Recommendation for a highly resolving amp

@yyzsantabarbara 

Yes, I am aware that Pass and AHB2 at the opposite ends of the spectrum in sound. I do like luscious sound but I also like amps with high detail. I enjoyed listening to my friends Spectral amp, which I am assuming would sound more like AHB2. When I was listening to Louis Armstrong sing, it sound like he was in my listening room. What has your experience with AHB2 been like?

@chungjh I think the AHB2 is the best sounding amp I own or have owned. Now I am likely in a tiny select minority when I say this but I know what I like. No need for me to describe it since you will hear it for yourself soon.

I have my downstairs system as follows AHB2 mono| LA4 | DAC3B | KEF LS50s. The KEF LS50s get replaced by the Yamaha NS5000 once my 5 year old son becomes a bit bigger and I can clear up some of his toys.

The AHB2 system was not good enough for my hard to drive Thiel CS3.7 (2 Ohm dips) so I moved the Benchmark gear downstairs to the living room from my office. A single AHB2 in stereo is actually officially rated for 2 Ohm but the monos are not. They both can go down to that region but not with the power that I felt was needed for the CS3.7. So when Benchmark guys say that the AHB2 will work in 2 Ohm they are correct, but I am talking about he degree of goodness.

I have the CODA #8 and it is likely a less warm PASS, but more similar. It works great with my Thiel CS3.7. Recently I heard the CODA #16 with the same CODA 07x preamp I have at home. I was very impressed by the #16. It had the clarity of the AHB2 and also some warmth. So that amp maybe my next top amp. I will upgrade my #8 to the #16 when finances permit.

I was also thinking about Coda 16. It is hard to imagine 100W class A has the same detail as AHB2. It seems like Coda is not a well known company.

One strategy to get detail with sweetness may be to combine a tube pre with AHB2. Has anyone tried this?