Benchmark AHB2 Amplifier, opinions and competition
This amp has a great clear sound because of the low noise floor. I have not owned another amp that sounded like it. I sold it a few months ago to raise some cash and I am considering buying another AHB2 for a bedroom system (KEF LS50 speakers). There were some things that bugged me about the amp when I compared it to a Mark Levinson integrated (585). The ML had better ability to make the speakers I was auditioning disappear (Magico A3). |
I've read a lot of reviews before I bought AHB2. Here is summary from "Absolute Sound" Because accuracy allied to absolutely reliable performance is the goal of all the Benchmarks, they are not products that tend to attract cults or other sorts of starry-eyed enthusiasts, wholly lacking any of the quirks, foibles, idiosyncrasies, sonic flavorings, euphonic distortions, and so on that characterize the objects of most audio cults. Professionals buy Benchmark because they know the products work and are reliable and accurate—indeed, reference caliber. Music lovers buy them because they are neutral and accurate and thus reproduce the tonal character of voices and instruments correctly (and also, I presume, because they are reasonably priced, most musicians, like most other people, being typically not wealthy). But audiophiles? Well, the longer I’m in this racket, the less I sometimes think I understand what audiophiles really want except that a lot of dallying about with components, equipment swapping, and coloration matching seems to be what amuses them. I’m not sure I can in good conscience recommend this amplifier to them as I am not sure they are in search of what it offers: a precision instrument designed to perform the precisely defined task of reproducing music and sound accurately, which it does essentially to perfection. But to anyone else, the AHB2 gets as high, enthusiastic, and confident a thumbs up as my arm is capable of reaching. |
OP: how is your setup sounding with the new amp? Let us know when you install it. A review of the amp was posted by dagogo.com: https://www.dagogo.com/benchmark-media-systems-ahb2-power-amplifier-review-2/ |
rv, If you were looking for opinions on the amp, why order it prior to doing so ? Lot of good reviews, but a lot of good amps at that price range. What I read was the Benchmark is quite a bit better running in balanced mode. Have not heard one, but believe, based on my readings, it is without question, a very neutral amp. P.S. Modding the amp will likely eliminate the manufacturers warranty. I would contact Benchmark before you do anything. Enjoy ! MrD. |
Reason i shot first is that I needed an amp quickly, as a stop gap, because my very old one broke down, and I was tired of waiting for repair. Was going stir crazy with new speakers and nothing to play them with. Really just auditioning the Benchmark. If I love it, I’ll keep it. Otherwise, have 60 days to try it out. |
Yes modding voids the warranty. You would needc to contact him and he could explain the mods. No components are changed and they are all passive. Made a nice difference in mine and I would do it again. I hope you like them. They are clean sounding and transparent but if you are looking for warmth they are probably not going to meet that requirement. |
rvpiano OP
Nice amp, if you want to hear them at their best, don't bridge "if there's no need to", as all you'll gain is watts, everything else takes a hit. And if you have two of them better to run them in stereo mode and vertically bi-amped, instead of bridging. http://www.av2day.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/biamp2.jpg Cheers George |
@rvpiano Yeah, 100W into 8ohm doesn’t seem like a lot for $3000, but people overestimate how much wattage they need. It also doesn’t help when you have companies like Sim/Moon who sell a monoblock amp that delivers 888W (for ~$120,000), the funny thing is that it has more distortion than the Benchmark. Even 25W is good enough for most setups (if you’re speakers are 84dB sensitive and you sit 20ft away, that’s a different story). |
mzkmxcv, …."Even 25W is good enough for most setups (if you’re speakers are 84dB sensitive and you sit 20ft away, that’s a different story)." This has not been my experience, my speakers are rated at 89db, 6 ohm nominal, although I suspect they are a little less efficient than this would indicate. They only really came alive after I started using a 100 watt+ per side amp. Oh they played using 35W tube and 50 watt SS, but they sang with the greater power. |
