OK – I did a bit of research by reading and asking questions on AA and AVS forums, plus I read reviews, although these were few far between for the Benchmark. The SETs are pretty quiet but the Benchmark is reported to be MUCH quieter – at 130 dB possibly the quietest amplifier on the market. Consequently a very high signal to noise ratio is needed. Partly as valves (I call them valves, you probably call them tubes) don’t last for ever and are costly to replace, partly as it takes time to switch them on and wait for warm-up and partly because Avantgarde’s own electronics are all solid state.Īvantgarde Uno speakers have very high efficiency (102 dB) and so don’t need megawatts to power them. Why? Because I thought that I’d have it on much more of the time and would listen to more music. I’ve recently been looking for a solid state amplifier as an alternative to my 845-based Single Ended Triode monoblocks (Consonance Cyber 845s) with my Avantgarde speakers. Peterī enchmark AHB2 with Avantgarde Speakers – What a Disappointment! I'll follow up with a list of other amps I've had in my Avantgarde system (Unos until last year, now Duos) including NAD and Accuphase. I'm sure it's a great amp in many systems, but it failed to impress with my AGs. It was written 4 years ago and the Benchmark was the first SS amp I'd tried. Firstly let me offer you the "review" I did (in another forum) after buying the Benchmark. Let your ears be your guide."ĭealer for: Aqua Hi-Fi, Aurender, AudioQuest Cables & Power Products, Berkeley Audio, Block Audio (distributor), Boulder Amplifiers, Bowers & Wilkins (B&W), Bryston, Clarisys Audio Loudspeakers (distributor), Classe’ Audio, Degritter Record Cleaning Machines, Enleum (Bakoon), Esoteric, Finite Elemente, FirstWatt, Focal Loudspeakers and Headphones, Furutech, Fyne Audio Loudspeakers, GigaFoil, Harbeth Loudspeakers, Hegel, HiFi Man, Innuos, ISO Acoustics, Keces Power Supplies, Kharma Loudspeakers and Electronics, Koetsu Cartridges, Kuzma Turntables, Lumin, Luxman, Magico Loudspeakers, MBL Speakers & Electronics, MSB Technologies, MySonicLabs Phono Cartridges, Naim Audio, Nordost Cables, Ortofon, Pass Labs, Quadraspire, Rega Turntables and Electronics, Shunyata Research, STAX, Stein Music Products, Stillpoints, Soulution, VAC, Vicoustics, Viva Audio, VPI Industries, WireWorld Cables. "We can hear everything we measure, but we can't measure everything we hear. It certainly wasn't the worst of the dozen or so amps I bought or borrowed after deciding to move from tube to ss, but it certainly wasn't the best, even at similar prices. Just make sure you get a decent period of home trial before your buy. You may detect the suggestion that this amp seems to be more dependent on its partnering equipment than most amps. However read carefully between the lines of its reviews. Having said this, nearly all reviews have been favourable and it is listed as Stereophile A recommended. In fact, I've concluded that my fellow AG owner is obsessed with silence to the extent he seems to overlook more important factors. It has great features in particular the easily adjustable gain setting, it is nice and small, offers ample power for efficient speakers and it is dead silent. Sadly, I found it dull and lifeless to the extent I was inclined to turn DOWN the volume - surely the kiss of death in hi-fi! At the time there were no reviews and I rather jumped the gun after seeing its great features and the recommendation. I bought mine after a fellow Avantgarde speaker owner waxed lyrical about his new purchase. Let me say that my experience is only that and others may love their Benchmarks! Good and solid, but I never found them to be particularly engaging. They've also been partnered with Dynauido NA for some time, now, IIRC.Īgree with you on the sound signature of Benchmark. Lots of reviews and ads recently though.I've heard quite a bit of T+A and I agree they are excellent. People in the US simply do not know how amazing T+A is yet. On the flip side, the T+A will definitely be harder to sell on the used market then Benchmark. The amplifier is very much in the same vain as the DAC. As opposed, the T+A DAC is a completely different world in both quality of construction and musical inviting sounding gear. They were good solid DACs and the customer service is top notch! However, sound wise I always felt they were very sterile and not what I would call musical sounding. Same price range ($2999 compared to $3200), similar physical size, better amp.įull disclosure I never owned a Benchmark amplifier but did research them a while ago.
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