Amazon is indispensable to me and what Bezos and his wife created is incredible, especially given the road map they laid out in the 90’s. They executed it incredibly well.
However, there is some corruption behind the reviews we read on Amazon. There were some recent reports of Amazon employees taking money to add reviews.
Do not get me started with YELP. |
@kren0006 During the last 3 months, I have been building out 2 systems, 1 bedroom headphone and an office system. The 3rd system for the living room will have to wait until after Covaid (no money for that but it will be the Blade2).
I completed the bedroom system and now on the office system build-out. I bought the Benchmark HPA4 preamp and headphone amp. I loved that piece so much that I decided to get an all-Benchmark system for the office. So yesterday I bought the AHB2 amp. I will get a second AHB2 this upcoming week if I get paid (covaid again). I was considering the Luxman m900u for the office but decided on the smaller form factor AHB2. This maybe hearsay around here but I may like the AHB2 as much as the m900u (different sound though).
I also spoke with a new dealer on the NS5000. Since my room is small and also because another poster here with the NS5000 is having standing wave issues in his bigger room I was wondering what to do. I won’t get into too much detail on this thread but I have a plan now to try out the NS5000 or NS3000 (or maybe a hypothetical NS4000) after the dealer hears back from Yamaha. I will get to demo this in my room.
I should add on this thread that I am considering the Luxman m900u | Coda #16 | Purifi based amp for the eventual downstairs Blade2 system. I will give priority to Purifi based amps over the old guard amps. |
The Krell Duo amps do NOT invert phase.
All the best,
Walter
Walter Schofield
COO | Krell Industries, LLC
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"Benchmark LA-4: $2499 without remote $$$
Benchmark’s usual approach to design is to out-spec the competition, and so it is here. Like other Benchmark equipment he has tested, the affordable LA-4 challenged the resolution of JA’s test instruments, with "superb" channel separation, "extremely low noise, and virtually no power-supply-related spuriae." Restricting his measurement to the audio band, JA found an "astonishing" S/N ratio of 105.5dB for both channels; it remained extremely low across the audioband. He summed up: "Benchmark’s LA4 is the widest-bandwidth, widest-dynamic-range, lowest-noise, lowest-distortion preamplifier I have encountered." In his listening room, KR compared the LA-4 to a cable—and couldn’t hear any difference. He concludes, "the LA4 is probably the most transparent and revealing audio component I’ve ever used. It does not seem to leave any fingerprints on the sound." (Vol.43 No.1, WWW) " A few folks with $20K preamps changing to this one. I was thinking of getting the Mola Mola Makua myself but wanted to hear the LA4/HPA4 since it seemed comparable to the Makua at 1/5th the price. BTW - I mentioned this preamp about 2 years ago on this thread but I got the expected feedback then. Today, a lot of people seem to be coming around to this world beater. That is if you like an uncolored preamp. |
Pretty hilarious that the LA4 is getting some notice on this thread now. When I brought it up 2 or 3 years ago in a post here someone (I think a Canadian dude, like me) trashed my comment and said we are talking hi-end products on here not Benchmark level products.
When I went searching for a preamp for my office system I heard a lot of gear including the incredible Luxman c900u preamp and others in the $20K level. I thought about what I really wanted a preamp to do. Then I narrowed it down to the Mola Mola Makua (near $20K with DAC) and the Benchmark HPA4/LA4. Given the price difference with the Makua and the almost perfect resale value of the HPA4 I bought the HPA4 first for under $2.8K new.
It has exceeded my expectations of what I wanted a preamp to do. That is do nothing to the sound other than providing inputs and volume. It is the finest preamp I have heard and will also be the center piece of the second system I will build in the living room.
The HPA4/LA4 is for people that want to hear exactly what is in the source. NOT EVERYONE WANTS THAT. For me, I do, and every time I play something very familiar, for example, just now I played Van Halen I and Stevie Wonder Talking Book. I think wow, I never heard it this good before. I usually want to play it a second time.
Anyways, Benchmark has a 30 day free trial offer so if you are inclined you can see for yourself if I am full of it. |
I just sold my KRELL K-300i because I had no place to use it. The KRELL pictured above has the old faceplate. The new one is grey lettering with the lettering etched into the metal.
The KRELL XD stuff is great. I am listening to my KRELL Duo 175XD stereo amp now with a CODA 07x preamp (or Benchmark LA4 preamp).
