Reviews

DAC3, AHB2 - Driving Note Line Array

"The afternoon before the start of the show I ran into John Siau of Benchmark Media Systems. He says to me quietly, “make sure you stop in our room, we have a surprise!” With curiosity suitably piqued, Co-Editor Jim Clements and I paid a visit ..."

"The results were pretty astonishing. A stable, enveloping stereo image that was devoid of any distortion whatsoever."

- Carlo Lo Raso, Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity

DAC3 B and AHB2 - Driving Laufer Teknik Note Line Array

Two AHB2 bridged-mono amplifiers were driving the 4-Ohm line arrays (48 drivers per side).

"Sound was extremely well-integrated and controlled, and the bass memorable."

"The Note received signal through Benchmark Media's AHB2 power amps, DAC3 B D/A processor, and interconnects."

Two DAC3 B Converters - One for the Array, and One for the Subs

Two AHB2 Power Amplifiers - Bridged Mono Mode - One per Array

"The system sounded super on a 16/44.1 file of the famed rendition of Copland's Fanfare for the Common Man, recorded by Eiji Oue and the Minnesota Orchestra for Reference Recordings."

- Jason Victor Serinus, Stereophile Magazine

DAC3 B, AHB2, Note Line Array - "Most Immersive Listening Experience"

"The most immersive listening experience I had the entire show."

"There is no sweet spot because everywhere is the sweet spot. Even behind the speakers sounded incredible!"

"SVS Subs doing the low end work and Benchmark 380 watt class H monoblocked amps driving the arrays."

"I spent an extended amount of time in this room."

- LongLiveAnalog, r/audiophile on Reddit

DAC3, AHB2, ESL 11A - "A Well-Curated Sound System"

"That’s what Benchmark Media had put together in Chicago for AXPONA this year in room 670 at the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel: a smooth, curated system... to showcase their AHB2 power amplifier, running here in bridged-mono mode and being directly driven by their DAC3 HGC DAC/headamp/preamp."

"The ESL 11A presents a unique challenge for amplifiers... making sure those big curved ‘stat panels are being given not only the watts they need to perform best, but the current as well. Here the AHB2’s linear amplification design excels, as a pair running in bridged-mono delivers 480 watts into six Ohms, and 29 A (peak) of current/channel."

"Whether there was rock, jazz, classical, or even electronic playing while I was in the room, the Benchmark DAC/Pre/Power combo had a way with digital files that seemed to never put a foot wrong, and maintained a balance between resolution, dynamics, and believable acoustic warmth in instruments, and vocals."

"Aurum Cantus’s new V80F loudspeaker is a 3-Way floor standing speaker using the award winning Aurum Cantus wide-band aluminum ribbon tweeter technology."

DAC3 HGC and Mono AHB2's - Driving V80F Loudspeakers

The system used one Benchmark DAC3 HGC (DAC/preamp) and two Benchmark AHB2 monoblock power amplifiers.

"Great acoustic synergy in this configuration."

- Jay Luong, AudioBacon.net

"Dana Cables, Benchmark, and Aurum Cantus joined forces at AXPONA 2018 to deliver a memorable sound."

AHB2 (Mono Mode) - Driving Cantus v80F Towers

"Fast, precise, and nice harmonics is what my notes say."

- Steven R. Rochlin, Enjoy the Music.com