Benchmark AHB2 Power Amplifier - Benchmark Media Systems, Inc.
This should divide opinions. Either the best measuring commercial amplifier on the planet or cold, sterile and souless. Or for me too expensive 🙂
Based on the weight (only 7 kilos) and size (only 2RU height) it's probably chock full of switching mode subsystems. Based on the audio performance, it's likely a class A with class D driven PS rails. BTW, 0.0001% at 1KHz is nothing really outstanding, if a generous output stage is included (class A, or even class AB). The 1KHz loop gain doesn't change much, even if the ULGF has to be lowered for stability reasons (the usual trade when adding output devices). HF distortion specs are conveniently skipped 😛.
Scott, i had read with a lot of interest so many of your application notes since so many years, that i feel you like a member of my family ;-)
My best wishes of hapiness to your son. Is he working in electronic area ?
Yes, software.
Congrats Scott, are they living in the US?
Yes, right here near us in Arlington MA.
HF distortion specs are conveniently skipped 😛.
The published specs are very carefully cherry picked. But everyone does that in audioland 🙂.
3-4ppm is NOTHING at 1K.
I have to go "worst case" 20k/4r to get anything beyond 10ppm @ 100w.
Just a bit of "puffery" (I saw the marketing).
OS
I have to go "worst case" 20k/4r to get anything beyond 10ppm @ 100w.
Just a bit of "puffery" (I saw the marketing).
OS
I did say 'commercial'. There are plenty of designs posted here that are above almost anything you can buy.
I did say 'commercial'. There are plenty of designs posted here that are above almost anything you can buy.
But do they not want to give an honest price --> performance "bang
for the buck" ... or are they relying on on pure "puffery" (customer
ignorance) ?
This is what I have tried very hard to END (read my builders impressions).
OS
well $5k whilst not bang for the buck in my book is cheap by high end standards! But we all know every once in a while an honest audio company appears. It rarely lasts.
Benchmark built a lot of the signal chain of America's NPR, my radio of choice. They're a small outfit that builds things in-house and has a solid reputation. I'm sorry to see folks ragging on them for no real reason.
Chris
Chris
As some recall, I bought a used Mastering recorder a few months ago. When I played music thru it, it sounded dull, lifeless. I opened it up to see if I could mod it in some way but gave up and didnt do anything. It used mostly 5532/4 opamps for analog processing.
That was first time I heard a product with those opamps. Gnerally, I go with descretes for audio.
That someone thinks it is fine is not relevent to Me. And, does not change my perception of what I hear. Once again we have data from other people that is perceived same way. That is part of the meta-data I refer to. There are a significant number of people who hear this or that exactly the same way.
[note that significant does not have to be the majority]
The 5532/4 resembles 'compressive' behaviour which results in life-less sound quality.
THx-RNMarsh
That was first time I heard a product with those opamps. Gnerally, I go with descretes for audio.
That someone thinks it is fine is not relevent to Me. And, does not change my perception of what I hear. Once again we have data from other people that is perceived same way. That is part of the meta-data I refer to. There are a significant number of people who hear this or that exactly the same way.
[note that significant does not have to be the majority]
The 5532/4 resembles 'compressive' behaviour which results in life-less sound quality.
THx-RNMarsh
Last edited:
there were a significant number of people who believed in witchcraft for centuries after the Church pronounced they didn't exist - enough to burn tens thousands as witches in Europe
even today hundreds accused of witchcraft are killed yearly - one even just this week in the US
the 5th century Synod of St. Patrick ruled that 'A Christian who believes that there is a vampire in the world, that is to say, a witch, is to be anathematized; whoever lays that reputation upon a living being shall not be received into the Church until he revokes with his own voice the crime that he has committed.' A capitulary from Saxony (775-790 CE) blamed these stereotypes on pagan belief systems: 'If anyone, deceived by the Devil, believes after the manner of the Pagans that any man or woman is a witch and eats men, and if on this account he burns [the alleged witch]... he shall be punished by capital sentence."
even today hundreds accused of witchcraft are killed yearly - one even just this week in the US
Last edited:
Just what I was thinking. How-can some criticize an amp without measuring/listening to-it ?Benchmark built a lot of the signal chain of America's NPR, my radio of choice. They're a small outfit that builds things in-house and has a solid reputation. I'm sorry to see folks ragging on them for no real reason.
I would not qualify-it like this. Or, if it is some kind of compression, it affect microcontrasts only. Because it don't look like this OPA is lacking current on basses, for example, and no problem on global dynamic neither.The 5532/4 resembles 'compressive' behaviour which results in life-less sound quality.
To find an equivalence in photography, it should be a lack of "clarity" and "vibrance".
No Idea from where it can come, or what happens. Measurements looks OK.
there were a significant number of people who believed in witchcraft for centuries after the Church pronounced they didn't exist - enough to burn tens thousands as witches in Europe
even today hundreds accused of witchcraft are killed yearly - one even just this week in the US
Oh, Pleeease. We are talking about listening perceptions in common.... not spiritual beliefs in common. Listening perceptions in this day and age. I dont see the connection you are trying to relate this to. Dont bother to elaborate.... its an old ploy that doesnt hold water IMO.
THx-RNMarsh
Last edited:
I would not qualify-it like this. Or, if it is some kind of compression, it affect microcontrasts only. Because it don't look like this OPA is lacking current on basses, for example, and no problem on global dynamic neither.
To find an equivalence in photography, it should be a lack of "clarity" and "vibrance".
No Idea from where it can come, or what happens. Measurements looks OK.
OK. I was wondering if the cfa greater clarity reasons may apply to lack of it in 5532. Just a thought... if there is a thread of connection that relates. But we hear it same way.
THx-RNMarsh
I liked the BenchMark one and even better the two DAC that I was thinking about thier power amp but when they didnt publish full specs and still have not...... I decided not to buy. Too fishy..... though BenchMark has done some very good work. Still waiting for more info from them or someone who was able to test one.
THx-RNMarsh
THx-RNMarsh
- Status
- Not open for further replies.
- Home
- Member Areas
- The Lounge
- John Curl's Blowtorch preamplifier part II