Review and Measurements of Benchmark AHB2 Amp

[aj625]

The voltmeters are audio porn visual candy... I'd buy a version of AHB2 with meters if the performance was identical.

Even if you needed to pay extra ? I would rather replace ahb2 if i get better performance at less price, without caring about looks etc.

 

[iwantobelieve]

Even if you needed to pay extra ? I would rather replace ahb2 if i get better performance at less price, without caring about looks etc.

Aesthetics - design and materials, etc., are extremely important to many people, especially in a domestic environment. Build quality and quality parts are also a factor, as is where the component is built (if you care about people working in decent conditions and earning a decent wage). In fact I think the Benchmark is quite good looking for its “pro-heritage” type, and I’ve heard nothing about it using less than great parts, but I was addressing your comment in general, not specifically around the Benchmark product.

I love me some McIntosh blue VU meters, but find the newest models with “signature” heat sinks to be overly ostentatious - really I’d only be buying one of those for the sound quality I love. If you want me to get really excited about design in audio gear you’d have to go back to some of Allen Boothroyd’s earlier work at Lecson and Meridian. That was exceptional for it’s day and still looks fresh now, which is a sad indictment of the lack of design verve in audio gear generally, all in my opinion, of course.

 

[misterdog]

What i have found over the years that more transparent your system becomes more it is transparent to faults of your power and cable chain. Ie any power emi, rfi noise percolating through power or cables will also be easily evident. So it better to plug those routes of noise. I use few ifi ac purifier in reverse polarity ( it somehow works better in reverse polarity for me ) ferrited power cable, usb cable. I use ferrite everywhere except on analog interconnects. So I am able to suck pretty much last bit of noise from the chain. It has resulted in extremely black background. Instruments don't have any kind of outline and seem to come out suddenly and independently. No information is left behind but everything is still so sweet and smooth.

Benchmark Star Quad speaker cable with Speakon connectors.

Benchmark Speaker Cable - NL2 to Banana - 2 pole

BENCHMARK STUDIO&STAGE™ SPEAKER CABLE - NL2 (or NL4) TO LOCKING BANANA CABLES ARE SOLD INDIVIDUALLY Price is for one cable, Order 2 for a stereo pair. Hand assembled in the USA Benchmark Studio&Stage™ Speaker Cables combine the best cable, connectors, and construction techniques in order to...

benchmarkmedia.com

I use the above and also Van Damme Star Quad interconnects.

 

[Andrew s]

Given the care Benchmark take in shielding their switch mode supplies and general care in design I don't think RF is an issue with their kit.

I did an informal test with my Stack bridge playing a silent track from local storage, into my DAC2 and AHB2 (balanced interconnects). I had my mobile phone on and sending next to the DAC, PC running and sending in the room and running Ethernet over the mains to the TV downstairs streaming a video. All were on the same outlet on the ring main. Not a sound at full volume on the KEF 201/2 speakers.

Listening to chamber music again was unaffected as far as I could tell.

Regards Andrew

 

[kongwee]

Benchmark Star Quad speaker cable with Speakon connectors.

Benchmark Speaker Cable - NL2 to Banana - 2 pole

BENCHMARK STUDIO&STAGE™ SPEAKER CABLE - NL2 (or NL4) TO LOCKING BANANA CABLES ARE SOLD INDIVIDUALLY Price is for one cable, Order 2 for a stereo pair. Hand assembled in the USA Benchmark Studio&Stage™ Speaker Cables combine the best cable, connectors, and construction techniques in order to...

benchmarkmedia.com

I use the above and also Van Damme Star Quad interconnects.

The best is still twisted pair. Before I "retired" from audiophile, the best cable was Siltech silvergold with Teflon coating, almost perfect 90 degrees crossing. Very low capacitance and very high interference rejection. But it cost thousands to tens thousand just for very thin conductor. Thinner than your USB charger. Just covered up with very thick coating to look heavy like other top brand cable.

