Benchmark

AHB2 Benchmark

€4.099,00 EUR

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Color Black Silver

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Our take

"The best amplifier in the world? Independent measurements all point the same way: the AHB2 is the most neutral amplifier on the market, regardless of price. In the studio or in hi-fi, anyone who wants neutrality can choose the Benchmark AHB2 with their eyes closed." - Victor Malvolti

Linear stereo amplifier

The quietest, cleanest audio amplifier on the planet.

From the first watt to the last, no audio power amplifier offers lower noise or distortion than the Benchmark AHB2.

"I measured less distortion and noise on the AHB2 than on any of the many power amps I have measured over the years." - Bascom King, BHK Labs

"If there is such a thing as a giant-killer among amps, this is it... It is one of the quietest and most resolving amps – if not the quietest and most resolving amp – I have heard. I spent hours listening to neglected records in my collection because the AHB2 is so transparent and powerful." - Hans Wetzel, SoundStage

"The AHB2 is an extraordinary amplifier. Not only does its performance lie at the limits of what can be reliably measured, it offers high power from a very small enclosure, especially in bridged mono mode. It is truly a high-resolution amplifier." - John Atkinson, Stereophile

True high-resolution performance

The AHB2 ticks every box for high-resolution audio. It reproduces every detail of the music without adding distortion or noise. The AHB2's dynamic range is 132 dB, making it 10 to 30 dB quieter than some of the best power amplifiers on the market.

The AHB2's frequency response extends beyond 200 kHz. With the AHB2, you will discover previously unnoticed nuances, dynamics and details in your favourite recordings, and the full potential of 24-bit PCM and 1-bit DSD high-resolution formats.

"Best stereo amplifier of 2017... masterfully detailed and transparent, with perfect tonality and punch to spare." - Ben Shyman, Home Theater Review

Pushing the limits of amplifiers

Today, D/A converters are of very high quality and have far surpassed amplifiers in terms of fidelity. The power amplifier has therefore become the limiting factor in many audio systems. For example, the noise and distortion produced by the Benchmark DAC3 converter are 20 to 30 dB lower than those of most high-end power amplifiers. Until now, the DAC3 could therefore not be fully appreciated. Benchmark set out to solve this problem by creating an amplifier that matches the DAC3's performance.

A radically different power amp

Benchmark had to start from scratch and explore new solutions. During its research, the company discovered two recent THX patents covering a new amplification technology: exactly what was needed to build this new amplifier.

The AHB2 uses THX's patented AAA™ technology to eliminate virtually all forms of distortion. This technology uses feed-forward error correction to cancel the distortion normally produced by the output stage. No other audio amplifier delivers such clean, quiet and high power. The AHB2 easily handles difficult phase angles and low impedances.

In its quest for the ultimate amplifier, the company also focused on frequency response, output noise, damping factor and reliability. The result is an amplifier that stands well apart from the competition.