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RE: Benchmark AHB2 Experiments

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cawson@onetel.com

In Reply to: RE: Benchmark AHB2 Experiments posted by JerryS on December 01, 2024 at 13:54:00

Interesting to read your experience with AHB2 amps. I bought one of these soon after its release, unheard and unseen, as there were few UK dealers and no worthwhile reviews at the time.
Despite my speakers being easy to drive with a very light wattage demand from the amp (speakers were 101 dB, 8 ohms), I found this amp drearily dull, although I know others seem to love it.
Granted it is very accurate and dead quiet. In fact the rave recommendation I based my rash purchase on was from a fellow Avantgarde high sensitivity speaker owner who was obsessed by noise, so I understand his choice. However, this was not an amp for me, so I started a search for an amp that delivered music in a more exciting and life-like way.
As my AHB2 was only ever asked to deliver a handful of watts, I wonder if buying a second one and using them in the way you suggest, would have offered the improvement you have experienced? Perhaps not, but an interesting observation that others may take advantage of.

Edits: 12/02/24 12/02/24

Follow Ups:

another example of - Leo loves music 10:05:41 12/02/24 (0)
Stereophile class A component plus new technology doesn't work.
Try to parallel an 8ohms dummy load to the speaker to see if any better.

Edits: 12/02/24
RE: Benchmark AHB2 Experiments - JerryS 09:43:10 12/02/24 (4)
Regarding "drearily dull", I am finding that the amp(s) sound better when putting out some power and played fairly loudly. With 101 dB speakers, this might happen only rarely, if at all.

Using two amps in Stereo mode with only one channel of each amp connected doesn't change the basic character of the amps. They just sound more refined, and I feel, worth the extra cost in a high-performance and high-resolution system.
- RE: Benchmark AHB2 Experiments - JerryS 09:21:45 12/06/24 (0)
  Maybe that "louder is better" is just me. The amps sound great at all volume levels.
- Great reason to avoid - E-Stat 14:23:51 12/02/24 (2)
  Regarding "drearily dull", I am finding that the amp(s) sound better when putting out some power and played fairly loudly.
  
  Recalls a valuable lesson learned as a teenager. I greatly prefer amplifiers that resolve down to the floor without having to crank them.
  - the lower the noise floor... the higher the resolution~nT - Cleantimestream 19:18:40 12/04/24 (1)
    !
    The Mind has No Firewall~ U.S. Army War College.
    - Not if - E-Stat 19:23:57 12/04/24 (0)
      the active devices are no longer linear.

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