Reviews
Could not be happier with
"Could not be happier with my Benchmark HPA4. I have been looking for the right magic to unlock the potential of my Audeze LCD-4’s. The amount of information I am picking up is downright transcendent. This is one of those “ In Awe” audio moments that stay with you forever. And a printed owners manual . Be still my beating heart. And yet , still a hand-crafted artisanal feel. Took me back to receiving my first David Hafler components in the way back. Thank you for an all-around wonderful experience."
— Eric E. (5/5)
Industry leading transparency, build quality
"Industry leading transparency, build quality and sound quality. Everything I was looking for and better!"
— Christopher G. (5/5)
Unbelievably quiet. Extremely well built.
"Unbelievably quiet. Extremely well built."
— Jon L. (1/5)
I expected the HPA4 headphone
"I expected the HPA4 headphone preamplifier to be good, but I wasn’t prepared for just how incredible it would be. I honestly went back and forth on buying it because of the price, but it has exceeded my expectations in every possible way. Paired with the AUDEZE LCD-5s, the performance is simply amazing. I wholeheartedly endorse the HPA4!"
— Rodger W. (5/5)
Mixing and mastering in headphones
"Mixing and mastering in headphones has never been better! There is no noise, and the detail, imaging, presence, and clarity have never been better. It is much easier to identify frequencies that need to cut in my mixes, and mastering is becoming a breeze."
— Dan G. (5/5)
Not esoteric. It's real
"I'm a mastering engineer. The HPA4 is my center-piece for my listening environment, as it powers my planar-magnetic headphones, and feeds my class A amplifier, and audiophile speakers. When I say the equipment gets out of the way, it's seriously transparent! The relay-based volume control offers perfect left+right signal at all levels, which is and audible life or death criticality to what I do. Having different source options is also great, since I use a well-revered room calibration solution, but I don't need that for my headphones. I also use this to switch to my turntable to enjoy vinyl cuts. I bought the rack-mount version so it can sit in my mastering desk for easy access. It's very tank-like, and I really can't find a fault in it. Every time I use the HPA4, I never get the feeling there's something else better. There isn't—not with this implementation."
— Brian M. (5/5)
Nice unit, strikingly simple to
"Nice unit, strikingly simple to use, but the preamp sounds "thinner" than I expected. Bass is lacking, as is soundstage depth. I think the HPA4 doesn't work well with my 12- year-old first gen iFi phonostage, which had been sympatico with my ancient Adcom preamp & which not-parenthetically had tone controls. I think the Benchmark has revealed weak links in the chain, so my current phonostage is revealed as thin sounding, and I am now considering purchase of a Mod/Wright 9.0 or a Prima Luna phonostage to replace the iFI and cure the (minor) issue. Yes, I know your unit is promoted as very 'neutral" & surely it is that. So the sound is fine, but reviews had lead me to believe I was buying the holy grail."
— J. P. (5/5)
I had the feeling that
"I had the feeling that my TOTL Marantz Processor wasn’t cutting the mustard with music so I decided to give the HPA4 a risk-free trial, given this and the LA4 have the best home theater integration in the game (which Benchmark doesn’t brag about near enough). Cue up some well-recorded music with a lot going that has a sense of the recording venue’s space. For me, I instantly noticed the improved ability to resolve the recording’s atmosphere, harmonics, and decay with the Benchmark. Going back to the Marantz, which is no slouch it turns out and perfectly passable, that same airy information is rendered with a muddled fuzz, not dissimilar to the difference between a compressed .mp3 and a FLAC. On the Marantz, low frequency information is ever so slightly more muddy and unclear. On the Benchmark, everything lands with a little more impact, separation, and definition of leading edges. It’s subtle, and sometimes hard to detect with quick A/B level matched switching, but the difference is there and adds up to a much more satisfying experience with an improved sense of imaging, dynamics, and rhythm. The cost is completely reasonable given this is a state of the art, end game, tank-like, part lab instrument component made in the USA, whose measurements and headphone section likely can’t be improved upon in the audible range. The convenience features are also top notch: 2x 12V trigger ports that can be input OR output, so your processor can turn on the HPA4, which can then turn on your power amp in one button click. 20db in .5 db increments of input trimming so all your inputs can be perfectly level matched, and unused inputs can be disabled entirely. An ultra-low constant output impedance of 60ohms which can drive anything with authority, including a quirky balanced amp I have from the 80s with a 600 ohm input. A small footprint and light weight. Don’t waste your time with passive preamps; you think you’re getting “transparency” without realizing the volume pot is introducing wild impedance swings which compromise the grip on the power amp and lead to frequency response fluctuations. Not so with the Benchmark, a world class component that I highly recommend. Two suggestions for a future firmware update: Please make the volume level be easier to see from across the room, and allow the option of a default input selection when the unit is turned on by 12V trigger."
— Nick (5/5)
Not really a review of
"Not really a review of the HPA4, but of the service/warranty for the HPA4. I had an extended period of issues with the unit, but mistakenly blamed the remote for those issues. Once I happened to understand what really was wrong, it was past the warranty period. I contacted Benchmark and explained the history, which included emails over time about the issue. They handled the repair under warranty, instantly! I mean, turned it around the same day! I could not be more satisfied with their customer relations and service work!"
— Jim B. (5/5)
Great Product. HPA4 sounds great.
"Great Product. HPA4 sounds great. Plenty of power even for Susvara. Great solid state compliment to Envy. Clean and open with plenty of detail, but still organic sounding. I use it literally everyday."
— Daniel (5/5)
