Benchmark LA4 Preamp?

Hello dr_joe,

     I was very close to ordering the Benchmark LA4. I think you’ll probably really enjoy it and I still think it’d work well in my system. About 6 months ago, when I was looking at preamps to replace my Parasound Halo P6, my goal was to try a very neutral and accurate preamp to go with my very neutral and accurate D-Sonic M3-600-M class D mono-block amps.
     But I happened to stop by a local audio/video shop here in Indy one Saturday and listened to the ML5805 integrated amp driving a pair of Magico and then a pair of Sonus Faber speakers on a customer demo. I really enjoyed the sonic qualities and extremely solid and stable imaging I heard that I mainly attributed to the Lumin D2 dac and ML integrated amp, which created the best sound stage illusion I’d ever experienced. The overall sound was very neutral, accurate and detailed but also had just a touch of euphonic sweetness that I really liked.
     This caused me to rethink my preferences and system goals. I thought I wanted absolute neutrality with nothing added or subtracted from the music. I reasoned that any euphonic sweetness should be the result of the music and not imparted by any playback equipment. I still believe in this concept in theory but felt that ML equipment was reproducing music in such a beautiful and natural manner, along with creating such an amazingly realistic 3D sound stage imaging, that I became concerned about whether the LA4, being extremely neutral in character, would be able to match the sound qualities I experienced through the ML gear.
     Long story somewhat short, I decided to buy a used ML 326S preamp for about $5K, knowing the ML 5805 integrated was basically a 326S preamp section combined with a ML class AB amp in a single integrated box, hoping to infuse my system with the same sonic qualities.
     Fortunately, this strategy worked like a charm and I’ve been enjoying music played back on my system more than ever. Just to play it safe, I also bought a new Lumin D2 dac/streamer along with the preowned 326S preamp from this dealer.

Best wishes,
   Tim

     Thanks for the input, yysantabarbara.
     I formerly used a VTL 2.5L tube preamp, with a set of 4 NOS Mullard tubes swapped in, with my very low noise and neutral class D monoblocks. This really allowed the sound characteristics of the VTL and NOS tubes to predominate the overall system sound that I really enjoyed for several years.
     But my system was a combo of music and HT; the VTL had HT/Passthru, I had a separate Parasound AV2500 preamp-processor for 5.1 surround duties and I wanted to streamline my whole system. So, I removed the VTL and the preamp-processor and used my versatile Oppo 105 as a preamp for music, a preamp-processor for 5.1 decoding with surround outputs connected directly to multiple amps as well as a dac and a music server with attached 2TB NAS.
      This system configuration, with audio discs and hi-res FLAC files played back through the Oppo 105, sounds much more neutral but I surprisingly discovered I enjoyed music played through a more accurate and neutral system at least equally as much as through my formerly tube flavored system.
     As a result, I’ve decided to make some major system changes for both music and HT. For music, I purchased a Lumin D2 DAC/Streamer and 18 TB Synology NAS, bought an Oppo 205 to be delivered next Friday and likely a Benchmark LA4 preamp.  I’m even considering buying a used pair of class D Merrill Audio Veritas monoblocks.
     My thinking is this combination of components will create a high quality music system that’s main characteristics will be accuracy, very low noise, very low distortion along with high dynamics. I’m expecting this type of system will provide a soundstage illusion that’s dense, solid and stable that’s perceived as 3 dimensional and natural. However, my main concern is that it may sound sterile if I don’t fully commit to achieving it by investing sufficiently in the research, planning and gear.
     For HT, I’m going to upgrade to a 4K 75" OLED hdtv that, along with the Oppo 205, makes me much more confident in creating a high quality HT system.

