single. little. thing. That is what music SHOULD be like. And if the stuff you listen to is badly recorded and you hate it as a result, don't blame the equipment, blame the recording process! And maybe perhaps go and bother a sound engineer or two.
I have the nad c298 amplifier with the purifi class d module!
I had one benchmark before! And i have to say that the nad has that little extra warmth wich the bench didnt have!
I dont no if that extra warmth is a distortion thing because the dist in the nad is one of the lowest you can find.
But the nad coupled with my nuforce dac10 pre sounds sublime together with my quad z3 floorstanders!
Its like looking out of a washed window!
If its depth in the recording you get that several meters back from the speakers feeling or ift a flat pop recordings you def hear that😁.
Perfect amplifier to use with DSP, Room Correction or a quality EQ......You start at "zero" and modify it from there. But like you, I'm a fan of certain distortions that's why I have Class A amps and Tube amps......Recently bought a Buchardt i150 integrated amp with NCore class D amplification. Extremely clean...and lifeless...but it also has room correction and a fantastic parameteric EQ so you can mess with the sound any way to want.....Great video! Keep up the good work!
doing that with your sound system, then what kind of music do you listen?
Agree. Im in need of a great eq. Eny tip on were to start looking ?
Cheers from Scandinavia
ive been waiting for this review! hey jay do you think i should go mono benchmark ahb2? im powering KLH model 5 using ares 2 r2r
I would try one and see if it did a good job, and if i needed more power i would then go for a second. But I must say two of them look good.
Mono doesn’t make the sound better or more transparent but just more power if you need it. Start with one and buy a 2nd one if you need the power. My favourite amp for klh model 5 has been mentioned as the denafrips thallo for some time now and still I feel that way
See my comment up top about dual AHB2s. Bottom line: it depends. Improved the sound with my Dynaudio Special 40; did not do much with my Triangle Comète 40th. YMMV
@@linn4538what gain setting do you use with the Special 40?
I have the entire Benchmark setup [DAC, preamp, AHB2] and I do not consider my system to be a "tool" - it is for listening to and enjoying music, and as others have said, you'd be hard pressed to better this at any price point, period. Even when you have an amp such as the AHB2 which ticks all the boxes for specifications and sound quality, there will still be those who prefer music with coloration. If it captures the live performance/recording exactly as intended, isn't that the holy grail? To each his own.
Great video. Would like to see a comparison between AHB2 & Ayre AX-5 Twenty. I know one is an integrated & otter is a power amp & their price range is also different, but the power output is relatively comparable..Thanks
I like the look of the benchmark stuff. Minimalist, purposeful and compact. FYI if you have very difficult to drive speakers 4 ohm or lower then using the bridge mode is not going to do anything for you, infact it will likely make it worse as the minimum ohms the amp is rated at (3 here by the look of it) will be doubled so your now powering your 4 ohm speakers on an amp that completely runs out of steam at 6 ohms....
Hey Jay, how does it compare to the Kinky Studio amp?
I wish audiophiles would strike the 'as the artist intended' quip from the lexicon. I don't speak for all artists, but when I recorded music, I only wanted others to hear and enjoy. If I knew of someone with an incredible stereo that made every song of mine sound better, then THAT'S how I intended it to sound.
Oh... And please invite me over to hear it on that setup!
Salt to taste everyone! Don't worry about artist intentions that you have no insight into anyway. You don't see or hear the world through the artist's eyes. Trust your own!
Great video Jay!!! I was wondering if you still keep contact with your old colleagues at Audio Excellence?
Thank you and yes I do :)
I received mine this weekend, and am in love. It's connected to a MiniDSP Flex HT doing DAC and pre amp duties. Connected to Focal Kanta N°1. It works really well, and so far I haven't found anything that sounds unbearable with it. Including Metal. Everything sounds better to me.
Agree about the too true...my Audiophonic Class D mates well with my small fabers BUT I wish I could afford that pair of 300 watt Mc tube amps that the musicroom has right now!
Please review the PS Audio Direct Stream DAC MK2? 🤗👍
You could pair with a Freya plus, for worser recordings use tube setting and then switch Freya to passive or Jfet mode for great recordings.
maybe that's the way ! haha haven't tried but may work
This is exactly what I do. Single AHB2 and the Freya + with seperate dac. I like it a lot and I have a collection of vintage gear when I want to hear more coloration
@@toddb7154 nice. Do you prefer passive mode or JFET mode on good recording?
I tried that with a Purifi Eigentakt (just as ruthlessly transparent), and even with the tubes (really nice vintage ones) it was still too much. And over half of what I listened to (Qobuz streaming mostly, and some CD’s) was unlistenable. I listen to mainly classic rock for what it’s worth.
I think this is the right idea. Just the wrong preamp. This might work with something less transparent then the Freya +, but the Freya is a really good pre that hangs with more expensive gear all day long, especially in tube mode. For me it was THE game changer that finally got me off the merry go round.