@jetter They might have stated in-room sensitivty (Klipsch almost always does this for instance, but they are even worse and use corner (2-wall) loading, so +6dB). Bass-limited speakers usually get +2dB while almost full-range speakers get +3dB. So, if they stated 89dB, it might be 87dB in actuality, or even 83dB if it were a Klipsch speaker. Also, that’s at 6ohm, which takes in 1.335x the wattage, so my stated 25W which was for 8ohm nominal is thus >33W, not to mention if their minimum impedance take up a large bandwidth. 100W (8ohm) is +3dB vs 50W (8ohm); https://www.audiocheck.net/blindtests_level.php?lvl=3 It’s a good difference in volume. You also don’t know if it’s just a better amp in general and that’s also why it sounds better to you. |
The more I listen to the Benchmark, I’m hearing that the reviews are accurate: it has laser-like precision, but is not forgiving on mediocre recordings. As most recordings are not audiophile, that becomes a problem. I have thousands of CDs and records. I want to be able to listen to them without gritting my teeth. I’ll have to see how the amp breaks in before I decide whether or not to keep it. |
@rvpiano Blame the music studios not the gear 😬. Good gear just shows which songs were handled with care, which ones wanted to win the “loudness war”, and which ones were simply not handled with any care. If after a few days it still doesn’t sound good, try alter speaker placement (reduce toe-in for instance), and see if that helps. If not, then return it. |
Here's something to ponder over. Subjective shootout, Schiit Vidar $700 v Benchmark AHB2 $3000 Quick read looks like they prefer the sound of the Vidar more than the 4 x!!!!! more expensive AHB2 https://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/benchmark-ahb2-impressions-vs-vidar.5131/ Cheers George |
rvpiano, read this thread: https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/benchmark-ahb2-amplifier-what-to-expect/post?postid=1508770 |
@rvpiano - I've had my AHB2 for three years and purchased a DAC 3 HGC to go with it last year. The amp replaced a Bryston integrated; there was no question but that I was going to keep it after a few days break-in and a head-to-head comparison using a DAC as the source for both. I am still very happy with it. Add some high-end cables (the Benchmark folks don't believe in that stuff) and find out how accurate and resolving it really is! |
I agree wth a lot of others here how resolving, accurate and detailed the amp is, just letting the music breath. It’s like a veil is removed, in a positive way. I think the only way to know is to audition one. The nice thing is that it won’t break your back or the bank if you don’t like it and need to send it back. I have two amps running stereo playing the highs and lows on my Maggie’s. They make them sing! I was able to make them light up the clipping light when showing off the system at really loud volumes but then I added a PS Audio P15 due to lightening protection and have never seen a light again. I think that the P15 can offer them up more power at peak than when they were plugged into the wall directly. I know it sounds crazy, anyway I love these little guys. |
An end-to-end Benchmark could easily be the most accurate reproduction you can get, but if you have a warm fuzzy love of a bunch of pop/rock albums from your life, you may not like what it reveals. It's kinda the opposite of the Enya effect. That is, if you play an Enya track on a hyper-revealing system it strips away the fog that contributes to her product. I'm a great fan of Benchmark technology, but it can be pearls before swine of existing recordings. It's the audiophile dilemma of whether a system gets so good that you need to feed it audiophile recordings. |
I, too, was worried about the “laser” effect of the Benchmark when I read the reviews. But, with a tubed Conrad-Johnson preamp no such problem exists. Also, my Schiit Gumby DAC is somewhat more forgiving than some others. So, the result is sharp and detailed yet sweet without being harsh even on non -audiophile recordings. |
Synergy is almost everything. Years ago, with far inferior equipment, I got a sound not too dissimilar to what I’m getting now because all components perfectly matched each other. Now, of course is better, but the point is I was without a balanced system for years because of “upgrading.” Finally found the right combination again. |
I’ve had the amp for nine days now. I’ve played it for at least eight hours a day since I bought it, and it is breaking in fantastically. The combination with the Triton 1 speaker and the Conrad Johnson preamp seems to be ideal. i bought it with the idea of probably returning it when my old amp was fixed. It was randomly the first amp I saw listed on Music Direct, so I sprang. Boy, am I glad I did!! |
So great to hear you found a match, I'm listening now to a recording I haven't heard for years. I still get baffled at how clear and articulate these amps are, the musicians have come alive in my room. Yes some recordings are exposed for being poor but the good one sound so damn great I can't go back! |
