So having started this thread in Dec 2020 here is what has happened:
I contacted about 4 retailers who looked as if they could supply the Benchmark LA4 and then asked them if they could also obtain a Townshend Allegri Reference. The former element was good, the latter part resulted in comments along the lines of “ummm”, “maybe”, “not straightforward”, “not sure”, “they may or may not be able to get us a unit”. These were all on the basis of buy both units, trial them and return the unit I did not wish to keep.
So I waited…
I waited some more…
I did some reminding.
I did an extra bit of waiting…I mean there is a virus about and we have to count our days maybe…
I waited a bit for luck…
…actually I am not sure I really am very lucky…
I waited one more time…
I squeezed that very last drop of waiting out…
…I ran out of waiting:
…and in the last few days (March 2021) went back to the 4 Benchmark retailers and asked for their best price, no trial, no comparison with Townshend, not even a coffee and biscuit.
You may like to know that there is a pleasant variation in the price here in the UK so I think I ended up with a circa 10% discount and a free remote control.
So the 1/4 (or is it 1/2) size LA4 box is sat on top of my Bartok, the silver is a reasonably close match too.
Question of perhaps ERNO and Simon_C
ERNO or Simon_C I think you also have a Bartok/Vivaldi with a LA4?
How have you set this up? Just relocated the cables to XLR Input 1 on LA4 , add some XLR interconnects and move Bartok/Vivaldi volume to 0bB?
Anything else I should be doing?
Any hidden switches, or menu choices which make a difference?
Sorry no Ken Kessler type review and insightful comparisons.
Be well everybody…SeanS