Benchmark Media Systems. Right or wrong

@

deep_333

So why did you remove your post? Hmmm!

I'm a Benchmark fanboi for sure.  Currently running DAC3 HGC as a DAC/Pre with the AHB2 amp to ATC speakers.  It's a dead quiet system across all inputs, and the S/N ratio is astounding, which allows me to to hear greater detail at lower 
SPL.  Star-quad interconnects, and speaker cables as I believe in that design after many years of stage and studio work.

"Walk up to your speakers. Do you hear a hiss, hum, or buzz. Your system should be dead quiet. With the current state of the art, the electronics should not be producing audible noise. If you hear noise, then you need to consider replacing some of your electronics. You are never going to cure this noise problem with a new fuse, or a new power cord. It is unlikely that you will even reduce it with a power conditioner. Instead, you will need to identify the offending component or components and make plans to replace them. Start by replacing components that only support unbalanced (RCA) analog interconnects. Replace any component that cannot deliver at least a 115 dB SNR."

@helomech

...don't get me started on ASR.  I just went down a ChiFi rabbit hole and can say most of ASR is blinded with very specific measurements that really aren't audible by the majority of people.  Don't dare say you can actually hear a difference with different DACs or you'll get ostracized.  What's funny is the Chinese manufacturers AND Amir actually release frequency graphs showing how they tune the sound of the same DACs ASR lauds and swears all sound the same.  (Specifically, Topping rolls off the highs a bit and fattens the bottom end on their flagship Sabre-based models compared to SMSL/VMV, which does the opposite, and I believe Topping also tunes the soundstage more for headphone users.) People on ASR also will admit the stock cables have a negative impact on sound, but also, don't dare bring up using a high-end cable and imply it actually makes a difference.

In the real world, people care about more than just SINAD and THD.  Stuff like product reliability, long term support, etc. matter.

Lastly, it’s my opinion and experience that the best Benchmark products are the LA4/HPA4 preamps. Their DAC3 is rather antiquated these days (and ugly AF) and the AHB2, while a good clean performer, doesn’t offer the dynamic grunt that many speakers (especially high end speakers) thrive on.

This is 100% my opinion too. I have owned the AHB2 about 5x and all 3 versions of the DACs. I still have the DAC3B since it serves a single purpose well (used with a tube headphone amp). The LA4/HPA4 are amazing gear. I no longer have any AHB2 since it was not the most dynamic with my Yamaha NS5000 or Magnepan LRS+. A CODA #16 and a Sanders Magtech overall were a better match.

A great pairing is Benchmark preamps with CODA amps. Similar to the Parasound A21 amp described above. I had the LA4 and the A21+ and that was good, so I eventually ended up with the CODA #16 and the LA4.

In fact, I have tried about 12 amps with the LA4, and all sounded good with the LA4. Cannot say the same level of success with other preamps I owned, such as the CODA 07x, Topping pre90, Schitt Mjolnir V3, Schitt Freya+, Bryston BP20, BAT VK-42SE.

When I see people trying one piece of electronics after another searching for a better sound it generally means they are not happy with their loudspeakers. You buy an amp that drives your chosen loudspeaker well. The rest of the electronics really do not matter that much. One might climb the ladder going from say a $5000 amp to a $20,000 amp, but I see people going endlessly sideways. IMHO that is wasting money that could have been spent on better loudspeakers which is where the real money is. Another possibility is adding a DSP preamp to the mix which will allow you to make a system sound any way you want. I have a close friend who was over listening to music and he mentioned that he wished he could turn his system up like my system, but when he did it got harsh and unlistenable. He has a very modest but well chosen system. We added a MiniDSP SHD and his system now sounds like one that should be 4 times as expensive and he can turn it up until his wife yells at him.