Used PS Audio BHK 300 monoblock or (2) new benchmark ahb2 bridged?

First Agon post, so be gentle…

Just bought new AHB2 (after hunting for local used deal for awhile), and paired it with my DAC3 HGC, it’s brought new life to my entire system. I love it. 

Strong, silent, cool-running personality. Gets out of the way and lets the music come through. Breathed new clarity and punch into my PSB Synchrony Ones. I find it very musical, especially with great recordings  I listen to a variety of jazz, blues, pop, rock  

system: Quobuz via fibre/FMC to Lumin U2 mini, AQ Coffee USB to Benchmark DAC3 HGC, 8” XLR to AHB2, Kimber Cable to PSB Syncs. Amp running off dedicated 20A isolated ground line.

Benchmark support is first-class. Rory responds quickly and in detail to emails.  The AHB2 feels solid, bullet-proof. Like the pro gear it is.

Hope this vote encourages you to at least audition the AHB2. Good luck with your new gear!

JAMES

richardnyc

I'll say upfront that I have not owned PSA BHK power amps, but I do have experience with the BHK Preamp, which is lovely sounding. I have a great deal of respect for the late Bascom King and his designs. I do have a pair of AHB2 monoblocks on my 2 channel system and also use AHB2 on my headphone rig with Susvaras, which are difficult to drive. 

I find the AHB2 to be straight down the middle. Not clinical and bright and not smooth and warm. It seems to be the closest thing to the proverbial "wire with gain", and in mono it has gobs of gain. For me, this is perfect. 

In my youth, I worked in analog multitrack studios, 8, 16, & 24. Since then I've gravitated towards finding a neutral baseline, or at least as near as possible given the variability in playback systems. My goal has been to get close to hearing what's there on the recording. Not accuracy with respect to the live performance (which once laid down, is out of our hands), just accuracy in the recording's presentation.

The reason I bring all that up is I find the AHB2 to be a good baseline, neutral element in the chain. Of course, not all recordings shine in this neutral space. But surprisingly, I find the majority do. For those recordings that need a little help, or to suit my mood, I prefer to apply sweetening at the pre-amplification level; tubes for harmonic richness, modest eq., etc..

Just offering a perspective. Everyone's needs and situations are different and I'm respectful of that.

I don't have a PS amp, but do  have the ABH2.  It has been great.  Lots of power and no distortion.  It outputs what you give it.  It also has some flexibility for going mono.  IMO, it depends on what you want - if you want the amp to color or distort the signal, then don't get the Benchmark.  There are charts and tests that show it is distortion free (below audible level) to high power output levels.  It is all about making the sound profile that you enjoy.  If I had unlimited budgets, I would build several different systems each tailored to different types of music because I think it is hard for one system to be optimal for all types of music.   

Truly appreciate the thoughtful, time-consuming to write words of wisdom that you all have been kind enough to help me with. It seems like the differences are subtle but real, and that you all have been very objective and realistic about what I'd be getting with each. It's great to be able to have such experience and knowledge to draw on.

PS Audio BHK 300s are really musical as well as the BHK Preamp, when I change any of these components my system it looses all its magic, the PS Audio components are noisy and it drives me crazy but no other amps or preamps make me so happy. The BHK line hits way above its weight much more expensive amps don't have the smoothness. If you listened to industrial music they wouldn't be the amps for you but you can't beat them for the music you do listen to.