Review: Benchmark AHB2 Amp
Comments
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Agree, I was just trying to convey that 3 clicks is pretty substantial. I think I've only ever tweaked mine one click for anything new, so far. I do sometimes wish the clicks were about half as impactful, though.
Brian -
I understand the number of gain detents (clicks) to be about the same with the T/5X and the S/812. Around 40 if I remember right but mine are usually somewhere between one quarter and one third only. I remember I had to drop the gain on mine quite a bit during the break in period which was a bit annoying when the system would sound slightly off every week for the first three months.
It is a nice feature to have on the AHB2 to provide for different gain and a professional recording studio focused feature. Parasound tends to have a continuous gain knob on their two channel amps with the best setting at full on. That's kind of a relic from their original custom installer focus. -
The next logical step is to get the Benchmark LA4 preamp and their cabling. And then one of their DACs.
That's what they're built for (long video from the source):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vu9lHR9o-Mc -
I understand the number of gain detents (clicks) to be about the same with the T/5X and the S/812. Around 40 if I remember right but mine are usually somewhere between one quarter and one third only. I remember I had to drop the gain on mine quite a bit during the break in period which was a bit annoying when the system would sound slightly off every week for the first three months.
It is a nice feature to have on the AHB2 to provide for different gain and a professional recording studio focused feature. Parasound tends to have a continuous gain knob on their two channel amps with the best setting at full on. That's kind of a relic from their original custom installer focus.
You are correct about the Parasound, the A21+ has gain settings for both channels. I found that the highest setting was what I preferred. The AHB2 has 3 settings (low, med, hi). Benchmark recommends the low setting for RCA, med for XLR & hi for upstream pro gear. Talking with Rory at Benchmark he recommended the med setting for the best match with my pre & AVR. He also said to experiment with all 3 to see what worked best. The recommended med setting was spot on.
I know 3 clicks of volume decrease on a REL might seem like a lot but that decrease really dialed it in perfectly. I don't run it hot at all, just enough to fill in the bottom end without drawing attention to it's self.
"2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up. -
You've got me taking another look at the latest Benchmark products!
It's great to see that the company is responsive to customer questions. -
Although I haven't asked Benchmark it appears the AHB2 is a fully balanced differential amp design, meaning not going to run Polk L800 speakers. The design is what makes it have such a good S/N ratio.
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Although I haven't asked Benchmark it appears the AHB2 is a fully balanced differential amp design, meaning not going to run Polk L800 speakers. The design is what makes it have such a good S/N ratio.
Yes it is a fully balanced differential amp. Too bad it's not a good match for the L800's. That would have been awesome!
As far as the design goes I believe it was an 8yr project with THX & Benchmark engineers. All I can say is that they nailed it!!
"2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up. -
Here is what I read so far , Blah Blah blah blah.
Phil, glad you're digging the amp not to mention the incredible weight savings. Also not to mention the space savings, I love how small it is.Dan
My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time. -
Here is what I read so far , Blah Blah blah blah…
Well that’s kinda rude…. Are you upset that a group of adults are having a respectful, interesting conversation? To be clear, this is how people gather information, challenge norms, and grow their knowledge and experience. I have yet to comment in this thread, but I’m following it with interest. If you don’t like the read, tune out and go your own way - but there’s no need to wade in and label everyone else’s input as “blah blah blah blah”, - that’s just ignorant.“Human beings are born with different capacities. If they are free, they are not equal. And if they are equal, they are not free.”
― Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn -
Here is what I read so far , Blah Blah blah blah…
Well that’s kinda rude…. Are you upset that a group of adults are having a respectful, interesting conversation? To be clear, this is how people gather information, challenge norms, and grow their knowledge and experience. I have yet to comment in this thread, but I’m following it with interest. If you don’t like the read, tune out and go your own way - but there’s no need to wade in and label everyone else’s input as “blah blah blah blah”, - that’s just ignorant.
I agree. This is one of the few threads of recent times that hasn't turned to $hit with bias and close-mindedness. -
I think Dan's tended to be a home theater receiver kind of guy and not a super heavy separate amp kind of guy.
Different perspective from purchasers of different kinds of amps. I'm a class A, AB, D, G, H, tube, and hybrid guy.