My main setup if you’re curious:
Intel NUC (11th gen i3/32 gb Crucial Dual Rank/Channel RAM, and 1TB Samsung 980 pro NVME)
Leaf Audio CMD-17 DDC (ifi power supply)
Schiit Bifrost 2
Freya +
Akitika GT-102 (only thing I may upgrade)
Elac Carina BS243.4 on Monoprice stands
2 REL Tzero MKIII in Stereo
In a 12x12x8 acoustically treated room
I had the AHB2 twice. Once with stereo, once running it with mono blocks. It's extremely clean, precise and non-fatique. At the same time, it's just too boring. I already have one for my home studio setup, would like to have something with more character (or distortion as some will say) in my other system :)
and what kind of sounds or music do you listen with that quality?
Very similar boat as me :)
A lot depends on how long it lasts. Today';s electronics do not have the same rigour in design for longevity compared to older and often simpler designs of the past.
Too many Class D products and SMPS based products end up decaying in performance and reaching EOL much sooner than we would hope for. I got kind of excited hearing about this one :D being a hybrid design and an effort to do something differently.
It seems we are in the era of Hypex/Purifi modules being stacked in a box by various OEM's...
This equipment is of analytical/scientific grade. It will last as long as the highest component quality allows, then repairable. I'm thinking 50+yrs. It's usually the capacitors that go first. It's intergenerational.
Wow... it's only taken 20 years for this tech to make it into a new amp. Noticed that ELAC made a new BASH amplifier as well. Hopefully they catch on more.
If you were building an analytical system I think the Topping D90 or Benchmark DAC might be a good match, what Speakers would you suggest?
Benchmark had their own dac as well. I’d suggest something like the klh or arendals or q acoustics as shown in this video
You really need to hear that amp with the LA4. I have both.
I do have to say though that I didn’t like the benchmark DAC3. It’s too flat sounding.
Just mentioning that because I’m not an all out Benchmark fan for all things they make. But the AHB2 and LA4 paired together are quite amazing.
The LA4 besides being neutral amazed me with its speed accuracy. That is what wowed me more than anything.
I wish I did ! Maybe one day
@@Jayiyagi I respect that you realized how transparent and hi rez the AHB2 is and that you simply wanted a bit of color from your sound.
I personally like the color to come from my speakers , which they already add and from my source. As a musician of 40+ years My philosophy is clean and transparent from the pre and amp and coloration or the salt and pepper from speakers and source. Just a touch.
Added coloration from an amp and pre just adds too many variables for system matching which is already a pain and tough.
But then again my philosophy could be wrong. Lol
Great review btw.
Really dug it
Hi Jay,
It would be amazing if you at some point would do a video together with Vilip 🙏 now that he’s no longer working for Adrian 🤭 … I’m sure many of your long time followers also like and admire Vilip . Hopefully he’s well and we will see him again soon 🙏 Regards from Sweden
yes Adrian y u let villup go? Jay invite Villup for a show.
It always amuses me when audiophiles talk about artist intent. I think it's reasonable to assume that most artists intend for the listener to enjoy their music in whatever way they can do that best.
It also only makes sense for the studio to err on the side of vanilla neutrality and allow the end user's system to flavor it to taste. Those of us listening at home should therefore not be afraid to seek out the sound we like best. Obviously, if the system is very colored it will be more hit and miss with different recordings and genres.
I've only heard Benchmark headphone gear and then only at Canjam. But my impressions were pretty similar to Jay's. Detailed, accurate, capable, supremely boring. Not knocking Benchmark. I think their name is perfect for their design goals and they meet those goals. They just kinda belong in the studio more than the home, IMO.
Hi Jay since you've reviewed both the Burson Timekeeper 3X GT and Benchmark ABH2 which would you say is better for the LS50 Meta in detail retrieval?
Yeah I'm interested too
Jay - I had some fellow music lovers over to test ABH2 vs Mac solid state amp (200x2). Wilson speakers, dedicated listening room, all good gear. I was so sure the Benchmark would destroy the McIntosh solid state. I was totally wrong!!!!! Unanimous among my friends, they all felt the Benchmark sounded sterile and a little fatiguing. These guys are not big mac guys but all felt the Mc was fantastic. Me personally, I agree, but only after feeling fatigued after longer listening to the Benchmark. The ABH2 is going back to my headphone setup where it really shines with Susvara cans. Anyway, a little feedback that may help your listeners. Oh, Mcintosh mc 252 is the model.
I love the AHB2. Jay mentions he prefers tube amps. So did I before listening with the AHB2. Now, when I compare my PrimaLuna tube amp with the AHB2, the distortion and coloration of the tubes is starkly apparent. I take issue with those who say the AHB2 sounds dry or analytical. It sounds neutral and natural. Other amplifiers add color and distortion, neither of which is natural or neutral. It’s true, coloration can be pleasing, but if you spend enough time with the AHB2 you learn that color actually takes away from the true sound (or maybe it’s better to say coloration adds things to the sound that shouldn’t be there). I should also add that as good as the AHB2 sounds, pairing it with the LA4 Preamp makes it even better. They have a synergy together that is incredible. I also had a Pontus II, but the AHB2 exposed how colored it is. I’m now using the Benchmark Dac2 HGC and the system matching of the components is unbeatable - lively, holographic, dynamic, detailed, transparent - through my Harbeth SHL5plus speakers.
and so, what kind of music do you listen?
