Dust Settled Consensus- is the Benchmark AHB2 an Audiophile Amplifier?

Ah, if only it had blue VU meters!

Guess what? You can have it both ways. Precision from your Benchmark can be colored with euphonic tube like distortion on the days you want it for just a few bucks and a little soldering. 
 

And all the time I thought the purpose of a component was to amplify or pre-amplify without adding or subtracting anything!  What was I thinking? 

No component made is completely neutral from the microphone to the speakers and everything in-between adds or subtracts something, some may do it more than others. Just because a component might measure great doesn't mean it's going to sound closer to real instruments in your room, this would assume that the recording process is perfect and it is not, nor is any of the equipment, so a little color may actually make it sound closer to the real thing.

@yyzsantabarbara I have the Benchmark DAC3B but switched it out for the warmer Musetec 005 DAC.

I did a similar swap-out, and agree with @peter_s ’s comments above in similar fashion, applied to the dac as well. Measured extremely well yet boring and un-engaging to listen to. Sent it back. Had 2 dacs since, both way more fun to listen to.