Thanks,
Tim

In researching the LA4, I’ve read many reviews pairing it or the HPA4 (which really is just an LA4 line stage preamp with a headphone amp) with the very low noise, distortion and neutral Benchmark ABH2 stereo amp that describes very good neutral overall system results.
I think yy’s suggestion that I try out the LA4 or HPA4 with the ABH2 amp together for a 30 day free in-home trial, before purchasing a used pair of Merrill Veritas class D monos for about $5K, is a good one.
Buying and using the HPA4, rather than the LA4, probably also makes more sense since it would likely be more valuable and sellable, having both preamp and headphone amp capabilities, on the used market just in case an ultra low noise, ultra low distortion and neutral system doesn’t match my admittedly high expectations.
However, I really like the small size, weight, cool running and high electrical efficiency qualities of the class D Merrill Veritas monoblocks. I currently use a pair of class D D-Sonic monoblocks that sound very good but I’ve always been very curious, based on the numerous excellent reviews I’ve read on the Veritas, just how good they’d perform in my system. I also like the fact that I can leave the class D amps on 24/7, always optimally warmed up and ready for music or HT. I don’t think leaving the much less efficient class AB ABH2 amp would be a good idea.
The HPA4 seems like an ideal solution for my system. It’s a high quality, low noise, low distortion and sonically neutral component that will allow me to conveniently select either music or HT playback, like a very high quality HT/Passthru switch. I like the fact that I can connect both the Lumin D2’s and the Oppo 205’s left and right channels into the preamp via their balanced XLR connections and match the input and output gain levels on all of them.
I also believe the much more sophisticated and precise volume control on the Benchmark preamp will easily better the what I consider the rather poor volume control performance of my current Parasound Halo P-6 preamp which I reluctantly needed to add once I added the Lumin D2 to my system.

Thanks,
Tim

Update:

     I’ve realized that I’m currently going through one of those stages, that I believe most of us go through periodically, during which even though our systems are performing very well we, nevertheless, get the urge to shake things up a bit and try something different in our systems just for the fun and excitement of it.

     I thought I had a good upgrade experiment all planned out that I’d enjoy by trying to optimize the low noise, low distortion and neutrality of my system and have some fun listening to determine if this resulted in an even more solid, stable, palpable and 3 dimensional soundstage illusion. The main X factor in this experiment being the insertion of the ultra low noise, distortion and neutral qualities of a Benchmark LA4 or HPA4 preamp in my system to replace my current Parasound Halo P6 preamp.

     After a few days of pondering my planned experiment and my desired results, an even more solid, stable, palpable and 3 dimensional soundstage illusion, I’m currently 2nd guessing my planned experiment and wondering if inserting a used Mark Levinson 326S preamp (for about double the price of the LA4 or HPA4 options) has a better chance of providing my overall system goals primarily for music playback. 

Here’s an older Stereophile review of the 326S: 
https://www.stereophile.com/solidpreamps/106ml/index.html

Here’s an example of one in very good condition currently for sale:
https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649569175-mark-levinson-no326s/

Any thoughts?

Thanks,
Tim

Hello yysantabarbara,

     Funny, I was at Audio Solutions here in Indy last Saturday with a friend listening to and comparing a used pair of blue Magico A3s and a used pair of Sonus Faber Stradivari, both in excellent condition.
     My friend owns an ML585 integrated and he and I both love its sound. But his wife wants him to replace his big Avantgarde Acoustic horns with something more normal looking for their mountain lodge home’s living room in Idaho and I tagged along to help him decide. He’d narrowed his search down to these two speakers and they both are very good.
     For the lengthy auditions, the shop was using their own ML 585 integrated demo amp along with a Lumin S1 DAC and hi-res files. We both agreed the Magico A3s were better performers than the Sonus Faber Stratavari in all categories except bass response and looks. We discussed possible solutions and he opted for the A3s and a pair of 12" REL subs.
     You continue to offer excellent advice, thanks. Extended listening to the ML 585 on both of these speakers convinced me that I really enjoy the excellent sonic character of the ML 585 integrated, too. These listening sessions are the main reason I decided to buy a used ML 326S preamp. I really want to add some of what I consider the general ML sonic characteristics to my system; an overall neutral, detailed and smooth sound with just a touch of bloom along with projecting a solid, stable, 3 dimensional and palpable soundstage that’s realistically and naturally wide and deep. I’m also very impressed with the silky smooth, detailed and extended ML treble response that I never perceived as harsh or bright.
     After hours of auditioning, I’m now completely certain I could happily live with the convenience and very high sound quality of the ML 585 in my system. However, I know I also highly value the added flexibility provided by using separates.
     Ironically, I’ve decided to take advantage of that flexibility while also hopefully obtaining at least a modicum of the excellent ML specific sonic attributes by making the following significant changes to my combo 2-ch music and HT system:system over the next month or so that I’ve already begun:

