I’ve been using Naim kit for +30 years and feeling like maybe giving something else a go. Currently a 52/250/nDAC. I’m not sure I’m up for the next round of re-caps (3-4 years away) and new Naim kit is too expensive for me in the US these days. Benchmark are high on my list. They are almost local to me, a good value, seem well regarded and have great measurements. Plus, there are no buzzing transformers. I’m wondering how the LA4 Pre & AHB2 Amp compare? I like the idea of a relay volume pot and have never been fond of the Alps (pots8) in my 52. Reviews say the Benchmark kit is fast but does it groove? Anyone have any experience here?
1 Like
I don’t have any experience of Benchmark, sorry.
But I’m curious though about your post. Is something stopping you from getting a dem?
Hope it works out, whichever path you take.
C.
I can only say that the AHB2 has the highest rating on a certain measurement site, and this is enough for me to stay away from it. Ultra low distortion and ultra high damping factor do not mean a pleasant sound.
I was at a friend’s yesterday to listen to his old, newly acquired Quad 405-2 power amp and was totally amazed at the quality of it, to the point of seriously wondering what has really happened of some importance in audio in the last 40 years.
I apologize for this unsolicited opinion. And my Naim transformers do not buzz.
7 Likes
I have Benchmark LA4 and AHB2. Enjoy them very much. I compared the AHB2 to the 250 DR when I owned a Atom HE. The AHB2 was a lot more controlled, so stuck with it.
The Benchmark gets excellent reviews, including Stereophile. All these can be considered and not dismissed out of hand.
Being in the US you can take advantage of the returns policy offered if you are not satisfied. I have found support from them is excellent.
Buying into the measurements hype, I auditioned the AHB2 with my KEF reference 3’s. Compared to the Naim Nova, I found the sound to be thin, sterile and sibilant. I returned the Benchmark amp and never looked back. I now own a New Classic stack.
To be fair, the Benchmark was fed from an RME ADI-2, a dac famed for its transparency (too much of a good thing?). I wonder if the results would have been different if the amp were paired with its proper counterpart.
I would still suggest you try and audition the amp yourself. Only way to be sure. At the time they had a generous return policy.
1 Like
Would members please be mindful of forum rules, in particular making reference to discussion or mention of discussion on other forums. Thanks.
4 Likes
I used to own the Benchmark LA-4 and AHB2’s as monoblocks.
I owned them for a year and dumped them for a Naim Supernait 3 and HiCap DR. Which I have had for 4 years (and will have for some time).
Thin, sterile, lacking in dynamics, and there was this odd homogenization of harmonic structures in instruments like violin/acoustic guitar/cello. Couldn’t quite put my finger on it.
Tried the RME ADI-2, The Benchmark DAC3, Bluesound Node 2i as sources.
I acquired the AHB2’s first and was using a Madrigal/Proceed AVP-2 processor as a preamp. Lifeless and dull. I blamed the preamp (mistake #1) and acquired a Plinius Kaitaki preamp with some upgraded caps. More life, but sibilance became prominent and listening fatigue set in after just a few minutes. Didn’t matter what DAC I used. Then tried a Levinson preamp that was also Stereophile rated; no dice.
Finally, I gaslit all the preamps and bought an LA-4. Thought that should fix it. Nope… wasn’t even the best presentation of the bunch of pre’s either.
I attempted to discuss on… that forum… and got gaslit into submission. I even went to have my hearing checked (yet another great audiogram).
I lived with this setup for a year. Then finally sold one AHB2 and used a single in stereo, which was actually an improvement. I finally, accidentally heard a Supernait3 driving some Graham’s at my dealer (Gig Harbor Audio). Owner (who remains a good friend… and STILL my dealer) offered to allow me to bring my entire Benchmark stack in to demo against whatever Naim setup I would like. He even opened his cable library to me.
4 hours later, I owned a SN3 and the Benchmarks were listed on fleabay that evening.
I ordered the HiCap DR one week later.
Numbers on a graph aside, it wasn’t close. Even when using $1k+ Audioquest XLR’s from source to Pre and Pre to Amp (from the cable library).
2 Likes
Try auditioning? Other people’s views are generally of limited value unless their speakers in particular are the same as yours, source of similar quality, and taste in sound similar.
Very helpful. Especially in that you used the LA-4 Pre. Many reviews that I read did not. I seems those that had the best results with the Benchmark Pre & Amp combo used a warmer source (good R2R ladder DAC or turntable) and speakers that were more forgiving and not clinical.
I don’t believe Benchmark have dealers. Direct sales only. So no dem opportunity. If I did give it a try my Epos-14 speakers would probably have to be replace too. As things are now the top end can be too much on some recordings with my nDAC. I blame those Epos metal-dome tweeters. But I do wonder if I would find the Benchmarks to clinical. Probably the best move for me is to replace my speakers first.
Thanks for all the feedback!
1 Like
There are loads of dealers in the US of A. Have a look at the Benchmark website.
1 Like
Sorry, I had forgotten this. M.
1 Like
This should mean something.
1 Like
I agree with what you said and wonder if some time back we reached the point of perfection and couldn’t go any better. The only way to go was to totally change the way things sound to confuse us into accepting things had got better. Only by going back can we truly see how sound has changed in both production of music and Hifi as we know it.
2 Likes
I would say it’s a no brainer in your case. Go for Benchmark. I say this because you say that you are “almost local”, which I take to mean that you are in the north east US. I am across the lake in southern Ontario from the Benchmark factory. For someone in the UK the proposition could be reversed. Generally I believe, you get better value by buying locally. I have a mix of Naim and Benchmark in my systems. In one I have a ND5XS2 and AudioLab 9000 into a Benchmark DAC3 B, into a HPA4 preamp/HP amp, and then the AHB2 amp driving KEF R3 Metas. In another I have a Naim Unity Atom and Unity Core into a Benchmark DAC3 HGC, driving a Moon Sim Audio 330A and B&W 702 Series 3 floor standing speakers. I also have a Naim Atom HE and a Naim NAIT 50 in use. I have tried all sorts of combinations of the above with a few samples of other makes for good measure.
The Benchmark is sonically good as anything gets. It will easily hold its own against anything else. Whether you think one sounds better than the other is up to you. I am tending to having a Naim streaming and front end setup, but with Benchmark doing everything else – I will probably replace my Moon 330A with another AHB2 sometime soon. If you get the AHB2 then I recommend the Benchmark cables with SpeakON connectors.
Other reasons for selecting the Benchmark are that if you need help, or just have a question, you can pick up the phone and call someone who speaks English and is in your time zone. You also get an extended warranty (5 years). Benchmark is built to a very high physical standard and tends to look a bit ‘industrial’ compared to Naim and other makes. Benchmark makes equipment for profession and studio use so it is built to take beating. That may put you off – although it doesn’t bother me.
3 Likes