Benchmark System Review - Ricky Dasler, Living Sound, New Zealand
Ricky’s Road to Benchmark Electronics and Klipschorn
Benchmark AHB2 Power Amplifier
With over 40 years as an audiophile and more than half those years as a hi-fi retailer, I feel I’ve finally put together a stereo that ticks all my sonic boxes. Those being in order of priority, dynamics, scale, tonal accuracy, fatigue free resolution and soundstage.
For the last 25 years I’ve been fortunate to have a dedicated listening room. I use acoustic treatments from Real Traps, Vicoustic and Primeacoustic.
Both as a hobbyist and audio dealer I’ve owned in my home system many brands. Loudspeakers from Kef, Gale, Magnepan, Naim and Harbeth. Electronics by Cambridge, Rega, Musical Fidelity, Mission, Meridian, McLaren (The NZ brand), Perreaux, Naim, PrimaLuna and Pass. A lot of these were top models at the time and I enjoyed them all for their various attributes. Each one taught me something about music replay in the home.
After years immersed in this exciting, wonderful hobby you tend to develop a sense of which gear may lift you listening pleasure to greater heights. This was true when after being intrigued for years, but never hearing horn loudspeakers I bought a pair of Klipsch Cornwall IV’s in 2021, then a couple of years later a pair of Klipschorn AK6’s. Both these speakers cemented for me that horn’s are the speakers that I enjoy the most.
Another instinct based decision came very recently with the Benchmark brand. It had been on my radar for a few years through glowing reviews, YouTube videos and online forum discussions. Fortunately just when I was ready to go down the Benchmark path Parmenter Sound became the authorised New Zealand distributor. I had got to know Jason well over the years so it was great dealing with him. His knowledge and service are top notch.
My Benchmark components consist of the DAC3 B (connected to a Naim NDS streamer), LA4 line amplifier and two AHB2 power amplifiers run in bridged mono mode. All cables are Benchmark too.
The Benchmark gear in my system has brought what I have wanted in my list of sonic priorities as listed above and then some. They have delivered way beyond what I thought could be possible in my system in my room. I’m delighted and stunned daily as my vast music collection comes to life on a whole new level.
Benchmark products are a genuine bargain in the audio high-end world. Plus you can build a Benchmark system as funds permit. For example you may start with a single AHB2 power amp, then decide to add another for either bi-amping or bridged mono mode. For price vs performance their Dacs are a bargain, and their line amplifiers are special when it comes to vanishingly low noise, construction and ergonomics.
So if you’re looking for great value, compact, solid engineered audio electronics, I suggest you check out Benchmark’s website and learn more about who they are and their products. Or contact Parmenter Sound for any Benchmark information.
By Ricky Dasler from Living Sound, Nelson, New Zealand.
https://uniquelynelson.nz/2021/05/03/30-year-anniversary-for-living-sound/
Parmenter Sound
https://www.parmentersound.com/benchmark-ahb2-power-amplifier
Also in Reviews
Benchmark Converters at Abbey Road - Geoff Pesche
"What are the Latest Advancements in Mastering?"
"Geoff Pesche weighs in on how the mastering team at Abbey Road Studios achieve first-class results." - Mix with the Masters
"The biggest sonic improvement in mastering in the last 5 or 6 years is D/A and A/D converters and that's very very important - what you have at the front and the back of the chain."
"We use fairly new Benchmark converters front and back."
"Abbey Road like a uniformity between the rooms so all of the rooms have the same A/D and D/A conversion."
- Geoff Pesche, Mastering Engineer, Abbey Road Studios
DAC3 Review - Alan Sircom, hi-fi+
"A Damn Good, No-Frills Digital Converter"
"Benchmark Media Systems’ no-nonsense approach to all things audio is rare today."
"Uniformly Good"
"This is a DAC that’s uniformly good at everything. It resolves well, has good imaging properties."
"It makes a balanced, honest sound that allows you to sit and listen to music for hours. That is what makes Benchmark’s products consistently popular with audio engineers. You don’t want ‘bright’ if you sit at a mixing desk 10 hours a day. "
"Leave No Trace"
"It also has the latest version of Benchmark’s jitter attenuation system (UltraLock3) and doubles down on the digital demon with its multi-mode asynchronous USB system."
"Benchmark also uses the distortion compensation facilities built into the ESS chip to reduce second and third order distortion."
"The net result is a DAC that delivers lower distortion, lower noise, less passband ripple, faster signal switching and locking onto signals and a more linear frequency response."
"The Benchmark Media Systems DAC3 B is very much in the ‘leave no trace’ school of good audio."
- Alan Sircom, hi-fi+
DAC3 - Award Nominee - Best Digital Audiophile Product of 2024 (Cost No Object)
2024 Nominees
- Benchmark Media DAC3 B DAC, $1895
- Bricasti M3 DAC, $6000
- Bricasti M19 CD-SACD Player, $10,000
- T+A DAC 200, $7620
- Weiss Engineering Helios DAC, $21,995
"There was some debate about whether anybody can hear the differences above a good Chi-Fi DAC like the Topping D90. Unless you are missing most of your high-frequency hearing, you can hear where a high-end DAC makes a difference."
The Bricasti M3 is a great example of that performance in a $6,000 DAC."
"The Benchmark DAC3 B is an audiophile DAC, with pro audio roots, that punches way above its weight."