1. I purchased a 4K Oppo 205, at what I consider a reasonably premium price of $2,100, to replace my 1080p Oppo 105 universal A/V disc player.
2. I purchased a 4K LG 9C 75" OLED hdtv to replace my 1080p 65" Panasonic plasma.
3. I added a Lumin D2 dac/streamer, 20 TB SynologyNAS (currently loaded with 18 TB of music files) controlled by an iPad running a Lumin app.
4. Soon will be purchasing a used ML 326S preamp to replace my Parasound Halo P-6 preamp.
5. Soon will be purchasing a used pair of class D Merrill Veritas mono-blocks to replace my pair of class D D-Sonic mono-blocks.

Fairly significant changes to my combo system that I’m fairly confident will all be worth it by resulting in significant system performance gains.

I’m looking forward to seeing and hearing the results,
Tim

Update:

     My 1st choice remains the ML326S preamp due to the fact that I really enjoy the ML sound characteristics, it has all the functionality I'd like/need and I LOVE the small rather chunky metal remote (the same as the ML585 integrated amp comes with) that fits so perfectly in the palm of my hand.  
     However, I'm a bit concerned that I may not be able to find a pre-owned 326S in very good condition at the $5K price I planned (these new had a msrp of $10K), although I am willing to pay a reasonable premium just for that awesome remote.
     As a result, I've identified the Aesthetix Saturn Calypso preamp as a possible alternative option to the ML 326S.  I'd still likely be purchasing a pre-owned unit in very good condition but it's reassuring to know that the Calypso is still a current Aessthetix product that they continue to manufacture at their facility in California.  
     The Calypso's new msrp price is $4,500 but I've seen pre-owned units offered online for up to $2K less, so either are within my $5K budget.  My only current concern is whether, since the Calypso is a hybrid ss/tube design and uses 2 tubes per channel, it will provide the low noise, low distortion and highly detailed performance I'm desiring in order to create my goal of a soundstage illusion that is wide, deep, dense, solid, stable, 3 dimensional and natural.
      From the numerous reviews I've read on the Calypso, it seems like it's a very high quality performer.  But I was hoping others might chime in with their thoughts on the Calypso as a preamp option, especially if they've had personal experience utilizing a Calypso in their own system.


Thanks,
  Tim

Hello chrissain,

     Yes, I also prefer the detail enhancing qualities of a low noise floor. Thanks for your input since a hiss would drive me crazy, too.
     Fortunately, I found a used Levinson 326S preamp for sale at a local high-end audio shop here in Indy in very good condition and at a reasonable price that’s within my budget.
     I just installed it in my system a few days ago and it’s excellent. Extremely low noise floor, neutral, accurate and very detailed overall without any trace of harshness or brightness. I’m thrilled with it and I’m really digging the sweet remote, too.

Thanks,
Tim

You guys are making me very curious again about the Benchmark low distortion, low noise approach I was originally keen on trying out with one of their preamps. The approach of just getting out of the way and letting the music itself add any sweetening to the overall sound still makes a lot of intuitive sense to me. The results many of you are attaining with the Benchmark preamps just further validates my thinking.on the benefits of overall system neutrality.
I understand that my choice of the ML 326S preamp instead, which I perceive as basically very accurate and revealing but as adding just a touch of sweetness and palpability in general, may stop a few degrees short of absolute neutrality but I still continue to enjoy it very much.
Of course. without actually auditioning the Benchmark in my system I can’t be certain but I’m imagining I’m experiencing a similar level of neutrality with the ML. However, I’m thinking I’ll probably need to just try the Benchmark out to compare and know for sure which preamp I ultimately prefer.

Enjoy,
Tim

Hello yyzsantabarbara,

      And you claim you actually get work done in this so called office?  
     You lost me at Convolution files, it's the first I've heard mention of these.  Could you describe the concept and the audible benefits you perceive from using them?

Thanks,
   Tim