Denafrips Athena vs Benchmark LA4

[PristineSound]

I am looking to get a new preamp for my new home within the next 6 months or so.

It will be in the family room, a secondary system. Stereo only. It will be paired with my Benchmark AHB2 and Ascend ELX RAAL.

The room is large-ish with vaulted ceiling, so I would like to have dual subs to go with it. I am set on using balanced connections.

The Denafrips Athena has two pairs of balanced output, that is my number one choice.

The Benchmark LA4 only has one subwoofer out.

None of the Chinese preamps I looked at have two sets of balanced out.

My amp does not have any serial signal connection, so I can't daisy chain the input signal.

What are my options?

 

[Chanur]

I am looking to get a new preamp for my new home within the next 6 months or so.

It will be in the family room, a secondary system. Stereo only. It will be paired with my Benchmark AHB2 and Ascend ELX RAAL.

The room is large-ish with vaulted ceiling, so I would like to have dual subs to go with it. I am set on using balanced connections.

The Denafrips Athena has two pairs of balanced output, that is my number one choice.

The Benchmark LA4 only has one subwoofer out.

None of the Chinese preamps I looked at have two sets of balanced out.

My amp does not have any serial signal connection, so I can't daisy chain the input signal.

What are my options?

Schiit Kara has two balanced inputs but only one output it seems.

 

[Chrispy]

Didn't you just have a post about how audio gear is a poor use of finances? Particularly for negligible results with the gear you propose.....

 

[PristineSound]

Didn't you just have a post about how audio gear is a poor use of finances? Particularly for negligible results with the gear you propose.....

Can you copy and paste it for me?

 

[Chrispy]

Can you copy and paste it for me?

Sure https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...hobby-is-a-terrible-financial-decision.71835/

 

[PristineSound]

Sure https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...hobby-is-a-terrible-financial-decision.71835/

Copy and paste, not link.

You can also screenshot it if you like.

 

[Chrispy]

Copy and paste, not link.

You can also screenshot it if you like.

I see no need. Like your gear.

 

[PristineSound]

I see no need. Like your gear.

That's incoherent. Try again.

Start off with your claim of what I said by quoting it or screenshotting it.

Then explain what about my gear is not needed.

It seems like you are stringing random words together.

 

[Chrispy]

That's incoherent. Try again.

Start off with your claim of what I said by quoting it or screenshotting it.

Then explain what about my gear is not needed.

It seems like you are stringing random words together.

LOL nice deflection attempt. Why don't you state why your gear choices are needed? At least in terms of ASR in a general way, just for fun.

 

[PristineSound]

LOL nice deflection attempt. Why don't you state why your gear choices are needed? At least in terms of ASR in a general way, just for fun.

Wait, you made a claim of that I said "audio gear is a poor use of finances", a false claim to start an argument.

So now it's incumbent on you to screenshot or quote what I said. Let's sort this out first.

 

[Chrispy]

Wait, you made a claim of that I said "audio gear is a poor use of finances", a false claim to start an argument.

So now it's incumbent on you to screenshot or quote what I said. Let's sort this out first.

LOL. Most of your audio claims are false, let's start with that.

 

[PristineSound]

LOL. Most of your audio claims are false, let's start with that.

That's what I thought. You realized that you over translated or short on the reading comprehension, so you are now refusing to sort this out.

So what other claims have I made that are false?

 

[Chrispy]

That's what I thought. You realized that you over translated or short on the reading comprehension, so you are now refusing to sort this out.

So what other claims have I made that are false?

LOL you're just sort of strange. Where did ASR hurt you?

 

[PristineSound]

LOL you're just sort of strange. Where did ASR hurt you?

Lol. . .Crispy, I can't take you seriously.

You're throwing random lines out and not follow up to only then jump around with more random lines.

Let's settle your claim that I said: "audio gear is a poor use of finances".

Can you screenshot it to prove it.

 

[Chrispy]

Lol. . .Crispy, I can't take you seriously.

You're throwing random lines out and not follow up to only then jump around with more random lines.

Let's settle your claim that I said: "audio gear is a poor use of finances".

Can you screenshot it to prove it.

No, your poor approach doesn't fix it. Just go ahead and spend unnecessary funds on vague esoteric gear......I just find your posts amusing

 

[PristineSound]

No, your poor approach doesn't fix it. Just go ahead and spend unnecessary funds on vague esoteric gear......I just find your posts amusing

Crispy, before I ask why you are concerned with other people spending their own money. Let me sort your original claim out for you, so that others reading can also see.

You claim that I said: "audio gear is a poor use of finances"

But when in fact I said: "I reckon that this hobby, HiFi Audio, is a terrible hobby financially."

If you had cancer and you needed medical treatment, that would be terrible financially. But I would hope you don't think it's a poor use of finances.

Now tell me why are you so concerned with how I am spending my money?

 

[GD Fan]

Yawn... Why do some people always have to piss all over questions and threads here?

I'm not familiar with the issue or with this possible solution, but it looks like miniDSP has a product that you could look at called Flex Eight. Maybe it could be helpful. Maybe I'm wrong.

Meanwhile, returning you now to the previously scheduled tedious bickering and sorry one-upsmanship that some members seem to need.

 

[PristineSound]

I'm not familiar with the issue or with this possible solution, but it looks like miniDSP has a product that you could look at called Flex Eight. Maybe it could be helpful. Maybe I'm wrong.

I actually have a miniDSP, and thought about it as a solution, but my equipment are silver and I want to match the equipment.

 

[GD Fan]

I actually have a miniDSP, and thought about it as a solution, but my equipment are silver and I want to match the equipment.

Geez, so many conflicting needs - better brace yourself for the inevtiable chorus of moans and cross-referencing from people with nothing better to do...!

 

[PristineSound]

Geez, so many conflicting needs - better brace yourself for the inevtiable chorus of moans and cross-referencing from people with nothing better to do...!

I actually do have a one of a kind miniDSP SHD in silver, don't want to get into how I have this silver miniDSP.

But anyway, that miniDSP is being used in another system and I have some SACDs that I want to run it through every now and then, the miniDSP does not support DSD.