2. amps-preamps
  3. 165459-91807

3D lifelike sound and impeccable measurements - mutually exclusive???

The more I investigate gear the more it seems that it’s easy to get organic involving sound with flesh and body and a 3D immersive soundstage with the right matching of components but it also seems like it necessitates choosing some components that don’t measure well/add colorations/even order harmonics etc My question is are there components (specifically amps/preamps and integrateds) are out there that combine great measurements and in your mind also have that organic immersive sound that really helps many of us get more emotionally involved in the music or are these qualities mutually exclusive? 
clarinetmonster2

Showing 1 response by yyzsantabarbara

yyzsantabarbara
5,026 posts
 
@clarinetmonster2 I love the AHB2 and HPA4. I normally use it with the DAC3B but recently more so with the Audio Mirror Tubadour. It is a big difference with the tube DAC. You hear whatever gear you add or remove with the Benchmark gear or the quality of the source you use. 

Since you hear whatever gear you add I am getting a warmish preamp, the CODA 07x, for a headphone system. However, I will flip it over to my 2 AHB2's connected to my floor standers via a easy XLR change (to mix it up). What I will hear is the CODA dominating the sound not the AHB2.

If someone is looking for a MINT condition white AHB2. I sold a 2 week old (brand new) AHB2 to someone a few days ago. He did not like it for his setup and has it up for sale today. 
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