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Sound Impressions - Benchmark HPA4/LA4 in use with a quality vinyl rig?

I’ve read a number of posts about the HPA4 and LA4 inside and outside of Audiogon. Plus, a number of professional reviews. However, the vast majority of these are using DACs instead of phono stages, as well as solid state amps instead of tube ones.

So, I’m curious to see if I can get some feedback from those of you who may own one of these Benchmark line stages with a nice analog rig. I do realize that many consider the LA4 to be a straight wire revealing both the recording and your system. So, without engaging in a 30- or 60-day trial period off the bat, I would first like to get anyone’s impressions about how well these line stages sound with your vinyl, and tube amps.

And, does it make sense to combine the design philosophy of a HPA4 with that of my vinyl rig? The HPA4 would be in-between these…Tron Seven Phono, TW-Acustic 300B SET mono blocks.

Thanks,

Kenny

 

kennythekey

Showing 3 responses by yyzsantabarbara

yyzsantabarbara
5,026 posts
 

Send Rory Rail an email at Benchmark and ask him. He may be able to point you to some examples of such use cases.

 

 

yyzsantabarbara
5,026 posts
 

I had some fatigue issues with the system that had the LA4. I tried changing difference speaker cables and that resulted in the issue moving around to different frequency levels. I bit the bullet and bought the Audience Front Row speaker cable that I used in my other system and the fatigue issue I had went away.

My system is as follows:

Yamaha NS5000 speakers | Benchmark HPA4 preamp | Schitt Yggi+ OG DAC | CODA #16 amp | Audience FrontRow speaker cable | Benchmark XLR and Audience AU24 SE XLR.

Changing any of these non-HPA4 components resulted in an easily noticeable change in sound. The HPA4 let me hear everything, without any fatigue or sheen with my current gear.

yyzsantabarbara
5,026 posts
 

Another preamp I can suggest is the Holo Audio Serene. It is very similar to the HPA4 with a tinge of warmth. It actually measures a bit better than the HPA4. I wanted to get a second HPA4 for my office system, but I thought I would try the Serene to have some variety.

It is not much different than the HPA4, but a few people have posted that they like it over the HPA4. I would not say that both are exactly what I want.

I use the Serene with my slightly brighter system,

Magnepan LRS+ speakers | Holo Serene preamp | Schitt Yggi+ Less Is More DAC | Sanders Magtech amp | Audience Front Row speaker cable | Audience Au24 SE and Benchmark XLR and RCA

I can easily replace the Holo Serene and HPA4 in either system with the other and be happy.

 

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