Some love for the Benchmark HPA4/LA4

Nice.  Love the HPA4. What headphones are you using with the HPA4?

In my situation John Siau (the Benchmark designer) has indicated speakers like my recently purchased Thiel CS3.7 don't work with mono AHB2 but they do with a single AHB2. I am running with a single AHB2. I am keeping it but I also want to get an amp with more power in the 2 Ohm region for the CS3.7's.

yyz, I have always followed your posts, and am surprised you wound up purchasing Thiel CS3.7s ( not judging, if you enjoy them ). I go dac direct ( through a top model Luminous Audio passive unit ), and my system needs zero additional gain, and has plenty of it. I was part of an organized cable shootout several months ago, and the equipment used was all Benchmark. What I came away with, and many others concurred with my findings, was the total neutrality of the Benchmark gear.......no color of any kind, no editorializing of any kind, just what was on the recordings. Enjoy, be well and stay safe. Always, MrD.

@yyzsantabarbara I have Sennheiser HD800s and Focal Utopia HPs. Two very different HPs and they both sound great with the HPA4.

I'm curious what about the Thiels creates a problem for the ABH2 running in mono ?

@mrdecibel

What I came away with, and many others concurred with my findings, was the total neutrality of the Benchmark gear.......no color of any kind, no editorializing of any kind, just what was on the recordings

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That's why they're a reference in music and TV production studios. It's a great way to listen. I change out my Revels to PMC studio monitors for some of the work I do. If I want a warm and engaging movie sound I pull in a pair of Vandersteens. Having a neutral DAC/Pre/Power system really allows you to hear what each speaker's sound.

@mrdecibel I always ways wanted to buy a Thiel CS3.7 from a decade ago. However moving to Santa Barbara into a small beach apartment and then having a baby 4 years ago pushed audio to the backburner. Now that I am "settled" somewhat I have the opportunity to buy some speakers for my office system. My 3 favorite speakers are the KEF Blade, Yamaha NS5000, and Thiel CS3.7.  I also like Vivid .

My acoustically treated home office is small, see my virtual system page, and the Thiel is the speaker with the least amount of bass of the 3, which is good for my room. I was reluctant to purchase Thiel because they are out of business. However, with the help of the long running Thiel thread on Audiogon I learned that there is actually some support in terms of service for old Thiel's. The used unit I bought also had some new OEM drivers put in so it become more attractive.

I am liking the sound of the CS3.7 so far not loving it yet. It could be the lack of amp power. I hope to start the process of applying DRC to my room tonight.  So my Thiel system is evolving. I want it to sound like what I demoed a decade ago. My room could also be a little dead (not sure yet) though I think it is the amp.

@glissando My reference to the Thiel CS3.7 + 2 AHB2's in mono comment came from this post. The poster is Tom Thiel, brother of the speaker designer, Jim Thiel. I also believe Tom was one of the 3 founders of Thiel Audio. 

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/thiel-owners-2/post?postid=2040594#2040594

I was going to get the Focal Utopia but the dealer I bought the HPA4 (also a Focal dealer) told me to try the Meze Empy first. He said it was a great match with the HPA4. I have been told that the Meze is a little darker than many other top quality HPs so it works well with the HPA4. I had to get an after-market cable to get more details out of the sound, a WyWire Platinum XLR.

One of the things I love about this Benchmark stack is that I am loving more music. Old music that I may not have liked as much I love now, such as the first 6 Van Halen records. I grew up with the group so I have heard this stuff a lot before, but now with this gear I love it. Lot of old music has been like a new discovery.

My last big speaker before these Thiel CS3.7's was the first iteration of the Revel Salons (the R2D2 speaker). You must have the Salon2's. My understanding is that Revel has now discontinued the Salons. A real shame if that is true.