Mantis-b&k

[dholmes]

You are a fan of b&k, what is your opinion of the b&k reference 30 av pre-amp? Does it have 7.1, ddex dtses, thx ? thanks

[RuSsMaN]

http://www.bkcomp.com/ref.html

[mantis]

dholmes,
Not only am I a big...HUGE...fan of B&K,I own it.I own the avr307,soon to be upgraded to the avr507.

Yes to all your questions.Remember your not buying a preamp thats going in the trash,it's fully hardware and software upgradable.THX is a very big part of B&K.They believe in THX fully and so do I.Most people knock what they don't understand....thats ok they can miss out and other will benefit.
I assume you found a good deal on a used one or a new left over????

Talk to me........

[HBombToo]

Originally posted by mantis
Most people knock what they don't understand....thats ok they can miss out and other will benefit.
Talk to me........

Trust me when i say i understand more than given credit. I prefer buying equipment without presupposed notions about my room dimensions.

Thanks

H

[mantis]

HBombToo
really???????

It's all good my man,THX or not,enjoy if you can

[HBombToo]

I do................ of my own accord! imo if you live in a land of marketing hype you have lost whats important!

TET :lol:

[mantis]

Originally posted by HBombToo
I do................ of my own accord! imo if you live in a land of marketing hype you have lost whats important!

TET :lol:
well I'm glad at least you understand that.I feel some people are in to much of a hurry and miss out on learning more about what they are getting into......shame but fact of today.....no one has anytime.....sad man sad

[polkatese]

Dan,
Tweeter is selling avr307 for $2150, is that about the going rate today?

[mantis]

yeah new in the box,what a fantastic price for a fantastic receiver.......INTERGRADED...WAAAAAAAA

[mantis]

you get into the avr307 for 2150,then upgrade it to avr507 statis for around 700.00,you have the latest and greatest for 2850.00.......can't beat it at that price anywhere.......with anything......no way...

[polkatese]

btw, the tweeter that I frequented is in the midst of re-gearing their high-end demo room, I saw ref50 with ref 200.2 are in, replacing the 307....

[mantis]

cool, did you sit for a listen?

[polkatese]

No, unfortunately they are not done with the setup...besides, there is a ref50 already sitting in my living room waiting. I am traveling again this week, back in Miami...

[mantis]

If I had a ref50 waiting in my livingroom,I would have problems leaving it..........so sad to hear.........does a full review mean anything to you when your finished setting up and testing ....maybe a good A B VS Rotel?????????????

[polkatese]

all in due time, bro! full review and perhaps some new pictures. I learned on the plane today, of the ultra 2 features, especially the surround back speaker setup. I am compiling a list of questions for you and Tour on ref50 features, btw, where is Mr. Tour?

[mantis]

missing in action I guess.......Well when your ready man I will answer away.......read the manual 2x's.........or more...there alot in there..........happy reading.......THX here you come..........

[shack]

Originally posted by polkatese
btw, where is Mr. Tour?

Still on a road trip I think.

[F1nut]

He should be home Wednesday.

[eulogyt00l]

Hey mantis (or anyone), have you heard the new B&k507 yet? If so I would like to know what you think of it. As posted before I currently own a Denon Avr-5803 but a friend of mine wants to buy it and I am thinking about switching to B&K for a change. I am just wondering if the new B&K beats out the 5803 or if I should stick with my Denon. I don't live in a big city so I can't audition one either. Thanks again.

[mantis]

Originally posted by eulogyt00l
Hey mantis (or anyone), have you heard the new B&k507 yet? If so I would like to know what you think of it. As posted before I currently own a Denon Avr-5803 but a friend of mine wants to buy it and I am thinking about switching to B&K for a change. I am just wondering if the new B&K beats out the 5803 or if I should stick with my Denon. I don't live in a big city so I can't audition one either. Thanks again.
Big questions require a big answer.........
There are differences between the 2 receivers and they are personal choice to make.Needs need to be addressed.
1)Sound quality,always first and formost on my list.I feel the B&K dominates here.
2)Features,Denon all the way,no one and I mean no one gives you more then the avr5803.It's as loaded as it gets.These features you need to take advantage of to decide on this.B&K doesn't have all the bells and whistles.
3)Flexability and future upgrades,both of which are upgradeable but B&K takes it to the next level.Denon is really trying to explore what B&K has been doing for years.
4)Connectability.Denon wins again,nothing has more connectability then the avr5803.B&K is no slouch here but cannot compete.
Breakdown....
If you own a Laserdisc player,Denon has a built in RF demodulator,B&K you have to buy there external.Same goes with Phono,B&K doesn't have a phono stage inside,again and external phono stage is needed.Denon is fully loaded.

So you need to go threw both receivers and see where your need lay.Have I listened to both???Many times over.B&K is far superior in sound quality and dynamic range.There amp section is second to no receiver made.Denon rules the connectability and feature market,good sound quality but can be taken out by alot of others here.......

[eulogyt00l]

Oh man, I will have to think on that for awhile. I hate making tough decisions like this, with no clear-cut winner. I am going to try my hardest to track down a B&K dealer in a nearby city so I can hear the 507 because I have been seeing things online that says its amp section is the best out there. Thanks again for your advice and answering my question mantis you really know your stuff.

