If you're considering the purchase of a Benchmark AHB2, I'd suggest caution. It is very speaker dependant and can (with normally exciting speakers) sound drain the life from them.
I have Avantgarde speakers and, on the raving recommendation by a fellow AG owner, I bought the AHB2 unheard - it was brand new and not available on demo in UK and no reviews. What a disappointment - it's DULL. It has now been sold and I have a number of MUCH better suited amplifiers to use. Read the Stereophile review and its add-ons by other reviewers to see what I mean. They liked the amp with serious reservations.
I'm not sure which Quad amp you're talking about but (again while looking for a good amp for my speakers) home tested a Quad Platinum Stereo. I wasn't impressed with that either.
RE: Quad and Benchmark amps: same type?, posted on March 20, 2017 at 14:01:12
> You probably have shite speakers if good, normal amps sound "dull", maybe the speakers sound dull...
Your facile remarks are totally uncalled for.
Regarding my speakers I have Avantgarde horn speakers and Quad 2905s. I notice you have Quads - earlier and not as good as the 2905s. The Avantgardes are about double the price of the Quads and, although perhaps less suitable for classical than the Quads, they're generally better for most other music - more exciting. In fact, good enough for Stereophile to award them Joint Loudspeaker of the Year - together with an $85,000 Dynaudio system. Shite is not an apt description of either of my speaker systems - perhaps you'd have the courtesy to acknowledge?
Before making a fool of yourself in future, you can always click on user's profile and take a quick peep at their equipment list.
I was not deriding or dismissing the Benchmark, just making an observation that most reviewers have also picked up. It's certainly dead quiet (the feature that the other AG owner considered the most important feature in an amp) but it, like a lot of "professional" stuff is dull in the home hi-fi situation.