Disturbing news today.

[mantis]

Whats up all??
I made a horrible phone call today and it left me a bit down. B&K told me that the new preamp was pushed back to June. That really sucks. It could even go as far as mid summer release.
:(:mad::(:confused:

[Ricardo]

Damn. That really sucks. Won't be able to sleep today thinking about such a tragedy.

[zingo]

That sucks. I hate when I am waiting for something and the ETA gets pushed back. I feel your pain man and good luck.

[F1nut]

I'll say a prayer for you.

[dkg999]

I'm more interested in the spec's of the new 70 series pre and AVR. I think they made some compromises in the amplifier section of the AVR to keep the price down. The cosmetic's from the picture that was posted on another forum have the new B&K line being fugly!

It will be interesting to see whether us current B&K owners get a trade-in program or an add-on HDMI/audio decoder offered to us. Either way the lawsuit over their upgrade claims is most likely going to happen. Only the lawyers will win on that one!

[mantis]

I'm more interested in the spec's of the new 70 series pre and AVR. I think they made some compromises in the amplifier section of the AVR to keep the price down. The cosmetic's from the picture that was posted on another forum have the new B&K line being fugly!

It will be interesting to see whether us current B&K owners get a trade-in program or an add-on HDMI/audio decoder offered to us. Either way the lawsuit over their upgrade claims is most likely going to happen. Only the lawyers will win on that one!

Huh, well in the past, B&K didn't do this. The avr is just as strong as there seperates and preamp just in one chassis. I'd like to see this.

[Monster Jam]

One word: Zoloft.

[mantis]

Here is a early spec sheet. It was said at cedia last year that the ref70 will need to be flash software driven to have all the latest decoding. I believe this is the hold up. I assume they are including all processing in the preamp.

http://www.bkcomp.com/fileadmin/content/content_products/cutsheets/home%20theater/REF70_cutsheet_031008.pdf

I don't see ugly, I see exaclty what I expected from them. they have the same look since the ref 10/20/30/50 with little change. Structure still looks the same. I love the full balance and a built in am/fm tuner. But with all the analog changes , that may be removed or replaced . Who the hell knows, they are not speaking up.

I hate waiting..

[dkg999]

Huh, well in the past, B&K didn't do this. The avr is just as strong as there seperates and preamp just in one chassis. I'd like to see this.

Mantis - lots of bad info out on the net, but I am hoping that they don't compromise on their previous designs when it comes to the AVR! The upgradability is a marketing claim, and hopefully there's a good resolution to it. In some of their markets those claims carry more weight with regulators than they do here in the US.

[dkg999]

I hope it doesn't really look like this! And note that the amp section has been reduced to 125 wpc.

http://www.bkcomp.com/fileadmin/content/content_products/cutsheets/home%20theater/AVR707_cutsheet_031008.pdf

[olilugo]

mantis, what is going to be the price for the new ref70?

[wingnut4772]

I can't go on. I am too disturbed....where's that Zoloft?

[dorokusai]

I'm going with another manufacturer next round.

[dkg999]

I'm going with another manufacturer next round.

Unfortunately, I can't put up a good argument. I have always wanted to be in a position to have B&K gear driving my HT, and now that I've accomplished that they are really disappointing me in their direction.

[bigaudiofanatic]

I got three works for all ya all. GET A LIFE

[mantis]

I hope it doesn't really look like this! And note that the amp section has been reduced to 125 wpc.

http://www.bkcomp.com/fileadmin/content/content_products/cutsheets/home%20theater/AVR707_cutsheet_031008.pdf

When I went to B&K in Buffalo NY, I got to see the Avr307 be built from the circuit board to a finished receiver. The preamp is the ref30. It's the same exact one. They just take it and put the st125.7 underneather it. There was a tweak to get it to output to 150 @ 8 ohms but it still only puts out 185@ 4ohms. This is the spec's of the st125.7 allday.

The new avr707 at 125 @ 8 ohms I'm betting they left the st125.7 alone. It's still going to output at 185 @ 4 ohm load. I don't see the downgrade.

