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. -
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.
You're right about that. I have amps just laying around and no need for any of them at this time.
Dan
My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time. -
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.
Yeah I believe Dan's audio business is mostly custom HT installs for his clients.
Looks like you have all your bases covered when it comes to amps!"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. -
The only audio gear I've ever regretted selling has been amplifiers. I think I have a dozen around currently. No pun intended.
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Friends don't let friends listen to music thru home theater receivers- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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Friends don't let friends listen to music thru home theater receivers
Receivers (AVRs) are a big box of compromises. Fine for home theater duties (with external amplification), but a serious liability in a quality 2ch system.“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 -
I've owned and heard many many high end AVRs and they all have a common trait that they suck the big one for 2 channel.
Home theater is fine but they just are unlistenable for 2 channel. Even just as a preamp- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit. -
I've owned and heard many many high end AVRs and they all have a common trait that they suck the big one for 2 channel.
Home theater is fine but they just are unlistenable for 2 channel. Even just as a preamp
I don't know what AVR's you heard that are unlistenable for music but I can tell you this is not true.
I'll start with B&K, they use the exact same preamp in their AVR's as they did in their separates. No difference. Companies like them back in the day like McIntosh, NAD, Anthem etc all use the same parts in their preamps as their AVR's.
Now lets move into the last so many years, some AVR's now have true bypass and you can make a AVR an actual stand alone Preamp. Pure disconnect pure signal path pure voltage to the amps if your driving external amps.
The measurements of AVR's vs Preamps are no difference anymore and haven't been in many years. Your statement was very true many decades ago but holds no water today and hasn't in quite sometime .
The reason you would want to go separates today is if you plan on using all external amps because you have a larger room and or demanding speakers that require more power than AVR's built today can supply.
Companies like Marantz , Denon , Integra all make high end AVR's that can power large theater rooms and sound amazingly playing music on higher end speakers. Again it's matching output power to need of SPL in room and requirements of given speaker package.
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. "This may not matter to you, but it does to me for various reasons, many of them illogical or irrational, but the vinyl hobby is not really logical or rational..." - member on Vinyl Engine
"Sometimes I do what I want to do. The rest of the time, I do what I have to." - Cicero, in Gladiator
Regarding collectibles: "It's not who gets it. It's who gets stuck with it." - Jimmy Fallon -
I wouldn't be surprised if that B&k AVR uses a shared power supply for preamp and amp sections.