Star Quad is the most practical and mass to produce.

 

[anmpr1]

Benchmark Star Quad speaker cable with Speakon connectors.

Be aware that the Benchmark speaker cables are pretty thick and inflexible. For studio use, behind a rack, it's probably not much an issue, if any. For home use, and for exposed runs, it might not integrate well, decor-wise. It is certainly not overpriced, and construction appears first rate. For my domestic situation I didn't notice any difference between it and cheaper, more flexible 'monster-type' wire.

 

[rdenney]

Be aware that the Benchmark speaker cables are pretty thick and inflexible. For studio use, behind a rack, it's probably not much an issue, if any. For home use, and for exposed runs, it might not integrate well, decor-wise. It is certainly not overpriced, and construction appears first rate. For my domestic situation I didn't notice any difference between it and cheaper, more flexible 'monster-type' wire.

What a philistine I am! I'm using 12-gauge solid copper moderately stranded zip cord with banana plugs on each end. The inch that is visible between the run it runs under and the edge of the speaker it goes under remains unnoticed even by the Redhead.

Rick "bought a long roll of it some years ago" Denney

 

[Sal1950]

Even if you needed to pay extra ?

Absolutely! As long a I could turn off the lights/display when I want the room dark.

audiophiles hate measurements. they like bigger, heavier, more expensive, big front silver/golden plate with big knobs and meters, and running hot amps. ahb2 hasn't any of these. so this is not much popular or may be ahb2 owners are reclusive people who don't want to post anywhere about this.

That's an audiophool.
Audiophiles like myself live by the measurements, I have for a number of decades now.
But being stuck in the mindset of a 72 yo, 60 year gear head, I will admit to still being drawn to equipment that "to me" projects a look of big, strong, serious design. The first time I saw the Benchmark gear in person at the Tampa audio a few years back I was surprised at how really small and unserious it struck me. (Sorry John) My right brain knows it will sound incredible in any system, but the left brain just tells me "nope it's not for me".

Lately I've been eyeing the Buckeye 6ch NC502 as a replacement for my stack of 5 classic Adcom's which really tend to load my Central FL listening room with ton's of heat and send the power meter spinning. I was thinking, maybe if I offered him a little extra cash and could locate a totally smoked Phase Linear 700B cheap, I could get him to assemble it in that case? Bringing back the looks of my 1980s rig. (cue Archie & Edith) Those Were The Days

 

[Kal Rubinson]

That's an audiophool.
Audiophiles like myself live by the measurements, I have for a number of decades now.
But being stuck in the mindset of a 72 yo, 60 year gear head, I will admit to still being drawn to equipment that "to me" projects a look of big, strong, serious design. The first time I saw the Benchmark gear in person at the Tampa audio a few years back I was surprised at how really small and unserious it struck me. (Sorry John) My right brain knows it will sound incredible in any system, but the left brain just tells me "nope it's not for me".

I understand your reaction; it was similar to mine. It recalled my initial reaction to the original AR turntable.

 

[JP]

I understand your reaction; it was similar to mine. It recalled my initial reaction to the original AR turntable.

Fades quickly, though.

 

[radix]

Audiophiles like myself live by the measurements, I have for a number of decades now.
But being stuck in the mindset of a 72 yo, 60 year gear head, I will admit to still being drawn to equipment that "to me" projects a look of big, strong, serious design. The first time I saw the Benchmark gear in person at the Tampa audio a few years back I was surprised at how really small and unserious it struck me. (Sorry John) My right brain knows it will sound incredible in any system, but the left brain just tells me "nope it's not for me".

I was talking with an audiophile store owner a while ago, and he said he didn't carry many brands because they did not look big enough. He said many of his high-roller customer wanted their gear to look impressive.

Personally, I have a soft spot for McIntosh, as a friend's dad had that when I was growing up and that's kind of what's imprinted as "serious gear." I had SAE for a long time, so I'm also biased towards a bunch of lights and sliders and buttons in a black rack mount look.