Looks wise , it's fine to me. If you look at all the past receivers to this one, it's sutle changes with alot remaining the same. I also was told that was a prototype so the finished product may look slighty different. I'm not all the concerned with looks anyway. B&K over the years have fully proven itself to me that it can handle a wide spread of speakers and make them all sound great. Dynamic range and awesome headroom never was a problem. Popping and clicking when a digital signal change was the only thing I hated. No soft muting circuit. I hated that.

[mantis]

I got three works for all ya all. GET A LIFE

You have room to talk?

[dorokusai]

When I went to B&K in Buffalo NY, I got to see the Avr307 be built from the circuit board to a finished receiver. The preamp is the ref30. It's the same exact one. They just take it and put the st125.7 underneather it. There was a tweak to get it to output to 150 @ 8 ohms but it still only puts out 185@ 4ohms. This is the spec's of the st125.7 allday.

The new avr707 at 125 @ 8 ohms I'm betting they left the st125.7 alone. It's still going to output at 185 @ 4 ohm load. I don't see the downgrade.

Looks wise , it's fine to me. If you look at all the past receivers to this one, it's sutle changes with alot remaining the same. I also was told that was a prototype so the finished product may look slighty different. I'm not all the concerned with looks anyway. B&K over the years have fully proven itself to me that it can handle a wide spread of speakers and make them all sound great. Dynamic range and awesome headroom never was a problem. Popping and clicking when a digital signal change was the only thing I hated. No soft muting circuit. I hated that.

The upgrade eliminates that popping issue and yes, it was annoying. The relays still click but no popping.

[polkatese]

I find The current REF50S2 to be stable and quiet. I don't think the new REF70 is a big deal, unless one needs to get into full DTS MA and Dolby TrueHD, which only a few HD titles have those. But, by this time next year, it might be time to consider REF70, just for the then features and trend at that time.

[dorokusai]

No multi-channel inputs stinks...instead I can have 8 Component Inputs and a bunch of IR routing that I'll never use. They could have cut back on some of that. They just don't fit my needs anymore since it's moreso a residential install unit at this point.

[Jstas]

I like turtles!

[dkg999]

I like my turtle chunked up, lightly breaded, and flash fried! Yummmy!

Mantis - thanks for the enlightenment on the AVR amp section! Makes sense!

Doro - agree on the input issue. No multichannel input, no upgrade for me.

[Emlyn]

The cutsheets for both the processor and receiver say that 5.1 analog inputs will be available, but the images don't show them. Will be interesting to see the final version when it hits market. I'm not sure the processor does much that the Onkyo/Integra preamp doesn't do.

I'm still waiting for Parasound to put their P7 multichannel all analog preamp on the market...more than a year after it was supposed to hit the streets.

[bigaudiofanatic]

Ya I got room to talk I can be just fine listening to polk monitor 40's and a yamaha amp while people are complaining that they can not hear the one guy in the background clapping. Don't get me wrong I love listening to clean and clear music but come on now crying over something like this.LOL

[dkg999]

It's only a matter of time before the China made HDMI to analog new audio codec decoders hit the US market. So to me, having the new HD audio codecs decoding in the AVR isn't so important as having 5.1 or preferably 7.1 analog inputs. I'll take a better quality AVR with great SQ and build quality with multi-channel analog input, and let the new audio codecs be decoded either in the DVD player or by an external decoder.

Now when the new Integra pre/pro ramps up in the market place, that may be an option to use with B&K power amps.

[toddco]

I was planing on geting this new pre-pro so i can go hdmi to pre-pro and get all the latest
HD sound decoding from PS3. B&K sound to help out the RTi line with B&K AMP or grand cinenova 7.1. This shoud still be a good path to take yes-no ?

[dorokusai]

I think it depends on what actually hits shelves. This isn't a sparse category for fully functional AVR gear anymore.

[toddco]

DO they have a new PRE-PRO coming out or is it just the AVR?

