Benchmark LA4 Preamp?

In researching the LA4, I’ve read many reviews pairing it or the HPA4 (which really is just an LA4 line stage preamp with a headphone amp) with the very low noise, distortion and neutral Benchmark ABH2 stereo amp that describes very good neutral overall system results.
I think yy’s suggestion that I try out the LA4 or HPA4 with the ABH2 amp together for a 30 day free in-home trial, before purchasing a used pair of Merrill Veritas class D monos for about $5K, is a good one.
Buying and using the HPA4, rather than the LA4, probably also makes more sense since it would likely be more valuable and sellable, having both preamp and headphone amp capabilities, on the used market just in case an ultra low noise, ultra low distortion and neutral system doesn’t match my admittedly high expectations.
However, I really like the small size, weight, cool running and high electrical efficiency qualities of the class D Merrill Veritas monoblocks. I currently use a pair of class D D-Sonic monoblocks that sound very good but I’ve always been very curious, based on the numerous excellent reviews I’ve read on the Veritas, just how good they’d perform in my system. I also like the fact that I can leave the class D amps on 24/7, always optimally warmed up and ready for music or HT. I don’t think leaving the much less efficient class AB ABH2 amp would be a good idea.
The HPA4 seems like an ideal solution for my system. It’s a high quality, low noise, low distortion and sonically neutral component that will allow me to conveniently select either music or HT playback, like a very high quality HT/Passthru switch. I like the fact that I can connect both the Lumin D2’s and the Oppo 205’s left and right channels into the preamp via their balanced XLR connections and match the input and output gain levels on all of them.
I also believe the much more sophisticated and precise volume control on the Benchmark preamp will easily better the what I consider the rather poor volume control performance of my current Parasound Halo P-6 preamp which I reluctantly needed to add once I added the Lumin D2 to my system.

Thanks,
Tim

Update:

     I’ve realized that I’m currently going through one of those stages, that I believe most of us go through periodically, during which even though our systems are performing very well we, nevertheless, get the urge to shake things up a bit and try something different in our systems just for the fun and excitement of it.

     I thought I had a good upgrade experiment all planned out that I’d enjoy by trying to optimize the low noise, low distortion and neutrality of my system and have some fun listening to determine if this resulted in an even more solid, stable, palpable and 3 dimensional soundstage illusion. The main X factor in this experiment being the insertion of the ultra low noise, distortion and neutral qualities of a Benchmark LA4 or HPA4 preamp in my system to replace my current Parasound Halo P6 preamp.

     After a few days of pondering my planned experiment and my desired results, an even more solid, stable, palpable and 3 dimensional soundstage illusion, I’m currently 2nd guessing my planned experiment and wondering if inserting a used Mark Levinson 326S preamp (for about double the price of the LA4 or HPA4 options) has a better chance of providing my overall system goals primarily for music playback. 

Here’s an older Stereophile review of the 326S: 
https://www.stereophile.com/solidpreamps/106ml/index.html

Here’s an example of one in very good condition currently for sale:
https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649569175-mark-levinson-no326s/

Any thoughts?

Thanks,
Tim

@noble100  For what it's worth, I demoed the Magico A3 with the Mark Levinson $20K each separates, I think the preamp was the 326S (the latest top of the line in 2019). I inserted the AHB2 amp instead of the ML mono amps and the sound went down in quality. It seemed like the sound was brought back into the speaker. The ML amps pushed the sound away from the speakers. I attributed this to not enough power from a single AHB2. 

In terms of clarity and low noise. I did not notice that much of a difference with the complete ML stack vs having the AHB2 amp in the mix. Maybe the preamp's sound signature dominated the setup. The sound was not as clear as with my DAC3 + AHB2 at home. However, the ML sound was actually better for my ears.

You may want to investigate a used ML 585 integrated which is somewhat close to the sound of the ML separates and can be found today used for $5K - $6K. I was told the 585 is still better than the new 5000 series except for a slightly older DAC.

Not exactly what you asked but maybe interesting to you.

