2. amps-preamps
  3. 161097-1604

Some love for the Benchmark HPA4/LA4

Making this thread to show my love for this amazing preamp. Yea, all the use usual descriptions apply. Yadda yadda it is great.

It is 1:15 AM  in the morning and my kid and wife are asleep. I am not cranking it but listening at very very low volume (I have great headphones available but it sounds amazing on the speakers right now).  It is the preamp that is doing the great sound at low volume. I won't get into details., but damn this is something special. I am on my 4 or 5th scotch but do let that cloud your perception of what I am saying. I knows what I am talking about.

You guys going direct to amp from DAC. Put this into the circuit (for $2500) and tell me it is not better.
yyzsantabarbara

Showing 5 responses by kren0006

kren0006
1,859 posts
 
This thread is getting zero traction.  Too bad, I wish it would.  There must be folks out there that like Benchmark???

Trying to help by bumping this up again...

yy, which do you think is the higher performer, to extent such a comparison is even possible -- ahb2 or la4?  Which one is more of a giant killer I guess?  
kren0006
1,859 posts
 
What are you using for amp/source/dpeakers?

what other preamps did you compare against, if any?
kren0006
1,859 posts
 
Interesting.  Many of those are in different price tiers.
kren0006
1,859 posts
 
Interested to see which you pick between 900u or Coda.  All good stuff.
kren0006
1,859 posts
 
Are LA4 and HPA4 identical in the preamp function, the only difference being HPA4 adds headphone amp? Or other there other differences?

Edit:  nevermind.  Found the answer on benchmark site that yes, they are identical other than the headphone outputs.
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