@kijanki I had the DAC3 HGC and the AHB2 with KEF LS50’s. It was great.
I now have the DAC3B (no volume control) and the Benchmark HPA4 headphone amp and preamp. The headphone stuff is incredible with the HPA4 and I used to hate headphones.
I am now temporarily using the amp section of my PeachTree NOVA 150 integrated (a quiet amp) to drive my KEF LS50’s with the HPA4 + DAC3B. I maybe crazy to say this but I think this current combination sounds as good as the DAC3 HGC + AHB2 + KEF LS50 setup I had years ago.
What I think I am hearing is the importance of the source (HPA4) in the chain compared to the role the amp plays in the overall sound. Some people have posted that if the source signal is degraded then you can never fix it. Maybe that is what I am hearing now.
The HPA4 or LA4 are incredible units from Benchmark. I will be getting the AHB2 again in late July 2020 to complete the system but what I have now is shockingly good.
BTW - I was under the impression that the volume control on the HGC DAC's were analog based.
@hornps I have done DAC straight to amps and always preferred a preamp. You should consider doing a 30 day trial on the Benchmark LA4 or HPA4 preamp to see how it will transform your DAC. It is $2500 or $3K. I blows the doors of my old BAT VK-42SE SS preamp. Do not let the low price of the Benchmark gear fool you. The volume control on the Benchmark has 256 steps and I doubt you can find a quieter audio component.
I now have the DAC3B (no volume control) and the Benchmark HPA4 headphone amp and preamp. The headphone stuff is incredible with the HPA4 and I used to hate headphones.
I am now temporarily using the amp section of my PeachTree NOVA 150 integrated (a quiet amp) to drive my KEF LS50’s with the HPA4 + DAC3B. I maybe crazy to say this but I think this current combination sounds as good as the DAC3 HGC + AHB2 + KEF LS50 setup I had years ago.
What I think I am hearing is the importance of the source (HPA4) in the chain compared to the role the amp plays in the overall sound. Some people have posted that if the source signal is degraded then you can never fix it. Maybe that is what I am hearing now.
The HPA4 or LA4 are incredible units from Benchmark. I will be getting the AHB2 again in late July 2020 to complete the system but what I have now is shockingly good.
BTW - I was under the impression that the volume control on the HGC DAC's were analog based.
@hornps I have done DAC straight to amps and always preferred a preamp. You should consider doing a 30 day trial on the Benchmark LA4 or HPA4 preamp to see how it will transform your DAC. It is $2500 or $3K. I blows the doors of my old BAT VK-42SE SS preamp. Do not let the low price of the Benchmark gear fool you. The volume control on the Benchmark has 256 steps and I doubt you can find a quieter audio component.