Benchmark AHB2

RE: Benchmark AHB2, posted on March 2, 2015 at 06:06:03
John Elison Audiophile Posts: 23900 Location: Central Kentucky Joined: December 20, 2000 Contributor Since: January 29, 2004	Why are you attracted to this amplifier? It is rather low power at 100-wpc. It is exceedingly lightweight at 12.5-lbs. It is pretty darned expensive at $2995. What kind of speakers do you have?

RE: Benchmark AHB2, posted on March 2, 2015 at 19:09:21

Serge_S
Audiophile

Posts: 112
Location: NYS
Joined: March 13, 2012

Hi John,

"Why are you attracted to this amplifier?"

I was looking into class D for low self-noise and good low volume performance and stumbled upon a comparison of NAD M22 and this Benchmark by AVSForum member Blazar. On his Avantgarde Trio Omega horns Benchmark is the quietest amp he ever heard. This amp has been getting good reviews in mags as well. Hence my interest.

"It is rather low power at 100-wpc."

Should be more than enough for Klipsch Forte II.

"It is exceedingly lightweight at 12.5-lbs."

From what I've read this could be due to some new THX patented topology.

"It is pretty darned expensive at $2995."

True that.

"What kind of speakers do you have?"

Slightly modded Klipsch Forte II for the foreseeable future. If I ever move to larger space I'll look into Danley's.

Thanks

RE: Benchmark AHB2, posted on March 2, 2015 at 20:49:40
John Elison Audiophile Posts: 23900 Location: Central Kentucky Joined: December 20, 2000 Contributor Since: January 29, 2004	It would be interesting to find out how the Benchmark compares to the Parasound Halo A23. The Parasound costs a lot less and has about the same power, but probably a higher damping factor. I have very low impedance speakers in my system and they require a lot of power, so I bought the larger Parasound Halo A21. It sounds very good with my 3-ohm speakers.

RE: Benchmark AHB2, posted on March 18, 2015 at 23:34:29

joshnich
Audiophile

Posts: 9
Location: Nor Cal
Joined: October 13, 2003

I recently purchased the benchmark and could not be happier. I have for the most part been using tube amplification and have never found solid state that suited me. The benchmark was a revelation. I am using modified belle klipsch which are very efficient and not forgiving to lesser quality amplification. They have never sounded better. I do not know the whys and what's that make this amp unique. All I can say is that it's the best sounding amp I have had in my system and it certainly isn't the most expensive- not by a long shot!

RE: Benchmark AHB2, posted on May 11, 2015 at 18:31:59
Serge_S Audiophile Posts: 112 Location: NYS Joined: March 13, 2012	Hi Josh, for some reason I missed your reply in my original thread. Could you give an update on your experience with the Benchmark. I'd be interested in low volume performance. Is there anything lost at low in comparison to normal volume? What gain have you set? What is your current pre and do you use XLR inputs. Thanks Serge

RE: Benchmark AHB2, posted on November 10, 2015 at 10:18:01

joshnich
Audiophile

Posts: 9
Location: Nor Cal
Joined: October 13, 2003

Hello Serge,

Sorry I missed your question..Low volume is spectacular. My experience is that I do not loose anything at low volume. I have been using it with a variety of preamps. I have a Juicy Music Merlin tube preamp that I use with a George Wright tube phono stage to great effect. I have also used it with my Benchmark DAC2 as a preamp. When I use the Benchmark I use the XLR inputs. I quite honestly do not know the gain setting I just flip the gain switch to the setting that sounds best. A vary nice feature by the way if one likes to play with different preamps.
BTW I am still loving this amplifier it is the best I have owned and one of the best I have ever heard!

Why are you attracted to this amplifier?, posted on November 10, 2015 at 12:01:47

Kal Rubinson
Reviewer

Posts: 12436
Location: New York
Joined: June 5, 2002

See here-

AHB2 review

RE: Benchmark AHB2, posted on February 1, 2016 at 06:11:03

cawson@onetel.com
Audiophile

Posts: 2383
Joined: September 27, 2004

I'm a bit late in picking up this thread but I was looking for an solid state amplifier to replace SET monoblocks powering my Avantgarde speakers.

