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by Benchmark Media Systems June 15, 2016 2 min read
"Spectral behavior does not seem to change significantly with a 4-Ohm load at its outputs."
"This stable and load-independent behavior of the output stage is something not often encountered and adds, of course, another positive point for the device."
"AHB2's output power, near its clipping limit, was measured at 108Wrms per channel into 8 Ohm loads and at 190Wrms per channel at 4 Ohm loads, easily confirming the specs given by the company itself."
"Based on this performance, the amplifier seems more than capable of driving difficult loads."
"Damping factor was estimated above 200, therefore, no system frequency response discrepancies, due to loudspeaker's impedance variability, should be expected."
"In distortion measurements, AHB2's behavior was impressive with a total harmonic distortion and noise (THD+N) figure at 0.0009% for 8 Ohm loads and 0.0012% for 4 Ohm loads (measured at 1/3 of its maximum power) and harmonic distortion at 0.0005% and 0.0009% for 8 and 4 Ohm loads respectively."
"Intermodulation distortion (SMPTE) was also low, at 0.0005% and 0.0007% (8/4 Ohm loads). This performance clearly shows that the Benchmark/THX design approach works in practice as intended (at least from the distortion point of view) and the result is a power stage with very low distortion, indeed."
"The frequency response of the amplifier (with an 8 Ohm load) was practically flat with a slight attenuation towards the high-frequency part of the spectrum which is very progressive and does not exceed 0.3dBr at 60kHz."
"The noise performance of the amplifier was, also, top-class. With a reference level corresponding to 1Wmrs/8 Ohm, the signal to noise ratio was measured at -109dBr (A) (with a 1kHz input signal) and the dynamic range at 129dB."
"In both spectrum graphs, there is an apparent absence of noise components from the power supply and their intermodulation products in the low-frequency range (the 50Hz component is hardly distinguishable), all of them being below -130dBr. This is a remarkable behavior, especially with the output stage under load conditions, which justifies the choice of a switch-mode power supply."
"Finally, the square wave response shows a very good transient behavior, without any particular problem. Slew rate was estimated at 16V/uS and rise time at 3.5mS, a value that corresponds to a conventionally calculated bandwidth of 100kHz."
- Dimitris Stamatakos, AVMENTOR.net
by Benchmark Media Systems September 15, 2023 1 min read
"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."
- Stereophile, 2023
"Much more apparent low-level detail in already-familiar recordings" - Kalman Rubinson
"A tonal balance that sounded more 'right' than any of [the other amps on hand]." - Kalman Rubinson
"An extraordinary amplifier." - John Atkinson
by Benchmark Media Systems September 15, 2023 1 min read
"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.'"
"Benchmark's LA4 is the widest-bandwidth, widest-dynamic-range, lowest-noise, lowest-distortion preamplifier I have encountered." - John Atkinson
"In his listening room, Kalman Rubinson compared the LA4 to a cable—and couldn't hear any difference. He concludes, 'the LA4 is probably the most transparent and revealing audio component I've ever used. It does not seem to leave any fingerprints on the sound.'"
- Stereophile, 2023
by Benchmark Media Systems September 15, 2023 1 min read
"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!"
- John Atkinson
"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."
- Stereophile