Benchmark LA4 Line Amplifier

The AHB2 doesn't really work without it!

I recently bought an AHB2 power amp and was running it with a DAC/streamer as a volume control. This worked pretty well, but I thought I'd give the LA4 a try, since the in-house thirty-day trial gave me that option. After a bit of a lumpy break-in period, everything gelled, and cohesive, organic sound filled the air. I now have an all-Benchmark amplification system that I can ignore! I can go straight to the music for my enjoyment. I recommend you try the Benchmark amplification set--the synergy is terrific. As good as the AHB2 is, it really sparkles with the LA4. I'll go as far as to say the AHB2 doesn't really work without it. Try it and you’ll buy it!

Wonderful Enjoyment from my Benchmark Stack into B&W 802 d3-Thank You.

A lifelong hobby, refined. My system was fairly revealing (Roon Nucleus, Bryston BDA-3 DAC, Classé amplifiers, Revel Ultima Studio 2 speakers), but the LA4, in place of the 2008 vintage Classé pre-amp, was a revelation. Improved clarity across the frequency band; lowered noise floor, with much better low-level detail, wider soundstage. This was apparent out of the box (!), but I suspect there may be improvement with time. It's an over-used statement, but: old recordings sound new and fresh, with better imaging and truer-to-life tonalities. At this price, it's an astonishing bargain. Kudos, Benchmark!