Following a lengthy thread on AVS forum where the owner of Avantgarde Trios was waxing lyrical about his Benchmark AHB2 amplifier, I took his advice and bought one. What a disappointment! I wrote about it here:

http://db.audioasylum.com/mhtml/m.html?forum=amp&n=205426&highlight=benchmark+benchmark&search_url=%2Fcgi%2Fsearch.mpl%3Fsearchtext%3Dbenchmark%26b%3DAND%26topic%3D%26topics_only%3DN%26author%3D%26date1%3D%26date2%3D%26slowmessage%3Dbenchmark%26sort%3Dscore%26sortOrder%3DDESC%26forum%3Damp

If you read the Stereophile review carefully, you'll notice that the 2 reviewers were at odds to their findings. It seems this amp is VERY speaker dependant - and can sound as dull as ditchwater compared with a good SET. I'm still looking for a SS amp though, but definitely not the Benchmark!

Peter

My Benchmark Review

RE: Benchmark AHB2, posted on February 1, 2016 at 06:28:54
Kal Rubinson Reviewer Posts: 12436 Location: New York Joined: June 5, 2002	"If you read the Stereophile review carefully, you'll notice that the 2 reviewers were at odds to their findings." Two reviewers?

RE: Benchmark AHB2, posted on February 1, 2016 at 07:22:35

cawson@onetel.com
Audiophile

Posts: 2383
Joined: September 27, 2004

Sorry, I should have said 2 listening situations. The reviewer (singular - Kalman Rubinson - any relation?) took the amp to the country with different listening conditions (equipment room, etc) and found rather different results.

I was somewhat surprised that the reviewer (you?) heaped so much praise on this good, but not great amplifier. As I said in my review, the experience with Avantgarde speakers was disappointingly most disappointing! I'm sure it is accurate, but that not necessarily makes for good listening. In my opinion this amp is best reserved for the studio and used with studio speakers - a breed that also often disappoints in the home!

Peter

RE: Benchmark AHB2, posted on February 1, 2016 at 07:46:54
A.Wayne Audiophile Posts: 2527 Location: Front row center Joined: November 30, 2011	The odds of having two Kalman's on this planet would be pretty slim , so yeah he's your guy ...:)

RE: Benchmark AHB2, posted on February 1, 2016 at 07:53:15
A.Wayne Audiophile Posts: 2527 Location: Front row center Joined: November 30, 2011	Did you have issues with the mid/high frequencies ....

RE: Benchmark AHB2, posted on February 1, 2016 at 10:59:26
cawson@onetel.com Audiophile Posts: 2383 Joined: September 27, 2004	> Did you have issues with the mid/high frequencies .... Not really. I found the sound best described as "uninvolving" - bordering on "dull". See my review link in earlier post. I want to enjoy my music and this amplifier sadly didn't deliver. The bass was certainly more robust than my 845 valve monos and the S/N ratio much better, but otherwise the sound was not to my liking. Peter

RE: Benchmark AHB2, posted on February 1, 2016 at 17:14:58
Kal Rubinson Reviewer Posts: 12436 Location: New York Joined: June 5, 2002	I think the take-home message is that its sound is dependent on load (or that it is mercilessly revealing). OTOH, I welcome accurate.........when I can get it.

RE: Benchmark AHB2, posted on February 1, 2016 at 17:15:40
Kal Rubinson Reviewer Posts: 12436 Location: New York Joined: June 5, 2002	Don't bet on me being the only one.

RE: Benchmark AHB2, posted on February 2, 2016 at 03:34:33
cawson@onetel.com Audiophile Posts: 2383 Joined: September 27, 2004	Oh, I like revealing - that's why I went for the Avantgardes - but not if the listening experience is dull and lifeless. With the Benchmark, the temptation was to turn down the volume to virtually background music levels, whereas I'd prefer an amp where the temptation is to turn it up! Let's enjoy our music rather than be obsessed with accuracy. Horses for courses!

Amp/Preamp Asylum

Benchmark AHB2

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