Suggestion between benchmark Ahb2, Bob carver crimson 275 and rogue atlas magnum 2 amos

@pwoodard922 I have 3 preamps

- Topping pre90 ($600)

- Benchmark LA4 ($2500)

- CODA 07x (much more $$)

My KEF LS50 sounds incredible with the Topping pre90 and Benchmark AHB2's. I have AHB2 monos but will be splitting that up because the LS50s do not need monos. I needed to put the second mono somewhere. The Topping pre90 sounds just like the LA4, but with the caveat that, in my experience. it only sounds this good with the AHB2 and the Parasound A21+. I cannot recommend the pre90 with other amps due to the volume being too hot. Stereophile will review the pre90 in the Feb 2022 issue.

The LA4 is of course great with the AHB2. However, surprisingly I found the Topping pre90 sounded better with the KEF KC62 subwoofer I added with the LS50's. A pretty nice system. Maybe I did not setup the sub correctly (cut off at 80 Hz on the sub).

At the moment I am looking to get a very warm preamp (cheap) to pair with my second AHB2 for my RAAL SR1a headphones (for the bedroom). I am thinking of the Schitt Freya+ at $1000, Or maybe this,

Supratek Audio Chardonnay | Tube | Audiogon

Stick with the Rogue Atlas, had the exact set up and love the RP-1 (and it does have outputs for L/R Subs. I replaced my Atlas Magnum II with their M-180 Mono Blocks running into a pair of Klipsch Forte III's ...cant be beat frankly.

@pwoodard922 , I had the Crimson 275 in my system for a couple of weeks. While it was a nice package (small footprint, lightweight, beautiful aesthetic, easy to bias), my unit had a terribly loud transformer buzz. If you go with the Carver, I'd suggest Jim Clark Stereo and their true to word return policy. They were great to work with and had me return the unit to Wyred4Sound who actually build these units.

The amp did no harm to the sound, but I felt my Bob Latino ST-70 was every bit its equal at half the price. However the ST-70 throws more heat and is more work to bias.

Bel Canto REF501S. Absolutely awesome.

jasonbourne52,

Why so angry? Don't be misled from an article based on one of those anti-audiophile web sites. The equipment that was tested is questionable so are the motives.

ozzy