Review and Measurements of Benchmark AHB2 Amp

[JimB]

... The current amp is a Mac MC312 and i don't know if the meters are accurate but they often swing between 30-300 depending on the track, rarely close to 300. ...

Those meters are log scale. Half way between 30 and 300 is 100. So, much above that, into an 8 ohm load, you would be starting to clip on the AHB2.

 

[granosalis]

Hello, Giuseppe here, this is my first post.
After buying the DAC3B I felt so in love with it that now I'm planning to build a entire Benchmark stack togheter with HPA4 and AHB2.
I have the Tannoy Canterbury Gold Reference. What do you thin about pairing with the AHB2? One or two in bridged mono?
I searched the internet but it seems that no one has a Benchmark / Tannoy system. Thanks in advance.
Giuseppe

 

[Puska]

All Im asking is Sound quallity out of alternative amplifier to ahb2.

 

[RichB]

All Im asking is Sound quallity out of alternative amplifier to ahb2.

Accept no substitutes

Honestly, this is not the website for audiophile poetry.
Subjectively, I prefer the AHB2's to all amps I have had before including: Parasound Ax1's, ATI6000, Outlaw, and Sunfire.

- Rich

 

[ex audiophile]

All Im asking is Sound quallity out of alternative amplifier to ahb2.

This is such a thorny subject that most folks don't even want to start. Please remember that the quality of what you hear is due largely to the quality of the recording you are listening to, your speakers, and the acoustics of your room. Electronic components like DACs and amps are of course important but MUCH LESS influential. Given that background, comparing one amp to another is very difficult in that blind comparisons that are properly set up and done are almost non existent (to my knowledge). the AHB2 is superb because it introduces zero audible noise/distortion and so does not influence the sound at all. I would argue that many quality amps also create inaudible noise/distortion and so would be indistinguishable from the AHB2. In general you want the most powerful amp you can afford, so long as it does not introduce audible distortion. The efficiency of your speakers, size of your room and your listening level are all factors that impact this decision. I would strongly encourage you to watch the Audioholics video "Are expensive amplifiers better than cheap amplifiers" to get a nice overview of the topic.

 

[Puska]

From the experience the amplifiers influence the sound a lot. I have had owned a lot. Just to number some quad 303, quad 405, quad 909, Stellar m700, Tube el34, tube kt88. Each one had different sound.
I do believe that distortion is a main factor but also electronic components, the signal path etc.
My question was and still is if Hypex nc400 is alternative to ahb2 soundwise. The messurmants are impressive
But did somebody actually tested it in listening room? What are the impressions?

 

[Purité Audio]

I have both here, and honestly I can’t tell the difference between them, they are both excellent designs.
Keith

 

[Puska]

Thank you

 

[TLEDDY]

I subscribe to a photo website, Ken Rockwell, who incidentally reviews a little audio gear. Here are excerpts from his tube amplifier observations.

Parenthetically, I have bridged ABH2s for my Harbeth 40.1s. I do think he makes a good point.

“Tube amplifiers sound better because of the euphonic distortions they add to the music, as well as plenty of other reasons I'll cover below.

Tube amplifiers measure poorly in the lab specifically because of these added distortions, but these distortions are often a part of what make them sound better.

Tube amplifiers have much more distortion than solid-state amplifiers, but most of it is second-order, which is quite musical. That's why it's called "harmonic" distortion.
Second-harmonic distortion is exactly the same note, an octave above. Ditto for higher-order even harmonics; they are also the same note more octaves above.
Even-order harmonic distortion can be so pleasant that back in the 1970s the Aphex Aural Exciter was very popular in recording and broadcast specifically because it was designed to generate and add these harmonic distortions! You can still buy it today”

 

[RayDunzl]

Second-harmonic distortion is exactly the same note, an octave above. Ditto for higher-order even harmonics; they are also the same note more octaves above.

That is not entirely correct.

Octaves (same note) of 100Hz:

100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, etc. Each octave doubles the frequency

Even harmonic series:

100, 200, 400, 600, 800, 1000, etc. They are not all octaves.

 

[Willem]

I guess it depends on the definition of better. If better means more transparent and more neutral, then obviously adding second harmonics is not better.

 

[digitalfrost]

If you like harmonic distortion you could just add it via DSP. Much more flexible and deterministic.

 

[SIY]

I subscribe to a photo website, Ken Rockwell, who incidentally reviews a little audio gear. Here are excerpts from his tube amplifier observations.

I hope he's good at photography.

 

[Deleted member 65]

This is such a thorny subject that most folks don't even want to start. Please remember that the quality of what you hear is due largely to the quality of the recording you are listening to, your speakers, and the acoustics of your room. Electronic components like DACs and amps are of course important but MUCH LESS influential. Given that background, comparing one amp to another is very difficult in that blind comparisons that are properly set up and done are almost non existent (to my knowledge). the AHB2 is superb because it introduces zero audible noise/distortion and so does not influence the sound at all. I would argue that many quality amps also create inaudible noise/distortion and so would be indistinguishable from the AHB2. In general you want the most powerful amp you can afford, so long as it does not introduce audible distortion. The efficiency of your speakers, size of your room and your listening level are all factors that impact this decision. I would strongly encourage you to watch the Audioholics video "Are expensive amplifiers better than cheap amplifiers" to get a nice overview of the topic.

It sure is.

Swedish AES with their Before/After method using the newly constructed comparator level matching DUT’s @ <0.05 dB is about the only I’m aware of.

 

[TLEDDY]

I hope he's good at photography.

I think he makes a point re. Tubes. Nelson Pass apparently adds second harmonics deliberately in his designs. I chose Benchmark gear because of the confidence it does not do anything to the signal; I do not have to think about it at all.

The new Speaker Reviews address what, I think, is the most variable of the pieces of our systems. Amir deserves our moral and FINANCIAL support in his efforts.

 

[Kal Rubinson]

“Tube amplifiers sound better because of the euphonic distortions they add to the music, as well as plenty of other reasons I'll cover below.

Tube amplifiers measure poorly in the lab specifically because of these added distortions, but these distortions are often a part of what make them sound better.

The term "sound better" should be replaced with "sound more pleasant and enjoyable to me." Euphonic distortions are distortions and not "better."

 

[SIY]

Unfortunately, a few minutes looking at actual distortion spectra of tube amps will disabuse the notion of “second order is what makes them sound good.”

Nelson is a good guy and a friend , but I think he’s totally off base on this euphonic distortion stuff.

 

[Purité Audio]

Would you post up some valve amp distortion spectra if you have them to hand?
Thanks,
Keith

 

[Thomas Savage]

Would you post up some valve amp distortion spectra if you have them to hand?
Thanks,
Keith

Not in this thread though.

No more off topic please , find appropriate threads or start new ones.

Cheers

 

[Purité Audio]

Perhaps in the Tube vs Solid state thread?
Thanks,
Keith