 

[Kal Rubinson]

Fades quickly, though.

Not at all: The AHB2 continues to give me pleasure. (FWIW, I never owned an AR TT until decades later and that was based on nostalgia).

 

[Deleted member 4708]

Not at all: The AHB2 continues to give me pleasure. (FWIW, I never owned an AR TT until decades later and that was based on nostalgia).

If something wins me over it's the cold, clear measurements. No second guesses (does that piano sound right?) no ifs nothing, just the pleasure of listening to the music. I expect something like AHB2 to last a long time and be as transparent as it didn't exist in the chain.

 

[JP]

Not at all: The AHB2 continues to give me pleasure. (FWIW, I never owned an AR TT until decades later and that was based on nostalgia).

I meant the reaction that it's not serious kit.

 

[Kal Rubinson]

I meant the reaction that it's not serious kit.

Ah. That reaction passed very rapidly.

 

[restorer-john]

I was talking with an audiophile store owner a while ago, and he said he didn't carry many brands because they did not look big enough. He said many of his high-roller customer wanted their gear to look impressive.

Fair enough. He was in business to make money and that's what his customers wanted.

 

[Sal1950]

I was talking with an audiophile store owner a while ago, and he said he didn't carry many brands because they did not look big enough. He said many of his high-roller customer wanted their gear to look impressive.

For sure they do, why not. So do I and I'm the exact opposite of a high roller.
I think I've had a wet dream or two about replacing my big stack of 5 classic Adcoms with a huge & super heavy stack of 10 or more D' Agostino or Pass Labs gorgeous pieces of aluminum machining artwork. Man shit just don't get more beautiful than this IM not so HO.
And it WAS good for me. LOL

Of course I'd sent the first one to Amir for measurements.

"Better By The Ton
Pictures alone cannot convey the sheer scale of this amplifier, so here's the Relentless by numbers: each chassis is over a half metre in width (572x280x826mm, whd), weighs over a quarter ton (258kg) and is composed of interlocking slabs of precision-milled copper and aluminium alloy. The latter is a very costly 'aircraft-grade' alloy that guarantees the quality of the 1µm-deep diamond cut finish, gloss black and silver (natural) anodising and hard, synthetic enamel coating. The price, if you need to ask, is an astonishing £125,000 per mono chassis, in either colour.
HiFi News"

 

[DonH56]

The resistivity of copper is 1.7e-8 ohm-m and that of silver is 1.6e-8 so they are almost the same. Gold is significantly worse at 2.4e-8 ohm-m so gold has higher resistance than copper or silver. Silver, in addition to its much higher cost, also tarnishes quickly and becomes less conductive. Ironically Teflon (PTFE), the darling of many an audiophile cable, is much worse at the micro-level for charge traps and hysteresis that increases distortion. In the vast majority of applications this does not matter (audio or RF), but for those who claim measurements don't matter and they can hear a -160 dB noise floor at GHz frequencies, the irony is thick...

 

[DonH56]

Realizing this is the Benchmark AHB2 thread (duh!), and that believers will believe and doubters doubt, I'll respectively withdraw. Start a thread, or return to one of many already created, to debate wires in audio (or any) circuits.

One last note: IIRC silver usually forms a sulfide, not an oxide, but it has been long since my inorganic chemistry classes... I only remember because I have to clean my trumpets now and then. The sulfide is slightly less conductive than pure silver. But, silver oxide forms an insulator, again IIRC. I am pretty sure about the latter as it is a big problem in the world of engineers when wire and relay connections fail due to silver tarnish (oxide or sulfide, whatever).

 

[AdamG]

Thread Notice: Multiples of Posts deleted for off topic drift. This is an Official Product Review Thread. Keep your comments relative to the product and the test results. If your post was deleted consider that a warning. Continued off topic posting will result in Thread Bans and further sanctions. Please and thank you for understanding.