The KRELL K-300i was preferred by me over the 509x. I have not heard the others. Though Stereophile compared the 866 to the K-300i.
The KRELL 175XD sounds even better to me than the K-300i but I have separates in this setup.
I should add that the KRELL 175XD stereo amp and CODA #8 stereo amp are in my office, and I rotate them between my hard to drive Thiel CS3.7 speakers and RAAL SR1a headphones. The CODA #8 has Audience FrontRow speaker wire and the KRELL has Audience Conductor SE (that need to be upgraded to FrontRow). Great sound on both the headphones and speakers.
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@whitecamaross It would be interesting to to hear your feedback with the Benchmark LA4 preamp with any of your amps. I was just conversing with someone that is using the LA4 with the CODA #16 and he loves it.
There are a few people with very expensive systems that are inserting the LA4 over their very expensive preamps ($20K+). A poster on A'gon and a few on WBF have stated this.
The LA4 improved my DACs with a better volume control and since it measures quieter than all my DACs it does not color the DACs sound.
I also have a CODA 07x preamp and it is great. However, I can hear it in my system (sounds beautiful). My Benchmark HPA4 preamp (same as the BM LA4 + headphone amp) makes me feel as if I do not have a preamp in the system. So you can really hear your other gear.
Something to consider by going against convention. |
@viber I do not want to send this thread to a different tangent.
I was not talking about any Benchmark DACs. I have had the DAC1 and hated it. The Benchmark DAC3B which I now have is much better and sound very different from the DAC1. Though the killer DAC I am now using is the Gustard X26 Pro (4 DACs in the house).
I have tested at the same volume level with my DACs direct to amp vs HPA4 preamp. The HPA4 all the way every time.
I also have a SONY SACD/CD player, the incredible Sony SCD-1 modified by Vacuum State 5+. The best I have ever heard this player is connected to my HPA4 preamp.
Back to regular programming. |
@viber6 You are assuming many things. Send me a DM if you want to discuss. I doubt anyone on this thread is interested in hearing this discussion. |
This thread would benefit from getting the Class A CODA #16 in for a shootout. I have the lower end CODA #8 Version 1 ($6K) and it sounds so Luxman c900u/m900u-ish with the CODA 07x preamp.
The #16 seems to be a value based UBER amp that goes head-to-head with the amps on this thread. American made versus a lot of the imported amps that have a lot of costs associated with bringing them into the USA.
A lot of great American amps. |
I will soon have the ricevs modified LSA Voyager. It is actually with Ric being modified at the moment. I am the first in the queue and this will be my first mod by Ric. I am looking forward to these mods because of past experience with another modder who did my Sony SCD-1 SACD player 20 years ago. Those mods made my great player sound incredible, even today (on SACD’s). Ric has a great reputation as a modder on A’gon.
Once I get the Voyager back and compare it on my gear using the CODA 07x preamp. I will send Jay an email to see if he is interested in getting this amp for his own comparison. The Voyager is not heavy and it is my extra amp so I can be without it for a while.
I have 4 amps and the Voyager is my 4th favorite (preference) at the moment. My favorite is the Benchmark AHB2 monos. Second is the the KRELL K-300i integrated and then the CODA #8 is third. These 3 amps do not sound similar.
I have the second tier CODA model and not the top end CODA #16. It makes no sense to send the #8 to Jay since it is not their best effort and also heavy to ship. The CODA #8 sounds a bit like the Luxman m900u to me. It would be interesting for me to have someone send in the supposedly much better CODA #16 to FL for some comparisons.
BTW - the only giant killer gear I own is the RAAL SR1a (paired with the KRELL K-300i). |
@jays_audio_lab I am not sure what speakers you currently have but if they do not go down to 2 Ohm then I can offer my Benchmark AHB2 monos to you for a listen. This will have to happen once I get my Voyager back from the mods.
I can also send the 10 foot Benchmark speaker cables with the SpeakON connections, This is Benchmark’s preferred amp connection. I also have my preferred 3 foot Audience FrontRow speaker wire with SpeakON connections for these amps. The guys at Purifi also recommend SpeakON.
BTW - I got this from the DAC shootout thread. The Bozzio Levin Stevens - BLACK LIGHT SYNDROME is great rock instrumental music and something I plan to use when demoing gear.
I recently sold a 3rd AHB2 I had to a guy who kept it only for 2 days. He hated it and wanted more warmth in his sound. These are no Giant Killers as you can see but I love these amps by a large margin.