[dorokusai]

Both....the cut sheets are posted above.

[toddco]

They wont open up for me.

[mantis]

The upgrade eliminates that popping issue and yes, it was annoying. The relays still click but no popping.

thats cool , so how is your(my) baby doing? have you taken good care of her? Has she taken good care of you? On some levels I miss her.

[mantis]

I find The current REF50S2 to be stable and quiet. I don't think the new REF70 is a big deal, unless one needs to get into full DTS MA and Dolby TrueHD, which only a few HD titles have those. But, by this time next year, it might be time to consider REF70, just for the then features and trend at that time.

I'm gonna have to agree with you hear. I'm killed on researching preamps that don't come out. I'm tired of al the ones that are out and don't have Processing, it's a effin processor why don't you process everything? Eff that.

Summer is almost here so my time infront of my system is going to become less and less anyway.

[mantis]

No multi-channel inputs stinks...instead I can have 8 Component Inputs and a bunch of IR routing that I'll never use. They could have cut back on some of that. They just don't fit my needs anymore since it's moreso a residential install unit at this point.

Actually B&k always have been this way. More for custom install then Harry Home Owner. I don't know if you know this but you can fully control the avr307 and all current models with your computer?? All day. Make changes and everything allday.

Ir routing and everything on the back of the pre is all good to me. I'm one who will use all of it.

[mantis]

I was planing on geting this new pre-pro so i can go hdmi to pre-pro and get all the latest
HD sound decoding from PS3. B&K sound to help out the RTi line with B&K AMP or grand cinenova 7.1. This shoud still be a good path to take yes-no ?

It's a fine path. B&K is way more then the Rti line will ever need. Actually B&K can power much higher end speakers like the Lsi and above. So getting into B&K is a great thing.

Getting into there new pre amp is yet to be seen. It's not out yet and I hate waiting. If you can wait, I'm betting it's going to be worth it. I'm just killed on it.

[dorokusai]

thats cool , so how is your(my) baby doing? have you taken good care of her? Has she taken good care of you? On some levels I miss her.

Flawless operation to date.

[toddco]

So would cinenova 7.1 be overkill for my RTis? I was going to go 2 mono B&ks at 225 per left & right and a 5 CH. for the rest at 200. But for the cost i could do the Grand C. at around $2700 and be done. I like the idea of one time amp purches. Might upgrade Speeks later.

[SuperDave]

where's a good place to find b&k

[dorokusai]

www.bkcomp.com

[unbridled_id]

What about the NAD T-175 mantis, it is modular. It has been getting a series of firmware updates which have been addressing hdmi compatability issues but most of the feedback has been positive.

[Gaara]

Modular design eh, reminds me of the Integra Research RDC-7.1. That one was "future proof" to, look how that one turned out.

[Lost240]

Mid June??????

[polkatese]

For anyone interested, REF70 is out! It looks solid, and early review has been positive.

Is it just me or what, but my upgrade libido (on HT Audio, etc. related) has been very low (for the past year or so, actually).

Is this a sign that I am actually happy with the system I own? (sigh...)

[zx_toth]

Couldnt help but laugh at some of the comments in this thread ......



Ya I got room to talk I can be just fine listening to polk monitor 40's and a yamaha amp while people are complaining that they can not hear the one guy in the background clapping.




Is it just me or what, but my upgrade libido (on HT Audio, etc. related) has been very low (for the past year or so, actually).



Ok, thats enough gawking now ... carry on :)

Zsolt

[mantis]

For anyone interested, REF70 is out! It looks solid, and early review has been positive.

Is it just me or what, but my upgrade libido (on HT Audio, etc. related) has been very low (for the past year or so, actually).

Is this a sign that I am actually happy with the system I own? (sigh...)

I hear yeah, this will be my first upgrade to my system in over a year at least. I added HD DVD and Blu ray awhile back so I guess that counts. I had my Rotel seperates for a few years now. Very unlike me. Not to mention I still have the same speakers..