Benchmark HPA4
Headphone amplifier + full line-level preamp/monitor controller (dual-purpose)
Headphone Amp / Distribution$3,499Manufacturer list price
Specifications
- Type
- Headphone Amp / Distribution
- Description
- Headphone amplifier + full line-level preamp/monitor controller (dual-purpose)
- Topology
- THX-888 (Benchmark-exclusive) THX-AAA feed-forward error-correction headphone amplifier; shares LA4 line-amplifier section
- Signal path
- Analog
- Channels
- 2
- Channel format
- 2.0 (stereo) line-level + stereo headphone output
- Form factor
- Compact chassis (standard feet) or rackmount kit
- Connection
- Analog only (no digital connectivity)
- Powered
- Yes
- Power (W)
- 18 typical / 35 max / 0.33 standby
- Frequency response
- -0.003 dB @ 10 Hz, -0.001 dB @ 20 kHz (line and headphone outputs); -3 dB bandwidth 0.1 Hz-500 kHz
- Impedance (Ω)
- Line out: 60 (output impedance); Headphone out: near 0
- Introduced
- 2019
- Country of manufacture
- USA
Details
Controls: Color touchscreen display, volume control, optional IR remote, independently controlled headphone/line volume, 2x bidirectional 12V trigger I/O
I/O: Analog in: 2x XLR balanced pairs + 2x RCA unbalanced pairs (4 stereo inputs total). Line out: XLR L/R + XLR mono sum (balanced), RCA L/R (unbalanced). Headphone out: 1/4-inch TRS + XLR4. No digital I/O.
Notable use: Stereophile Recommended Component 2025; Absolute Sound Editors' Choice 2021; Everything Audio Network Product of the Year 2018
Notes: FLAG (multi-function / device_class judgment call): HPA4 is a full line-level preamp/monitor controller (Benchmark states it includes 'all LA4 line amplifier features') plus a THX-888 headphone amplifier. Classified here as Headphone Amp / Distribution per task guidance, but functionally overlaps Monitor Controller/Preamp -- FLAG. Price is a range across standard/rackmount and with/without-remote configurations. Year_intro (2019) inferred from third-party review dates, not stated on current catalog page -- FLAG.