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From Benchmark:
DIFFICULT SPEAKER LOADS ARE HANDLED WITH EASEMany loudspeakers have frequencies at which their impedance drops to levels that are much lower than the "nominal" impedance. The AHB2 drives difficult phase angles and low impedances with ease. Stereo loads as low as 1.4 Ohms can be cleanly driven to full output levels. Most power amplifiers produce higher levels of distortion when the load impedance decreases. In contrast, the feed-forward error correction system in the AHB2 keeps the output clean when driving difficult loads. The AHB2 produces almost no measurable distortion at any rated load condition. Before I bought the AHB2’s, I spoke with the designer of the AHB2, talked with AHB2 owners on A’gon about the monos and then made the purchase. Once I had them on my Thiel CS3.7 in a small room no less. They sounded clear, smooth, and beautiful but there is no grunt or bass behind the sound. I put 4 other amps afterwards on this speaker that were rated at 2 Ohms for continuous power delivery. They all made the speaker come alive. I thought the AHB2 sound was still preferred but the other amps made the speakers sound much bigger. These amps had enough power for my Thiel CS3.7: - CODA #8 (current amp) - KRELL K-300i (new XD design and my headphone amp) - LSA Voyager (getting modded) - D-Sonic M3a 800s (traded-in for Voyager) The AHB2 mono can go down to 2,5 ish Ohm for short burst but not continuously so that is why they are not officially rated for 2 Ohm. The AHB2 stereo is officially rated at 2 Ohm but it is not a lot of power (under 300 watts). My speaker eats power. Depending on the power profile of the Wilsons they maybe OK with the AHB2. So I speak from personal experience on the AHB2 monos and stereo with low impedance speakers. I have no problem sending in the AHB2 and/or Voyager. It will be fun to hear another perspective. |
The LSA Voyager 350 GAN may not be available until Oct. I am likely going to let someone borrow it once I get it back this week. He is considering using it at the CanJam audio show in Los Angeles (1 of 4 amps). All of this it dependent on COVID not canceling this show. He really liked the amp before I sent it in for the mods.
The AHB2s are available anytime now. Though I do think that will be a waste of time on this thread. |
If my AHB2 are desired for demo, contact me on A’gon DM and I can get the amps shipped. I must say that I am not that interested in how those will fair. I think they are great amps (my personal favorite) but they will not be that well received in this thread.
The amp that could be giant slayers for this thread could be the CODA #16. I would love to have Jay compare those to his favorite amps. My CODA #8 Version 1 is making me very happy and I say this as someone who was all set on buying the Luxman m900u from a local dealer. I like my AHB2 more than the Luxman m900u and CODA #8 but I am sure I am in a tiny crazy minority in this view. The $6K CODA #8 is almost as good as the Luxman m900u. I can only imagine how incredible the CODA #16 sounds.
The modded Class D LSA Voyager amp is still being worked on. |
When I have some extra cash next year I will try this so I do not speak from experience. However, I think a giant killer is what I have for music streaming. I use Fibre Optic cable and a real crappy backend to serve the music. In theory what I have should be the best setup even without a uber quality music server. I have not yet proved if theory meets practice in this case. Someone who can potentially answer this question for me is a person with a Lumin X1 DAC or the new mega expensive Linn DAC.
