![]() well, I've already said how pleased I am with it combined with the Montis in that particular room setup. and, frankly, the AHB2 sounds so good that. A: The Benchmark AHB2 is a high-performance power amplifier designed to deliver exceptional audio quality and precision. In many ways, the AHB2 is a complete 180 degree departure from traditional high-end amplifier designs. ![]() I now own an NAD M33 with Purifi amps (another system) that I could try with the Montis, but that's surely another topic. The performance of the AHB2 would not have been achievable without taking a radical approach to power amplification. The three available gain settings (via a mini-toggle switch on the back panel) allowed me some flexibility when mating it with different preamplifiers. I also used, for a long time, an Adcom GFA-555 (Nelson Pass designed) which I modified to improve the mid- and high frequency power supply bypassing, which gave better results than the tube beasties. Turning to the Benchmark AHB2 power amplifier for a moment, it also brought similar transparency revelations when inserted into my existing system although from a different perspective. I've tried tube power amps - a pair of McIntosh MC60s and a Marantz 8B that I reconditioned - but these poop out at the upper end and make the Montis sound dull and lifeless. If we drop the level of the test tone by 20 dB, the output power is 0.01 W. This means that the power produced by the THD+N is 70 dB below 1 watt. Power output: 100Wpc 8 Ohms, 190Wpc 4 Ohms at 1kHz at < 0.0003 THD+N. It came as the perfect pairing for the matching DAC3 digital converter and pre. In use the AHB2 stays very cool for a power amplifier when it is idling, outputting little power which was a nice surprise. Analogue inputs: One pair balanced (via XLR jacks) Analogue outputs: One pair of speaker taps (via 5-way binding posts), one pair of Neutrik Speakon connectors. The real trick is getting the mid- and treble range right, and this is extremely well done by the AHB2. At a 1 watt output, this class-AB amplifier produces a distortion waveform that measures 70 dB below the output level of the 1 watt test tone (see graph at the bottom of this application note). Type: solid state stereo power amplifier. Benchmarks AHB2 power amplifier delivers musical details. As a reminder, many ML speakers have their own amplification for driving the bass units. The AHB2 is the ideal match to the performance limits of High-Resolution-Audio (HRA) formats. This pair sounds as good as the extraordinary measurements indicate: utterly clean, transparent, stable and satisfying. I drive my Martin Logan Montis pair with the Benchmark AHB2 driven by the DAC3 HGC.
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