Some love for the Benchmark HPA4/LA4

With regards to cabling, I bought the Benchmark StarQuad for my DAC-2-Pre (1 foot) and Pre-2-Amp (15 or 25 feet). It sounded very good and I was thinking I should consider it for my other 3 sources too, even though the 24+ dBu StarQuad signal carrying ability would not be beneficial my commercial (non-pro) gear. I am not technical but just assuming this based on what I have read.

I also had a 12 foot Audience AU24 XLR cable from a decade ago that I decided to upgrade to AU24 SE. That 12 foot XLR AU24 became 4-6 XLR and RCA cables (I forgot exact conversion #'s). You can get 2 RCA's from a single XLR.

I replaced the StarQuad from the DAC3 to HPA4 path and I thought there was a slight bit more clarity in the sound. So out when the StarQuad from DAC to pre and I also added the Audience 24SE to my 3 other sources. I kept the very long StarQuad to the amp. Cost was a consideration there but I also liked what I heard. Maybe ignorance is bliss in this case.

I will be doing something soon to have a non-all Benchmark system.  My new speakers are too demanding for a single AHB2 and I cannot use 2 AHB2's in mono for this speaker (Benchmark concurs). So I will be ordering a new CODA #8 with regular speaker connections and also the same speaker connection as the AHB2 (SpeakOn). This is a custom order.

I am using the SpeakOn on the AHB2 to my speakers and I like the sound and convenience. Especially when I will keep the AHB2 (for some music) and the CODA for most music in my system. It will be easy to flip amps with the SpeakOn. I will be able to see for myself how the HPA4/LA4 sounds with a non-Benchmark piece. The CODA is going to be the noisiest piece in the chain. The CODA #16 is quieter and maybe a better match but it is more expensive and more importantly likely too warm for my room. With the Benchmark gear I am always trying to match it with super quiet gear.

Also in regards to the cables, I had the same experience when I took out the Canare StarQuad and swapped in the Van Damme (prior to the LA4). I was trying to convince myself there was not a sound change but the details really did pop out more.

All I can say is that I have a Benchmark ADC 1 and it is a great little piece made like a swiss watch. Because they do mostly commercial stuff their pricing is down to earth. Great value, great equipment. 

Thanks for sharing that recent interview.  Pretty interesting information and something that resonates is the comment in regards to Benchmark's use of switching power supplies and how in there opinion, they do not understand the audiophile fixation with linear power supplies.

I am really loving my LA4, been listening all weekend, I did not realize how much I missing with the digital volume control of the DAC3.