Have you tried to biamp? Not monoblocks
The Benchmark is a great piece of audiophile amplifier. I also like the Westminster Lab.
Good review, man. Appreciate it. ~Peace
Jay would you recommend this amp on the Wilson Alexx
Hey Jay, I like your final take here and was curious before viewing as in earlier video reviews of other equipment incl. Burson mono blocks if memory serves, it seemed based on some prelim feedback you found these potentially bland/clinical. I own a pair of these and use mono block config with a Holo Audio Serene KTE and regardless of use with May KTE DAC or my Vertere DG-1 with matching Phono 1 phono pre, I find these exciting and crisp and clean and dynamic...but also invisible to a large extent in the audio chain. The downside of this as you indicated is these amps (especially through the Serene) can really expose any not-up-to-par source gear and/or recordings. But, when you have well recorded/mastered/produced music and good source gear it is utter heaven. I also own a Burson Soloist GT headphone amp (the reference pre/HPamp from Burson for their mono blocks). For a few months I did use as my preamp for the AHB2s before acquiring the Serene. But, it is this switch that confirmed to me that I really value transparency above all. Although the Burson Soloist is great and I love it, especially for headphone use, the switch in my chain to the Serene that is as the AHB2s renowned for its transparency just floored me. Interestingly, the next stage in my audio journey will be a tube amp (or tube mono blocks) so I can have this flavor, specifically in looking for that euphoric holographic quality of tubes.. not instead of the AHB2s but as a compliment. I guess I'm tube curious and I also realize that some less well recorded less well mastered and produced music may be more enjoyable and listenable! There's some music I now have a hard time to listen to! You are so right when you say sometimes we can't handle the truth lol! If you have any suggestions or recos for what Tube amps I should consider that would be great.. My speakers are not exactly "easy" to drive @ 88 sensitivity and 4-8 ohms impedance, but not super hard either (Canton Reference 5K towers). The Tube amp would be for late evening listening at moderate to low volumes. Two I've started to look at are McIntosh MC275 and Willsenton R800i but just starting out. Thanks!
What amps have been nicest with the KLH Model 5s?
Did you try the Benchmarks with a tube preamp?
Will two of these drive b&w 801 matrix s2 since those speakers are notorious hard to drive
Being an audiophile means one that plays a game without an end...
I wish they made an integrated amp in a similar form factor. Something basic, an XLR and RCA or two connection would do. Hookup a preferred dac or streamer, perhaps a TT even and away you go. It could be an introductory product at 65-80 watts even. I do not need anymore personally.
Torn between this and the denafrips Apollo. Leaning towards a more laid back sound that debafrips has
Please do a review of Concept 50.
Jay, overall would you say you like the sound of the Vincent SV-227 MKII over the Benchmark?
I think you meant the sv-237 mkii and yes I prefer it
Hi Jay. You should listening NuPrime Evolution STA it’s a true Killer at almos any price at least for me.
What preamps did you test with the Benchmark?
Nice to see it repeated (he mentioned it in a Sonus Faber review) - accurate and/or flat frequency response and low distortion does not mean you'll enjoy a piece of equipment more.
I would love to see how the Benchmark compares to the Van Alstibe DVA M225 MONOBLOCK SOLID STATE AMPLIFIER.
thats class AB and probably sounds much more inline with what Jay prefers, as well as what i prefer also!
@@williamdwyer3856The 225s are really great amps. AB sound. Very refined on the top side. Compared very well against my Musical Fidelity M6 500. I currently using the m8xi which is yet another step up.
After listening to a bunch of systems, my end game rig went for a Nagra set. If I would have gone the tube avenue, I would have got Audio Note.
I have just bought the Peachtree GaN-1 PowerDAC. That could probably be the last amplifier I would own in my search for a perfect amplifier.
gotta check that one out. Heard great things about it
I also got the gan 1. It crushes my old $4500 amp and dac. It's my end game also
ou are very true genuine Audiophile you should be very proud for transmitting the real truth of your knowledge with wisdom with a touch of your essence from your heart!
I think to fully realise the potential of this amp, you had to pair with them with the bookshelves they were selling, but unfortunately, I think they have discontinued the speakers.
How well is the Benchmark with Magnepan LRS? Magnepan requires power.
What are those big tube amps with the radio tubes?
You need to try an ASR emitter 2 exclusive amplifier, I own a set, and it is glorious, to say the least. I have tried many different high-end amplifiers, and this one has truly amazing sound. Be warned that you need 4 shelves for this amplifier. 2x powersupplies, one for each channel, 1x battery powersupply and head unit. Handmade in germany, more than 1 million uF capacitance.
Regards Michael
how does this compare to amplifiers with a Purifi module ?