News
Axpona 2016
Axpona 2016 - April 15-17, Chicago
You are not going to want to miss this rare opportunity to experience true HD Audio! We have partnered with AIX Records, Dolby Laboratories, Oppo Digital, DH Labs Cables, JVC, and Revel to create the ultimate stereo and surround system.
In the spacious Lakeshore B ballroom we will have a stereo and surround demo featuring 3 Benchmark DAC2 DX digital to analog converters, 5 Benchmark AHB2 power amplifiers, and 5 Revel Salon 2 full-range speakers. Whether you prefer stereo or surround you are not going to want to miss this opportunity to experience an extraordinary system. This is one room you do not want to miss!
THX Achromatic™ Audio Amplifier Technology
Introducing the Benchmark AHB2
The world’s first amplifier featuring THX Achromatic™ Audio Amplifier technology.
Benchmark Media Systems is one of only a few companies whose products have been enthusiastically received by both audiophiles as well as audio production professionals. Their digital converters are used for critical monitoring in professional recording and post-production environments which include the world famous Abbey Road Studios and Skywalker Sound. Benchmark’s converters are essentially free of noise and distortion and when the company decided to launch its first power amplifier, they wanted performance that matched or exceeded that of its converters ensuring that nothing would get in the way of the music. Thus a remarkable partnership of innovation was born between THX and Benchmark, the result of which is the AHB2 amplifier.
Benchmark Celebrates 33 Years!
Celebrating Our 33rd Year!
Benchmark began in 1983 as the "Benchmark Sound Company", a small operation working out of a garage in Garland, Texas.
Our founder, Allen H. Burdick, began by building very high-performance audio equipment to meet the specialized needs of television broadcast facilities. The company quickly grew, and was incorporated as Benchmark Media Systems, March 5, 1985. Benchmark expanded into additional audio markets, and relocated to Allen's hometown, Syracuse, NY. To this day, all Benchmark products are designed, assembled and tested in our Syracuse facility.
"These are the Amplifiers You are Looking For"
"These are the amplifiers that you are looking for."
Rory Rall shows a Storm Trooper the AHB2 power amplifier at the NAMM 2016 Show, and explains the new THX AAA Technology. Rory was heard to say: "These are the amplifiers that you are looking for."
NAMM 2016 DAC2 Giveaway Winner!
And our NAMM 2016 winner is ...
Bennett Prescott
Bennett is Director of
Front End Operations for Sound Forums.
Bennett visited our booth and dropped his card in our fishbowl, never expecting to win. Yesterday was his lucky day!
"About as exciting as email ever gets."
Rory emailed Bennett to let him know that he had won. Here was his response:
"Hey Rory, I checked my email... holy ...! Well, that's about as exciting as email gets. I didn't forget I dropped my business card into the fish bowl, but I had no hope. Hope leads to the dark side, or something."
NAMM Show 2016 - January 21-24, Anaheim, CA
NAMM Show 2016 - January 21-24, Anaheim, CA
The AHB2 power amplifier continues to win awards and accolades. This unique power amplifier features the patented THX AAA(TM) Technology. The amplifier represents the combined efforts of the Benchmark and THX engineering teams, and like all of our products, it is manufactured in Syracuse, NY, USA.
Benchmark's Rory Rall will be on hand to demonstrate the products and answer your questions.
DAC2 L Winner - AES 2015
And our AES 2015 Winner is ...
Rick Slater
Rick Slater from Audio by Rick Slater
Visit us at the AES Convention in NYC - October 29 - November 1, 2015
Visit us at booth 836 and register for a chance to win a Benchmark DAC2 L D/A converter (a $1695.00 value). Drop a business card for a chance to win, one winner per show.
DAC1 HDR winner - Axpona 2015
And our AXPONA 2015 winner is ...
Gary Pinto
It pays to visit the Benchmark room or Benchmark booth at audio shows! At every show we give away a Benchmark DAC to one lucky winner. Just drop off a business card or fill out an entry form - the odds are much better than the lottery!
Here is our winner unboxing his new DAC1 HGC!
After hooking up his new DAC1 HGC, he had the following comments:
"I was satisfied with the sound I was getting from the Sabre DAC in my Oppo 105 while playing lossless wave files, but when I played those same files through the Benchmark DAC I was surprised at how much more detail was present. The Soundstage widened and the clarity was unbelievable. This is definitely a quality product and I would not hesitate to recommend it."
Benchmark is at AXPONA
Visit Benchmark Media Systems in room 322 & the lobby-level Lakeshore Ballroom B at AXPONA, North America's Premier Event for Audiophiles and Music Lovers, April 24 - 26, 2015. We can't wait to see you there!
The Lakeshore B Ballroom will feature a very special multi-vendor high-resolution surround-sound demonstration featuring Benchmark conversion and amplification.
Room 322 is an all-Benchmark room featuring the DAC2 HGC preamplifier, the AHB2 power amplifier, and SMS1 speakers. Visitors to room 322 are eligible to win a Benchmark DAC1 HDR.
Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 2014 - DAC1 Drawing Winner
And our RMAF 2014 winner is ...
Dan
Dan won a DAC1 HDR by participating at our drawing at the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 2014.
We give away one Benchmark DAC at every audio show. Visit our booth or room for a chance to win.
2014 AES Show - Los Angeles
Stop by our booth and listen to our new AHB2 and SMS1. The Benchmark Pre-Engineered System High-Resolution Audio Music System is something you can't miss. Make sure to tell your friends too!
Benchmark AHB2 Update
Live Demonstration - September 24, 2014
The AHB2 and SMS1 will be demonstrated at the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest October 10-12, 2014. Come experience this stunning combination in person. Meet Sales Manager Rory Rall and Speaker Designer Dave MacPherson. Enter to win a Benchmark DAC (1 winner per show). We will be accepting orders for the AHB2 at the show.
The AHB2 and SMS1 will be on display at the AES Convention in LA October 9-12, 2014. Stop by booth 1421 to meet John Siau and other members of the engineering team. Enter to win a Benchmark DAC (1 winner per show). We will be accepting orders for the AHB2 at the show.
Audiokarma Discussion: Benchmark DAC - is it really "lean, cold, analytical and dry" sounding?
Audiokarma Member, RichPA
Computer Audiophile Thread: Interesting Article on 24-bit depth and sampling rates from Benchmark's John Siau
In case you hadn't seen it, it's worth a quick read for those trying to stay up with some of the bit-rate/sample-rate discussions we've had here: Audio Myth - "24-bit Audio Has More Resolution Than 16-bit Audio" - sdolezalek
Everything Audio Network Uses 3 AHB2 Amplifiers for Surround-Sound Demonstration
What’s the value of HD video without accompanying high-resolution sound?
Home theater screens continue to get bigger and the pixels multiply; it was only yesterday that 1080p was the standard and now 4K is gaining prominence. However, home audio sound technology hasn’t kept pace.
DAC1 Winner - Capital Audio Fest 2011
Our Capital Audiofest DAC1 Winner is ....
Matthew Wong
Garry Gill, Capital Audiofest with Matthew Wong
"I have built my own music server and loaded it with FLACs and connected it to the Benchmark. Works great!"