AHB2 Award - "Class A Recommended Component", Stereophile

AHB2 Receives Stereophile's Highest Rating!

"Class A Recommended Component, 2016"

"The AHB2 makes use of THX Corporation's Achromatic Audio Amplifier (AAA) technology, in which a low-power feed-forward amplifier drives a low-bias class-AB output section, the latter energized by a system of class-H power-supply rails that deliver power in response to demand - resulting in an extremely efficient amplifier capable of robust power output."

"More apparent low-level detail" - KR

"In his listening tests, Kalman Rubinson discovered 'much more apparent low-level detail in already-familiar recordings' - a characteristic he credited to the Benchmark's evident noiselessness - and a tonal balance that 'sounded more right' than any of the other amps on hand."

"An extraordinary amplifier" - JA

In measuring the AHB2 and attempting to confirm its specified very high signal/noise ratio, John Atkinson observed nonlinearities in his testing equipment that 'Haven't affected the measured performance of other amplifiers I've tested, but they were detectable with the AHB2's very low intrinsic distortion and noise.' His conclusion: 'an extraordinary amplifier.'"

"Kalman Rubinson's last word: 'bargain'"

- Stereophile 2016 Recommended Components, April 2016

Read the Stereophile Review →

Read the Stereophile Bench-Test Report →

Stereophile's Rating System

Stereophile rates recommended components by placing them in one of 6 classes; A, B, C, D, E, and K. Of these, the highest rating is "Class A". Benchmark shares this small and elite class with amplifiers costing 10 to 20 times more than the AHB2.

Stereophile's Definition of "Class A"

"Best attainable sound for a component of is kind, almost without practical considerations; 'the least musical compromise.' A Class A system is one for which you don't have to make a leap of faith to believe that you're hearing the real thing."