Benchmark Media Systems
Benchmark Media Systems
SKU: 500-18000-100
Overall rating: 4.9923077 / 5 from 130 reviews.
The Benchmark AHB2 Power Amplifier offers unmatched sonic purity, low distortion, and high efficiency, making it ideal for high-resolution audio formats. Its innovative design and exceptional performance have earned it numerous awards and accolades. The AHB2 delivers detailed, dynamic, and transparent sound, providing a superior listening experience. With a focus on minimizing noise and maximizing power, it stands out as a top choice for audiophiles seeking the best in class performance.
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"The AHB2 is the best amplifier I ever owned. I bought it with the LA4 pre-amplifier as an upgrade from an integrated amp. I also upgraded my component connections from unbalanced (RCA) to balanced (XLR). A huge improvement in music clarity and presence. I hear fainter instruments and voices that were not audible before. Best owners manual I have seen in a long while. Highly recommended."
"Delivers exceptional clean crip sound, as promised. The promise was no exaggeration."
"What a sweet little mini amplifier! In addition to having some fine equipment from benchmark benchmark audio, Rory, the sales manager is an outstanding human being, and he knows his Audio stuff! On my initial hook up where I had questions I have an issue where I have a questions, he always the answers which solved all my initial concerns, I couldn’t be happier with the customer service and products, as he always picks up the phone on the first ring. When is that ever happened in the most recent time since Covid? Never, you should really consider buying these products, prior to spending an exuberant amount of money to have power, this unit has it especially bi-amped! All in all, benchmark. Audio hasfantastic Customer Service and always will stand behind their products. I couldn’t be happier with my Purchase, I plan on purchasing more equipment here in the near future. Thanks again for your wonderful support. Darryl SS."
"Arguably, the best amp for HiFiMan Susvara at any price point. Susvara owners looking for an amp should look no further and get the AHB2. It really makes the Susvara shine and shows what it can achieve when connected to the AHB2 with the XLR4-NL4 headphone adapter cable. End game amp for me!"
"I recently purchased the LA4 pre-amp, and the difference from my 18 year-old pre-amp was revelatory. So I decided to replace the matching older amplifier with the AHB2. Although the power decreased from 200 to 100 wats per channel, the improvement in clarity, speed and (I assume) accuracy was astonishing! Plenty of power for my Revel Ultima Studio 2 (at any reasonable listening level), and of course a perfect match with the LA4. The decrease in gain (all XLR chain) from the older amp was easily compensated for by increasing the volume on the pre-amp, with no noticeable noise. There is no hiss coming from my speakers now, and music emerges from a silent background, with improved transient details and spatial resolution. Kudos! The only improvement from here would be to have two mono AHB2's! It's simply amazing how much quality is built into the AHB2 amplifier, for a price that is extremely high in value."