[mantis]

If the amp section is what you want to look at,here's a cool thing to look at........
The Denon avr5803 has 15 amps of peak power......
The B&K avr507 has 42 amps of peak power.........
Yes so the B&K has plenty more of dymamic power.It has 4 really big caps for power storage.....big blue badass caps..I just like Looking at them,I get this warm and fuzzy feeling inside........
Hey your welcome man.

[RuSsMaN]

Big Blue Badass Caps, I guess that about sums it up!

Sorry, struck me funny, carry on. ;)

Cheers,
Rooster

[eulogyt00l]

I don't get the amps of power thing. Denon is supposed to have like 230 watts of power driving 4ohm speakers, and B&K 185 watts. And I know watts don't always equal power. But does having more amps and dynamic range mean that it can power speakers more easily or what? I only ask because I am seriously considering B&K and upon downloading the 507 manual and looking, it seems to have just as many or more surround processing/decoding modes than Denon and seems to be alot easier to use.

[polkatese]

eulogyt001, unless Denon changes it amp spec, I believe they are "officially" certified to run a load within 6-16 ohms range, and I believe 507 can handle 185 watts per channel, ALL channels driven (7 speakers.) Having said that, 5803 is definitely capable running 4 ohms load with ease. If I were you, if you can get decent price for your 5803 from your friend, I would jump to 507.

[eulogyt00l]

I'm very tempted to get the 507 but I just wish I didn't live in such a damn small town so I could actually hear one. I just don't know if it will be worth the extra cost. And also will it be a good match with my LSI speakers compared with the 5803? Please keep the opinions coming, I need them.

[mantis]

The avr507 has 42 amps of driving power.The avr5803 has 15....thats a big..huge difference.Denon also plays the numbers game,it's old but hey they get away with it.The Denon avr5803 is only 170watts with 1 channel driven into a 8 ohm load a 1khz.They fall way off of that when you add channels..B&K is a true 150 watt at 8 ohm in all 7 channels driving 20 to 20....

Sound quality driving the LSI series,I feel the B&K is superior in everyway.Denon is no slouch but it's your ears that need to decide.If you can't go listen to the 2,then I say stay where you are at.NO one and I mean no one can out shine the avr5803 for features.No one.
B&K just simply sounds better,that my opnion.

[eulogyt00l]

I've heard to much good things about the 507. I think I am going to go ahead and get it. If anything it will be a nice (and hopefully better) change.

[mantis]

eulogyt00l,
going in blind huh,good luck................................

[polkatese]

eulogyt00l,
I am sure you will be happy with the 507...with that, it is a matter of time before we welcome you to the Simply Better Club (as Dan put it)...

Dan,
it's a growing sub-group here, SBC that is! one MIA is still unaccounted for....Tour2ma

[mantis]

he needs to get with thte porogram....SBC we need tee shirts

[polkatese]

eulogyt00l, let me know if you need help locating reputable authorized dealers with great price, in addition to your local tweeter and shops.

Dan, that would be cool! call George at B&K and see if he is willing to send us the t-shirt. I think I saw some there...

[mantis]

George would give us B&K tee shirts I already own a few.I would like to have a SBC tee shirt made up.....club color would be silver...

[eulogyt00l]

I am probably going ebay, one guy had one listed yesterday for $2,250 with free shipping. Of course it is slightly used but it hasn't been out long and he had good pics of it turned on.

[Tour2ma]

He's baaaaack...

Not sure I qualify for the tee-shirt since I tainted my ref 50 by pairing it with Sunfire…. but I think I can live with that :D
We scoff at your pitiful, double digit, “42 amps of driving power”. Muhahahahahahaha…

Polka, so tell me did you pull the trigger with CinemaSource or go elsewhere?

Eu-tool,
Before you ebay check out http://www.cinemasource.com/index2.html
Tell ‘em tour and polka sent you…

[mantis]

Tour2ma

We scoff at your pitiful, double digit, “42 amps of driving power”. Muhahahahahahaha…
Thats pretty damn good for a receiver based unit.Not shabby at all.
Now if power amps are your tase,how about the ref200.7,it has 75 amps per channel of driving power.If you really want amp power,how about the ref mono 200.1 at 150 amps of kick ass power?:p

[polkatese]

Originally posted by Tour2ma
He's baaaaack...

Not sure I qualify for the tee-shirt since I tainted my ref 50 by pairing it with Sunfire…. but I think I can live with that :D
We scoff at your pitiful, double digit, “42 amps of driving power”. Muhahahahahahaha…

Polka, so tell me did you pull the trigger with CinemaSource or go elsewhere?

Eu-tool,
Before you ebay check out http://www.cinemasource.com/index2.html
Tell ‘em tour and polka sent you…

Tour,
since you've been AWOL, your right for a t-shirt has been revoked anyways :D

I went with a different company. For some reasons, Tom stop responding to me (btw, did you see Tom's office manager pic, Jamie? whoa, she is on fire!) Price wise, it's the same (they match it with Tom's price)...