Benchmark AHB2 Amplifier, opinions and competition

You won’t be sorry.

Music direct backordered as well

Very popular Amp. Check with Benchmark when they will have another run made. Assuming your speakers have a well designed cross over, vertical bi amping will make very little difference while strapping the amps mono will give you much more headroom and make the system sound more effortless. Here you will notice the difference! Try running the amps both ways and let us know what you think. When you can get them:-(

@mijostyn

Benchmark products measure as good as or better than anything else. They are reasonably priced too.

If accuracy or highest fidelity is important then Benchmark are go to reference products.

That said, I like my PS Audio DSD DAC and tube amps too - so owning Benchmark reference products does not preclude owning less accurate but more “musical” products - but Benchmark sure make a nice affordable reference in any setup.

If you don’t like the sound of your speakers or other gear when coupled with a reference product then you really should take a hard look at that gear. It should always sound good with a reference source or amplification even if your setup sounds even better with a component that caters to your taste.

I am waiting for my second AHB2.

I live in Singapore and have placed the deposit back in early March, with the local benchmark dealer for the amp (AHB2)....still waiting.

I wrote in to benchmark and learnt that next shipment should go out at the end April. I am hoping to get the delivery soon (in few weeks) and use it in mono with my ATCs. I am gonna try these in other configuration (as suggested above - dedicated amp for HF and LF). But I am using speakons, which might pose a bit of challenge to use the amps in anything other than mono, for the time being.