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AHB2 - California Audio Show 2019 - "Room of Distinction" - The Audio Beatnik

AHB2 - California Audio Show 2019 - "Room of Distinction" - The Audio Beatnik

"This year’s California Audio Show was one of the more intimate audio shows on the calendar, but it was packed with audiophile ear candy. Among the impressive audio innovations on display were a variety of speakers, tube amplifiers, preamps, and audio accessories."

"Come along with me as I show you my favorite audio products and my picks for the best sound from the 2019 California Audio Show..." - Drew Gagliano

Beatnik Bongos AwardBenchmark CAS 2019 room

AHB2 - Driving Selah Cali4 Speakers - "Room of Distinction"

"I ended up visiting this room more than any other room at the show. I couldn’t help myself; I had to keep coming back for more!"

"Kevin Welsh of Musica Pristina and Rick Craig of Selah Audio put together a room to celebrate the debut of Selah’s new Cali4 speakers."

Benchmark AHB2 Power Amplifier

"Driving the speakers was the Benchmark Media Systems AHB2 power amplifier."

"When I walked into this room, I knew right away that I would be coming back several times throughout the show. Almost immediately, I had a strong emotional connection to the music I was hearing. There was nothing digital or artificial sounding in the presentation; the gear was getting out of the way of the music and it was wonderful. This was the best I’ve heard digital playback sound."

"I ended up visiting this room more than any other room at the show. I couldn’t help myself; I had to keep coming back for more!"

- Drew Gagliano, TheAudioBeatnik.com

Read the entire show report →

 


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by Benchmark Media Systems September 15, 2023

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AHB2 - Receives Stereophile's Highest "A" Rating for Power Amplifiers

"Benchmark's 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."

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"Benchmark's usual approach to design is to out-spec the competition, and so it is here. Like other Benchmark equipment he has tested, the affordable LA4 challenged the resolution of John Atkinson's test instruments, with 'superb' channel separation, 'extremely low noise, and virtually no power-supply-related spuriae.'"

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DAC3 HGC, DAC3 B - Receive Stereophile's Highest "Class A+" Rating

"The DAC3 B is a stripped- down, lower-priced version of the DAC3 HGC, which omits the headphone amplifier, balanced and unbalanced analog inputs, volume, mute, and polarity controls." - Stereophile

"The DAC3 was all about depths, in several respects...I heard deeper into the music."

"All I can say is Wow!"

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"In a Follow-Up, JCA wrote of using the Benchmark processor with the same company's AHB2 power amp—a combination of high source output voltage and modest amplifier gain that he describes as 'optimal for minimizing noise and distortion' —and reported hearing 'richer and more interesting' reproduction of very subtle details."

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