@thomastrouble I would agree with you but only with 1 brand of headphones. I have the Benchmark stack like you, in-fact I had an HPA4 preamp but sold it when I heard another brand and I realized that I was no longer interested in regular headphones. I sold the HPA4 and bought the LA4 later, after a merry-go-round of preamps.
If you want to have headphones that sound like your 2-channel gear. Most likely way better than most 2-channel gear, do a demo of the following:
- RAAL SR1b earphones (these are unlike headphones)
- RAAL VM-1a genius level tube headphone amp, ONLY suitable for 2 RAAL headphones, SR1b + CA-1a
- RAAL Star8 Silver cable (or RAAL SR728 cable)
- Benchmark DAC3
The above is my very best "2-channel" system. I am getting a KEF Blades 2 Meta with a CODA #16 amp. I do not think it will beat the above gear in most sonic attributes. The floor stander will definitively have more drive and power that you will feel in your bones, but the RAAL will have a more intimate sound, like you are there with the performers. Just incredible what the RAAL guys have accomplished.
I said I would never go back to regular headphone but I wanted to hear what RAAL could do next. If you want a regular headphone system that is not like 2-channel but a real amazing rock and roll headphone. Demo the following:
- RAAL CA-1a headphones
- RAAL VM-1a
- RAAL Star8 Silver cable (or RAAL SR728 cable)
- Benchmark DAC3
Some cheaper amp alternate to hear these 2 phones are the following:
- Schitt Jotunhiem R (for RAAL Only, $299 clearance sale)
- RAAL HSA-1a solid state headphone amp
- Benchmark AHB2 with a warm DAC and Benchmark speaker cable*
- Peachtree GAN1 ($1400)*
* requires a RAAL amp adapter box ($700)
The Peachtree 2-channel was the second best amp I have heard with the RAAL’s, after the VM-1a. I used to say that the Peachtree was a 8.5/10 vs the VM-1a, a 10/10. However, I may have to push the GAN1 down a bit more after hearing the Star8 cable with the VM-1a. I have not heard the Star8 cable with the GAN1.
