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


As the dust settles on the time the when the Benchmark AHB2 amplifier was a hot topic in the audio world, what is the long term consensus about this amplifier?  

Has it become a mainstay in the audiophile community?  

avanti1960

I have a single AHB2 with the HPA4 and Dac 3B in powering Harbeth P3’s in a small family room-Phenomenal. I also have a Belles Aria with a Dac 3B powering Harbeth P3’s in another small room-Phenomenal. Point is, the AHB2 is an amazing amp but it obviously has less coloration than other amps. Also different recordings, different room acoustics matter greatly. I would never let go of my AHB2 because when I am listening to the right type of music and the right type of recording it just can’t be beat. With other types of music and other types of recordings I change rooms. Having said all that I don’t know that if I had room or the budget for one amp that it would be the winner. I think there are other amps out there that may perform better as “jack of all trades” amps.

Thanks to all replies, very interesting.  It does seem that this amplifier has staying power.  

I heard it again at AXPONA this year driving some Aretai stand mount speakers.  Very punchy and clear.  

I am probably going to try one. While I love the sound of my Pass XA25 it is not as transparent as it was billed and at times sounds unnaturally warm and polished.

It took over a year for the XA25 to sound like this as it burned in.

Just trying to decide on two or one. Most likely one for starters.

Seems that the OP is hung up on the “audiophile” label rather than the components performance in its price range.  It’s the sonics, the price, and possibly the feature set that matters.

"consensus" and "audiophile" in the same sentence/paragraph always makes me lol

As a wannabe audiophile, my path is iFi Zen Stream, Benchmark Dac3L, AH2B, Klipsch Cornwalls. My plan is to get the blackest background, the best speed, most uncolored amplification, sort out how to get the Cornwalls to play their best with positioning and room treatments, and then find the preamp, if necessary, that puts it all together for my ear. I do not have the time or energy to go through numerous permutations of equipment to find my sound. Wish me luck.