PS Audio BHK signature preamp

I have a CODA #16 today (love it). For the BHK preamp I would try the AHB2 over the CODA #8 since I do not like too much warmth. I owned the #8 before.

The AHB2 is available for home trial. I like the top end of the AHB2 over the #8. If your speakers are not very demanding nor do you play very loud then a single AHB2 in stereo would be great. A better version of the AHB2 is the SimAudo  Moon North Collection 761 ($$$)

Instead of the BHK pre, I would have gotten the Benchmark LA4 and paired it with the CODA #8. I had this combo with KEF LS50's a few years ago. I think the LA4 or HPA4 are the best gear Benchmark makes. The LA4 and AHB2 combo are best for me with warmer speakers. 

@signaforce The following link has a comparison of a rather cheap DAC with Chord Dave, which I assume is better than the Qutest. The cheap DAC was mine and it was at a headphone show in Colorado over the weekend (I was not present).

Headphones can really show the ability of a DAC.

https://forum.audiogon.com/posts/2653214  (link is messed up)

 

Another Head-Fi’er, @yyzSB, sent his Schiit Audio Yggdrasil+ OG DAC with Danny, and I got a chance to listen to it not only driving my Immanis through my Zahl HM1 and VM-1a, but also through Danny’s Feliks Audio Envy. It has great tonal density—more than my Dave. And it does bass drum better than I think I’ve ever heard. Not only with the impact of the drum strikes, but the hollow reverb (I mean hollow in a good way here) of the sound of that strike bouncing around inside the drum. Timbre across the rest of the FR, and technicalities, were a touch behind my Dave, with the Yggi+ sounding a hair more digital. But the Yggi+ is also much less expensive and offers insane SQ per $.

@signaforce I have 2 Yggi+ DACs. I got the very last Yggi+ OG sold by Schitt last year and also the Yggi+ LIM.

I have the LIM up for sale and I am also in the queue to get the LIM converted to the More Is Better by Schitt. Whichever happens first will dictate what I do.

I am selling off a bit of gear to buy a new open baffle speaker a friend is releasing.

The quote above is for the OG.

Schiit Audio Yggdrasil DAC - The Absolute Sound

Congrats on the great purchase.

Now you need to not read the forums so that you stay happy wilt your gear.

BTW - I spoke with my friend who had my Yggi+ OG for the past month. This guy has incredible hearing, and I am buying his new speaker line. One reason being because of his hearing. He and some audiophiles compared my Yggi+ OG with the Dave and also the Mola Mola Tambaqui with the best headphones in the world.

The Dave and the Mola are in the $15k region and maybe $20k for the Dave if you add the upscaler (not sure if that was used). He liked the Mola Mola the best but given the price delta he thought the Yggi+ was incredible and the easy choice for him.

I was watching a video with one of the Schitt founders and they are going to release some new features on the Yggi+ lineup in 2026. The existing Yggi+ units are all upgradeable.

@signaforce I am a bit conflicted in recommending the KRELL 300i integrated or the KRELL Duo 175XD (I see my old one up for sale). The reason being that KRELL is a ___show as a company at the moment, so you are taking a risk. Though people like George Myer Audio in Los Angeles can repair KRELL. Since I am close to LA I would likely go with the KRELL.

I liked the KRELL Duo 175XD more than the CODA #8 v1 and the CSiB. I like the CODA #16 over all of them. I have not heard the new CODA S5.5 but it only has 50 watts (with curent) and I always want more power with KEF.

The amp I would like to experiment with you BHK preamp is the new SimAudio 761 from the North Collection. They may sound great together. It is a better Benchmark AHB2 to my ears. The AHB2 would also sound good with the BHK. I used the AHB2 with a Schitt Freya+ tube preamp and KEF LS50 Meta and I really liked it. Though the Freya+ was not my fav gear.

@signaforce I mentioned the KRELL because someone posted a bit earlier about KRELL and CODA. The price of the AHB2 can be had for about $2.5k or less on USAM. Though you can get a 30--day home trial with Benchmark and some other venders for MSRP. With your BHK I think you may really like the pairing.

Benchmark AHB2 amp For Sale - US Audio Mart