Next-generation Klimax DSM | Network Music Players | Linn USA
With regards to the AHB2 I plan on getting new speakers to pair with them for my second system. In this case the speaker selection comes after the AHB2 because my primary motivation is an AHB2 based system. I would love to get the KEF Blade2 but it would not really be perfect with those because I would want more power and maybe more warmth. So the better choice for me would be my second choice the Yamaha NS5000 (12 inch woofer) which has a better power profile to match the AHB2’s and is slightly warm (to me). Wilsons are not even a consideration for me since I an not a fan though I think they will work with the AHB2’s. As I stated earlier, the AHB2 are available anytime to be shipped. |
I have heard the NS5000 a few times because they are available locally though you can get them from 2 online dealers for home demo. They actually look beautiful. I live in Southern California so I can hear any speaker or gear for the most part. Amazing stores in this area. My understanding is that a lot of new speaker companies are standing on the shoulders of Yamaha. I was at a audio manufacturers shop 2 weeks ago and he was the most excited about finding a very old pair of Yamaha studio monitors ($18). He said that those monitors (maybe M10), which he played for me, were likely used in recording most of the music I have ever heard. The NS5000 is the successor to the NS1000 which are considered classics and now only being copied by Parasound Persona. The best speaker I had owned prior to the Thiel was the Revel Salon1 though I like the Thiel much more. My most recent frame of reference for speakers are the following: #1 My favorite is KEF Blade but hard to place for me with my past and current living situation #2 Thiel CS3.7 (I use these in my office now and they are never leaving) #3 Yamaha NS5000 - incredibly coherent for a speaker with 3 drivers. One of the secrets is that the drivers are made from the same material (including woofer). It plays very big and has a lot of great tech in it. It makes musical instruments sound incredibly realistic. Yamaha are a massive piano and other musical instrument manufacturer. I demoed the following for my office but preferred the NS5000 and Thiel CS3.7 (they are all good speakers). - Vandersteen Treo CT - Vivid Kaya 90 - Magico A3 - Paradigm Persona 3F, 5F, 9H (a shame dealer did not setup properly) - TAD ME1 - KEF Reference 1 BTW - The Vivid Giya G1S (with Luxman gear) was a speaker that I liked as much as the KEF Blade though I liked the way the Blades created the soundstage better. It was too expensive and too light for my current needs. GIYA G1 Spirit – Vivid Audio |
@viber I do not have the Voyager sent back to me yet. |
@ricevs Thanks, I am looking forward to hearing the amp. If you get it to me by Friday I maybe able to have it used in some headphone demos at CanJam in Los Angeles this weekend. I would then get it back on Monday. |
I saw that video on the last tier amps and I got to say that the KRELL comments were not clear to me. I was not sure if you referred to the latest amps built after the KRELL K-300i integrated amp. My understanding is that these latest amps sound like my K-300i and should be even better with more power.
The K-300i is a great integrated amp. Very smooth, good details, and very powerful. I use it on a headphone that can be fatiguing (using the amp speaker terminals) . The KRELL is a perfect match for these hard to drive and bright-ish headphones.
My other 3 amps were not as good as the KRELL on the headphones. CODA #8, Benchmark AHB2 mono, LSA Voyager 350 GAN.
The KRELL is also great on my hard to drive Thiel CS3.7’s but I need separates for placement with that speaker.
It took me a while to realize how brilliant the KRELL is. Mainly because I had to much gear and was trying to figure out how best to use it.
It will be interesting to hear this KRELL interview.
BTW - @ricevs is shipping the modified LSA Voyager 350 GAN today. I will get it on Saturday. |
@grannyring Does using footers make sense if the gear is stacked on top of other gear? I have 2 systems on my rack and each set of gear is on when the other gear is off.
I am sure having the gear on the rack base is the suggested best practice but sometimes that is not possible. |
As I suspected, the modded amp "somehow" does not make the trip to WC...
Dave I offered the amp for the shootout a few days ago because I only received it last Thursday from the brilliant FedEx. However, I never heard back and decided to sell it last night to get money together to buy the following (not this amp but the new tube based version of it). Today’s review: Gramophone Dreams #53: RAAL-requisite HSA-1b headphone/loudspeaker amplifier | Stereophile.com I did hear a great "desert island" amp on Monday in Los Angeles. It is better than the modded Voyager, it was the CODA #16. Lucky for me I can upgrade from the CODA #8 to the CODA #16. This amp will likely give any amp reviewed on this thread a run for it’s money. Great amp but not cheap. My future, upgrade to the CODA #16 also made the Voyager redundant in a roundabout way for me. The Voyager was going to be my RAAL SR1a headphone amp but now I am getting the new RAAL-Requisite tube headphone amp (not reviewed above). So another reason to sell the Voyager. I loved the modded Voyager, the mods made the stock sound way better. Great job @ricevs BTW - I put in 72 hours straight on the modded Voyager before I tested it out. I was away on a trip and had the amp playing my FM tuner. The amp itself must have close to 400 hours on it now. |
@bulldogger Did Rhondi tell you when the new amp, KSA i400, is going to be available?
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@bulldogger ROON also has the more powerful Convolution engine to do DSP. The well known, in digital audio circles, Mitch Barnett did my room and speakers remotely from Canada.
https://accuratesound.ca
Though I no longer user the filter after adding an additional acoustic panel and some furniture rearrangement. The filter was great when I needed to use it.
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@viber I believe the new KRELL KSA i400 that is expected next month has 400 Class A watts. It doubles to 800 and doubles again to 1600. I think it will have a rating at 1 Ohm too. However, the 400 Class A watts do not double.
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