Hello yysantabarbara,

     Funny, I was at Audio Solutions here in Indy last Saturday with a friend listening to and comparing a used pair of blue Magico A3s and a used pair of Sonus Faber Stradivari, both in excellent condition.
     My friend owns an ML585 integrated and he and I both love its sound. But his wife wants him to replace his big Avantgarde Acoustic horns with something more normal looking for their mountain lodge home’s living room in Idaho and I tagged along to help him decide. He’d narrowed his search down to these two speakers and they both are very good.
     For the lengthy auditions, the shop was using their own ML 585 integrated demo amp along with a Lumin S1 DAC and hi-res files. We both agreed the Magico A3s were better performers than the Sonus Faber Stratavari in all categories except bass response and looks. We discussed possible solutions and he opted for the A3s and a pair of 12" REL subs.
     You continue to offer excellent advice, thanks. Extended listening to the ML 585 on both of these speakers convinced me that I really enjoy the excellent sonic character of the ML 585 integrated, too. These listening sessions are the main reason I decided to buy a used ML 326S preamp. I really want to add some of what I consider the general ML sonic characteristics to my system; an overall neutral, detailed and smooth sound with just a touch of bloom along with projecting a solid, stable, 3 dimensional and palpable soundstage that’s realistically and naturally wide and deep. I’m also very impressed with the silky smooth, detailed and extended ML treble response that I never perceived as harsh or bright.
     After hours of auditioning, I’m now completely certain I could happily live with the convenience and very high sound quality of the ML 585 in my system. However, I know I also highly value the added flexibility provided by using separates.
     Ironically, I’ve decided to take advantage of that flexibility while also hopefully obtaining at least a modicum of the excellent ML specific sonic attributes by making the following significant changes to my combo 2-ch music and HT system:system over the next month or so that I’ve already begun:

1. I purchased a 4K Oppo 205, at what I consider a reasonably premium price of $2,100, to replace my 1080p Oppo 105 universal A/V disc player.
2. I purchased a 4K LG 9C 75" OLED hdtv to replace my 1080p 65" Panasonic plasma.
3. I added a Lumin D2 dac/streamer, 20 TB SynologyNAS (currently loaded with 18 TB of music files) controlled by an iPad running a Lumin app.
4. Soon will be purchasing a used ML 326S preamp to replace my Parasound Halo P-6 preamp.
5. Soon will be purchasing a used pair of class D Merrill Veritas mono-blocks to replace my pair of class D D-Sonic mono-blocks.

Fairly significant changes to my combo system that I’m fairly confident will all be worth it by resulting in significant system performance gains.

I’m looking forward to seeing and hearing the results,
Tim

Update:

     My 1st choice remains the ML326S preamp due to the fact that I really enjoy the ML sound characteristics, it has all the functionality I'd like/need and I LOVE the small rather chunky metal remote (the same as the ML585 integrated amp comes with) that fits so perfectly in the palm of my hand.  
     However, I'm a bit concerned that I may not be able to find a pre-owned 326S in very good condition at the $5K price I planned (these new had a msrp of $10K), although I am willing to pay a reasonable premium just for that awesome remote.
     As a result, I've identified the Aesthetix Saturn Calypso preamp as a possible alternative option to the ML 326S.  I'd still likely be purchasing a pre-owned unit in very good condition but it's reassuring to know that the Calypso is still a current Aessthetix product that they continue to manufacture at their facility in California.  
     The Calypso's new msrp price is $4,500 but I've seen pre-owned units offered online for up to $2K less, so either are within my $5K budget.  My only current concern is whether, since the Calypso is a hybrid ss/tube design and uses 2 tubes per channel, it will provide the low noise, low distortion and highly detailed performance I'm desiring in order to create my goal of a soundstage illusion that is wide, deep, dense, solid, stable, 3 dimensional and natural.
      From the numerous reviews I've read on the Calypso, it seems like it's a very high quality performer.  But I was hoping others might chime in with their thoughts on the Calypso as a preamp option, especially if they've had personal experience utilizing a Calypso in their own system.


Thanks,
  Tim