Benchmark ahb2 power amplifier?

joeinid

joeinid

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Anyone have experience with or own the AHB2 amp? I’d like to know your thoughts.

It’s Stereophile Class A rated.

https://benchmarkmedia.com/products/benchmark-ahb2-power-amplifier



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Pros
great price
great specs, and measurements are superb (distortion-wise)

Cons
unfamiliar PSU and Amp circuit design
its small, and the back side is cramped for cables

seems to be well liked on the Harbeth User Group forum. I have not seen, nor heard, but spent a bit of time, in the past, researching this amp. When I decided that Harbeth were not going to be ideal in my room, I have been looking elsewhere.
 
I had one for a while; only sold it because I moved to an integrated.

I liked the small form, but it was really crowded on the back. Getting two and going the mono route would make cabling slightly easier. I did try Benchmark's own speaker cables because they are so affordable. The SpeakOn connector is a breeze to use although I ended up going back to my Omega Mikros.

It was very quiet and detailed, and generated little heat... I kind of regret selling it. And Benchmark's customer service is top notch.
 
I meant to contact Benchmark and ask why their only spec’d rating for output voltage into a 16 ohm impedance was only for the bridged mono setup rather than stereo. But then I got these http://agdproduction.com/static/audion.html and feel like I’ve got the class D option for the Mezzos covered.
Parker
 
Same price range ($2999 compared to $3200), similar physical size, better amp.
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Sorry Joe, had to do it.

Full disclosure; I never owned a Benchmark amplifier but did research them a while ago. I did own two different DACs from them. They were good solid DACs and the customer service is top notch! However, sound wise I always felt they were very sterile and not what I would call musical sounding. As opposed, the T+A DAC is a completely different world in both quality of construction and musical inviting sounding gear. The amplifier is very much in the same vain as the DAC. Built like a tank and gorgeous sounding.

On the flip side, the T+A will definitely be harder to sell on the used market then Benchmark. People in the US simply do not know how amazing T+A is yet. Lots of reviews and ads recently though.
 
Randy Myers said:
Same price range ($2999 compared to $3200), similar physical size, better amp.
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Sorry Joe, had to do it.

Full disclosure; I never owned a Benchmark amplifier but did research them a while ago. I did own two different DACs from them. They were good solid DACs and the customer service is top notch! However, sound wise I always felt they were very sterile and not what I would call musical sounding. As opposed, the T+A DAC is a completely different world in both quality of construction and musical inviting sounding gear. The amplifier is very much in the same vain as the DAC. Built like a tank and gorgeous sounding.

On the flip side, the T+A will definitely be harder to sell on the used market then Benchmark. People in the US simply do not know how amazing T+A is yet. Lots of reviews and ads recently though.
Click to expand...

I've heard quite a bit of T+A and I agree; they are excellent. They've also been partnered with Dynauido NA for some time, now, IIRC.

Agree with you on the sound signature of Benchmark. Good and solid, but I never found them to be particularly engaging.
 
Don’t think that I wasn’t thinking about darTZeel. I’d love to hear the new 108 amp. But I know. :heart:


Puma Cat said:
Hee hee, yeah, I know. I just couldn't resist teasing you..if only a little bit. ;)
Click to expand...
 
Have you been listening to these? Thoughts? They look really cool.

pdub said:
I meant to contact Benchmark and ask why their only spec’d rating for output voltage into a 16 ohm impedance was only for the bridged mono setup rather than stereo. But then I got these http://agdproduction.com/static/audion.html and feel like I’ve got the class D option for the Mezzos covered.
Parker
Click to expand...
 
I heard the AHB-2 at RMAF in 2018. It seemed a little bright but that may have been the speakers.
It's certainly a new design - THX AAA feed-forward output stage, resonant switchmode power supply.
This thing objectively outperforms everything else out there. How that translates into musical enjoyment is up for grabs.
The T+A Amp 8 makes an interesting comparison. It's got a very classic A/B complementary architecture with a linear power supply.
 
Every review I have read on the amp gave the impression of neutral to slightly cool. If this is for use with the Linton's based on my couple of weeks with them I would go in the other direction for an amp only. Not sure where Randy's suggestion falls on that the tonal ladder. In that price range I'm kind of partial to this amp. Should be a good fit with the GAT.

https://avahifi.com/collections/power-amplifiers/products/vision-set-400-amplifier

Another good option if you can find one used would be an Odyssey Kismet as buying new would be a long wait as Klaus is pretty behind right now.
 
From what I understand in other posts about the Benchmark, it’s supposedly a clean conduit to what’s upstream. Adding or subtracting nothing. Super dead quiet, extremely low distortion and articulate.

I’m generally a fan of warm/sweet amps but something intrigues me about this. I imagine that it mated to a balanced sweet 6SN7 preamp, it could be awesome. It might take a little getting used to but I think it could be a fun change, especially on my Wharfedale Linton and similar Harbeth type speakers. It could be hit or miss on my Avantgarde duo because I saw a thread on Audiogon where someone loved it and another didn’t like it on Avantgarde and Klipsch speakers.

Shipping is 3+ weeks out so that’s good and bad. Very popular but also local to me. Hmmm.
 
Great advice Jack.

I still need to try the AkitikA on the Linton. That amp is slightly warm and also dead quiet. It’s really an awesome amp that gets no respect at all. It’s quite remarkable.

Maybe I’m just getting itchy for something new but don’t need anything.

Jack said:
Every review I have read on the amp gave the impression of neutral to slightly cool. If this is for use with the Linton's based on my couple of weeks with them I would go in the other direction for an amp only. Not sure where Randy's suggestion falls on that the tonal ladder. In that price range I'm kind of partial to this amp. Should be a good fit with the GAT.

https://avahifi.com/collections/power-amplifiers/products/vision-set-400-amplifier

Another good option if you can find one used would be an Odyssey Kismet as buying new would be a long wait as Klaus is pretty behind right now.
Click to expand...
 
I know the feeling but I've already got enough stuff that may need packing. Also the Nuforce as it should have plenty of muscle paired with the Stage 2 since you don't play loud.

I really like the Linton's with the Audia Flight but will try the Kinki integrated next and see what the difference is.
 
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