Hello @jfrmusic to me the Benchmark amps were on the dry and sterile side compared to the organic and lifelike qualities of Audionet. The Audionet are extremely resolving, but not fatiguing or overetched. Very full spectrum natural sound with what I call 'sparkle'. Nothing boosted just all there. In my family room I have the MM Makua preamp w onboard Tambaqui. I used to have the beautifully matching MM class D Kaluga amps. They sounded great; until I carried up my Audionet Max amps to try and they have never left. I sold the Kalugas and bought new Heisenbergs for my basement system. My friend brought over his ABH4's to compare with my Max amps. He was determined to find what it was in my system that sounded so good. It did not take long to appreciate the difference between the Max amps and the Benchmarks. I think the Max are the sweet spot in the Audionet line up. I have only ever heard good things about Coda, but I have not had the pleasure of their company, nor Ayre. Ask more or come listen! Ken
Handling Heavy Amps
There are several amps I’m interested in possibly purchasing but I’m dissuaded because of their weight. I’ve had lower back issues so I need to be careful. I live alone. Even if my wife was still alive she would not have been able to help much. Also Children live far. I see that many of you have these 60-100 pound behemoths and I wonder how do you manage. If I buy from my dealer he’ll load it in my SUV. However when I get home it will be difficult to get it out and onto the garage floor where I can place it on my handcart. Then when I get it next to my rack I need to maneuver it out of the box and up onto the rack. I guess I would need to see if my dealer would deliver it and place it on the rack. Probably for a fee. So that may work. But then if I need to paint, move furniture, resell the unit whatever I would need help. I think I can handle up to 40lbs. So how do you handle these amps? Is it a concern for you? I’m spoiled by my Benchmark 12 lb AHB2. It’s also the reason I’ve been investigating Class D amps.
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I have the same criteria as @ryder - if I can’t handle it on my own I will not buy it. With so much good audio equipment out there, I am sure the OP can find something that is manageable weight wise and sounds good to his ears. |
Op, I am not sure if someone have already suggest but one possibility is to place the heavy amp, if you really want it, on a separate low solid-top stand with casters. Alternatively, you could replace your current audio rack with an audiophile-grade rack with casters. The weight capacity of each caster can be up to 80 lb, potentially holding all the gears you have on the rack. Furniture sliders could be another option too. Something like this ...
with the optional casters like this ...
P.S. I apologize for a little humor mentioned above. I do not know your better half has passed. |
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