@rvpiano good afternoon. Keep in mind, Benchmark and Pass, imo, ime are catering to different audiences of listeners. Benchmark = clean, uncolored, bare to the bones neutral. Pass = smooth, lush, velvety, romantic and dynamic. Tube amps = smooth, lush, velvety, romantic. Are you seeing a similarity here. What this weekend has done for you, whether you purchase a Pass or not, is the exposure of an amplifier's character. The Benchmark has zero character, ime, as it was designed to not have one. This is not to say it is not a wonderful amplifier and has proven itself over and over again. Many love it, some do not. However, most amplifiers have a "flavor", and these flavors are appealing to many. Nelson is the flavor king when it comes to solid state. Many love it, some do not. $300 is worth this experience alone, providing you can afford it. Let's face it, this is what audiophiles do; go from one piece of gear to another, looking/listening to satisfy their individual tastes (I have so much to say about this, and have ad nauseum). You might prefer the Benchmark, which is fine. You are getting some of this flavor with your PV11. A big word as of late used throughout our community (although this has existed for decades), is "synergy", which is combining a little of this and a little of that (sometimes a lot of this and a lot of that), to get to that final place within our rooms. So, just experience the Pass amps while they are there. Relax and enjoy and try not to be anxious or critical. We are standing by. My best, MrD.
