logydoghan,
You're getting there, but until you personally hear the Benchmark AHB2, you cannot say that any particular amp that uses more expensive parts must be better. Benchmark is devoted to the audiophiles who value transparency. The AHB2 could probably be improved by tweakers like ricevs who put in better parts and do the listening to show that the better parts are matched correctly to improve the sound.
Just close your eyes and listen to the sound. Someone should present an AHB2 and an expensive amp, not reveal the identities or the costs, and then you report what you hear. The fact that Nagra is paired with other expensive items and Benchmark is paired with cheaper items is a biased procedure of unscrupulous high end marketing, designed to perpetuate the myth that more expensive means better. There is nothing wrong with pairing an AHB2 with an expensive XLF speaker. Both are examples of highly revealing components that would enhance each other, although for crazy loud rock they might not be the best combo. If someone stretched his budget for the XLF he might rejoice in the fact the cheap AHB2 gives him the best clarity and transparency. Perhaps only the expensive Soulution 700 amps, but not the expensive other amps discussed here might better the AHB2 for clarity/transparency.
You're getting there, but until you personally hear the Benchmark AHB2, you cannot say that any particular amp that uses more expensive parts must be better. Benchmark is devoted to the audiophiles who value transparency. The AHB2 could probably be improved by tweakers like ricevs who put in better parts and do the listening to show that the better parts are matched correctly to improve the sound.
Just close your eyes and listen to the sound. Someone should present an AHB2 and an expensive amp, not reveal the identities or the costs, and then you report what you hear. The fact that Nagra is paired with other expensive items and Benchmark is paired with cheaper items is a biased procedure of unscrupulous high end marketing, designed to perpetuate the myth that more expensive means better. There is nothing wrong with pairing an AHB2 with an expensive XLF speaker. Both are examples of highly revealing components that would enhance each other, although for crazy loud rock they might not be the best combo. If someone stretched his budget for the XLF he might rejoice in the fact the cheap AHB2 gives him the best clarity and transparency. Perhaps only the expensive Soulution 700 amps, but not the expensive other amps discussed here might better the AHB2 for clarity/transparency.