Reviews

"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

AHB2 - "I love, I love, I love my Benchmark Power Amps!"

- Theo Nicolakis, Audioholics Online A/V Magazine

Theo uses a pair of AHB2 power amps in bridged mono (480 W into 6 Ohms) to drive a pair of Revel Ultima Salon2 loudspeakers ($20,000/pair). This is his reference amplifier-speaker combination.

Watch the video to find out why he loves his AHB2 amplifiers:

DAC2, HPA4, AHB2 - "The Benchmark Hi-Fi Stack ..."

"Find a Better Hi-Fi Stack! Double-Dog-Dare you!"

- Ron, NewRecordDay.com

AHB2 - "Reveals All"

Jay discusses the sonic tradeoffs between transparency and the sound of tube-induced distortion. He describes how his tube amps may make poor recordings sound enjoyable while the AHB2 reveals all.

HPA4 - "Speeding Up My Work, Helping Me Make Better Decisions"

Award-Winning Composer, Ken Jacobsen, Talks About His Benchmark HPA4

"I don't think it is sterile sounding at all ... it is very neutral."

"In the studio, neutral, flat and detailed are on the top of my list."

"The HPA4 is speeding up my work, helping me make better decisions."

 - Ken Jacobsen, Ken Jacobsen Music

AHB2 - "I Purchased Two Units With My Hard-Earned Money"

"The highest compliment I can give to AHB2 is that I purchased not one, but two units with my hard-earned money. These weren’t loaner units and this wasn’t a sponsored review and you can draw your own conclusions."

"The AHB2 might look small and lightweight, but thanks to its clever engineering and power supply implementation, this little fellow could still deliver 190 Watts in 4 Ohms and 100 Watts in 8 Ohms, while maintaining an undetectable noise floor and distortion."

"For the craziest folks out there, you can even bridge two pieces together for ~580 Watts in 4 Ohms and 380W in 8 ohms."

- Sandu Vitalie, SoundNews.net

DAC3 B - 10 DACS, 10 Judges, 1 Winner

Alpha-Audio.net tested 10 DACs side-by-side. Only one received the "Alpha-Audio Approved" award. That DAC was the Benchmark DAC3.

DAC3 B - "Alpha-Audio Approved!"

"Are you looking for the best DAC (d/a converter) in the price range from 1500 euro to 2500 euro? That’s great! Because we’ve put ten beauties side by side. And we tested it live on camera for you."

"It was incredibly instructive to put so many converters side by side. We clearly hear differences - and the viewers could as well."

"One of the models we all agreed on is the benchmark DAC3. This is a delicious musical product. Virtually no coloring, nice stereo image and plenty of inputs."

HPA4 - "The One to rule them All!"

"Today, is a very special day for me, since I believe I am hearing the best overall performance out of my headphones."

"The distance performance-wise between HPA4 and my second-best headphone amp is Night and Day!"

"This headphone amplifier and line pre-amplifier receives my highest recommendation and scores the highest rank in my book."

"It spoiled me so much, that for the past 3 days I’m waking up at 5 A.M. so I can listen, tap my feet and head-bang just a little bit more. I for one, started saving for one, I’m sorry but I can’t go back to regular amps."

"Without a doubt Benchmark HPA4 is an end-game, top of the line headphone amp – it’s The One to rule them All."

- Sandu Vitalie, SoundNews.net

DAC2 HGC - "The One to Beat"

"The Benchmark Media DAC2 HGC is one of those components that not only raises the bar, it forces the entire industry to step up their game and move forward."

"While one can expect a fantastic digital to analog converter from the same creators of the classic Benchmark DAC 1, it’s hard to believe this company would also turn out one of the better sounding analog preamps I’ve heard. Combine the fact that you also have a reference class headphone section, and you now have a piece of equipment that is the one to beat."

"Easy recommendation from New Record Day!"

- NewRecordDay.com