"Over the past year, I’ve been steadily converting my system to an all-Benchmark system, and the results have been stunning. I’m posting this review to the AHB2 page, but it really applies to all the Benchmark products in the signal chain. First, I should mention that I have excellent speakers (GR-Research Bullys) that are well positioned in a reasonably well-treated living room. The speakers have a superb crossover design with excellent parts quality. Their wonderful clarity has allowed me to get the most out of the Benchmark components. At the front end, a PS Audio Powerplant 20 feeds clean power to my system. The rest of the system looks like this: Auralic Aires G2 streamer/server > USB > Benchmark DAC3 HGC > Benchmark balanced interconnects > Benchmark LA4 preamp > Benchmark balanced interconnects > one AHB2 amp running in stereo mode > Benchmark speaker cables > GR-Research Bully speakers. The speaker cables have the NL2 connectors at the amp end and very good mechanically tightening bananas at the speakers. These make solid and secure connections. I had been running very good GR-Research speaker cables (banana-banana), but had trouble with the banana plug interface at the AHB2. I could hear the degradation. I repeatedly switched back and forth to the Benchmark speaker cables, and finally realized that they took some time to fully break in. Now I think the sound through the Benchmark speaker cables is better than the GR cables, no doubt in part due to the excellent connectors. The overall sound of the system is better than anything I have been able to achieve in 20 years of evolution. I now feel that I have finally arrived at a place where I don’t need to go any further. Really! The Benchmark sound with these speakers is crystal clear and very transparent with precise imaging, super NON-FATIGUING detail, wonderful dynamics, and deep soundstage depth. I continue to hear new details in very familiar recordings. I know this sounds like a typical rah rah audiophile review, but these components really have taken the system to a new and much higher level. I should mention that I followed all the directions in the excellent manuals (thank you Benchmark!) as to gain settings and the use of balanced interconnects to get the most out of the system. For what my opinion is worth, I highly recommend these components. At these prices, they are a fantastic bargain. There are some things that could be better: • Full width boxes to make more room in the back. It’s very tight back there and can be awkward to connect and remove cables, especially on the AHB2. • The DAC should be able to handle higher res DSD. I have some DSD 128 files I cannot play, although DSD 64 files play perfectly using DoP. Maybe a DAC4? • I control volume with the LA4. The remote volume control changes volume too fast with no visible levels showing. I often find myself iterating the volume level to get where I want. Acceleration is nice to have, but it needs to be more gradual with visual feedback."
"I needed a new amp, my Bryston was 25 years old and had a failed channel so I decided to but the Benchmark. I didnt expect a huge gain in sound quality for an amplifier upgrade but I was floored by just how much improvement I got and this from some one not expecting a drastic change. From an engineer the design is brilliant, no huge power supply adding cost and weight and it takes a novel approach to amplification that definitely is superior to all I have heard."
"The AHB2 combines exceptional control, transparency, and flexibility in a surprisingly compact package. Setup was simple, integration was effortless, and the configurable gain options made matching it to my system easy. The sound is clean, dynamic, and composed, with excellent control from top to bottom. Add in the small footprint and cool operation, and it’s clear Benchmark put a lot of thought into every aspect of the design."
"Some keywords why I love AHB2 and all other products from Benchmark: ***** Amazing measurements ***** The products' reliability ***** The products' small form factor and great looks ***** Comprehensive user manuals with lots of measurements ***** Great value for money. ***** Benchmark's excellent customer service ***** Benchmark is a company with integrity (anti snake oil)"
"Not my first benchmark product but probably my last. I’m not saying it’s bad in anyway I just don’t think I will ever find a product that will beat the trueness of sound. Last month I treated myself to a full Benchmark set up, a new Dac 3 L and an ABH 2. And with the cable deal a set of 25 foot speaker cables. My intention was to use it with a pair of ls3/5a and I will say the authority and grip was something I had never heard on the little Falcon Acoustics. The next speaker to bring in to play was a pair of retro vintage WE 755a, I know tubes are gospel, 300B running single ended. But this full Benchmark system taught me a thing or two about distortion, I don’t like it anymore. This new dac, amplifier combo has eliminated it. It is so clean and quiet, no hum, no strange pops. Great sound stage, maybe not the widest on all recording, but it’s clear it’s the recording not the set up. It’s even fooling my cats. Tapping foots in recordings are making them look to the area below the speaker, weird. My purchase started out to just say thank you to a great company I just wanted to support in these hard times. Turned out to be an eye and ear opener that’s making my foot tap and a big smile on my face."
The AHB2 sets the benchmark for the lowest noise and lowest distortion in a power amplifier ... at any price.
Benchmark preamplifiers are designed to accept and deliver studio-level balanced output signals, but they also deliver state-of-the-art performance when operating at HiFi signal levels which are typically 10 dB lower.
High-Resolution Playback Begins with an External D/A Converter
Benchmark Studio&Stage™ professional audio cables deliver the high performance required for studio applications while delivering the durability to withstand the most demanding live sound applications.
