Dust Settled Consensus- is the Benchmark AHB2 an Audiophile Amplifier?

As a wannabe audiophile, my path is iFi Zen Stream, Benchmark Dac3L, AH2B, Klipsch Cornwalls. My plan is to get the blackest background, the best speed, most uncolored amplification, sort out how to get the Cornwalls to play their best with positioning and room treatments, and then find the preamp, if necessary, that puts it all together for my ear. I do not have the time or energy to go through numerous permutations of equipment to find my sound. Wish me luck. 

bfb1963,

Try a tubed preamp for good synergy with your AHB2.

@kennyc 

just trying to get a gauge from people on this site if the AHB2 was a flash in the pan or something worth keeping for quite a while.  audiophile is jut a term.  

there are no shortage of used ones for sale.  

@rvpiano 

yes, that is my plan.  

The Benchmark amp has been proven over time. It is certainly a reference at its price point......BUT.....a big butt.....he he.....we like big butts....well, I do. What if the Peachtree GaN 1 amp ($2000 with 30 day money back) driven from an IFI Zen Stream (with upgraded linear power supply) is better?....... Wouldn’t it be cool if it sounds much better? Or do you have to have a DAC, Preamp, amp and analog cables? Do you want the best sound? What if this thing is it?!? It has already beat a Holo DAC May KTE with Holo Serene preamp with mono block Kinki B7 amps (see thread here on audiogon). If this GaN 1 amp is the real deal (and so far all reviews are raves)....then there will be a lot of happy people spending way less money to get better sound.......and it weighs 11 lbs!!!!!! 200 watts a channel. Of course, there will be even better digital amps available down the line.

Volume control is in the digital domain.....so the better the digital volume control and the better the streamer....the better the sound. The Bluesound does not sound as good as the $400 IFI Zen Stream (according to many). The $2400 Lumin U1 has LEEDH digital volume control (totally lossless).

I know, I am repeating myself here......but usually we have to hear something several times before it sinks in.  This technology to me seems like its revolutionary......better sound for less.