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B&K AVR or Pre/Pro and Overall Qualtiy

post #1 of 14
11/15/06 at 12:43pm
Thread Starter 
Hello All,
I am considering purchasing either the B&K AVR or the Ref 50S2 series along with Sonus Faber Cremona speakers for my main theater components along with a DVDO VP 30 Scaler... I am upgrading from a Denon 3805 today. This is my first forary into this high end area and am a bit out of my element, so thought some of you might give me some advice or reasons why this should not be a good sytem to go with or otherwise, why I should pluck down this much money!
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post #2 of 14
11/15/06 at 4:21pm
I bought a AVR 507 over 3 years ago and it has held up great. The sound is amazing and it drives my speakers which are 4 ohms with ease. B&K makes great products that are built like tanks. I mention the 4 ohms because many receivers have a hard time driving speakers with lower impedance but this one has done absolutely amazing. I can listen at high levels (If I choose to) and there are no problems. The only thing that I am going to do with my AVR is send it in to be upgraded to the 507 S2. It addresses some of the pops and clicks that this receiver was known for back in the day. I would say you could easily power your system with this receiver. It would save you a few bucks instead of buying the Ref50 and an amp. Good luck with your purchase.
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post #3 of 14
11/15/06 at 4:25pm
Well i would comment on this but when I talk about B&K on here people get upset. Here it goes anyway. The B&K Ref50 S2 is amazing. Its a very clear and detailed sound. Its better than other processors that cost double its cost that I have personally heard. Also its made right here in the good old USA in Buffalo NY. Its a beautiful processor.
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post #4 of 14
11/15/06 at 4:47pm
I had a B&K ref 30. Excellent piece of equiptment. I am currently waiting for the next B&K offering until I get a new processor, thats why I say had...

B&K's customer service is excellent.

I also have a DVDO Iscan. It works great. No complaints..but I have never compared it to other brands.
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post #5 of 14
11/15/06 at 6:22pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Need4spdnb View Post

I bought a AVR 507 over 3 years ago and it has held up great. The sound is amazing and it drives my speakers which are 4 ohms with ease. B&K makes great products that are built like tanks. I mention the 4 ohms because many receivers have a hard time driving speakers with lower impedance but this one has done absolutely amazing. I can listen at high levels (If I choose to) and there are no problems. The only thing that I am going to do with my AVR is send it in to be upgraded to the 507 S2. It addresses some of the pops and clicks that this receiver was known for back in the day. I would say you could easily power your system with this receiver. It would save you a few bucks instead of buying the Ref50 and an amp. Good luck with your purchase.



Save your self $700 and send it in for 507 S1 firmware upgrade. The S2 will get your only plIIx and for $700 I am not sure its worth it. The new firmware has a muting circuit and it will take care of your clicks etc. You pay outbound shipping only and they cover the ship back...great customer service.
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post #6 of 14
11/15/06 at 6:37pm
Thanks Dmamsa, didn't know I could just do the firmware upgrade. Also didn't know that the S2 upgrade was $700. I called yesterday and got a machine, nobody called me back. Guess I will give em another try tomorrow. How much is the firmware upgrade?
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post #7 of 14
11/15/06 at 7:00pm
One theme here that is 100% true is the excellent customer service. They will help you with anything when it comes to products you bought from them. They are very,very good. I called them twice in one day and they couln't have been better.
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post #8 of 14
11/15/06 at 7:18pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by waynecan View Post

Hello All,
I am considering purchasing either the B&K AVR or the Ref 50S2 series along with Sonus Faber Cremona speakers for my main theater components along with a DVDO VP 30 Scaler... I am upgrading from a Denon 3805 today. This is my first forary into this high end area and am a bit out of my element, so thought some of you might give me some advice or reasons why this should not be a good sytem to go with or otherwise, why I should pluck down this much money!

I think you have an incredible system for the money. The Ref 50S2 is an extremely nice sounding pre/pro and B&K customer service is excellent. Teaming it up with the DVDO VP 30 will be awesome.

The only downside is that I have heard RUMORS that B&K will be coming out with a new pre/pro that will include HDMI, video processing and possibly auto eq/room eq. I am not sure how accurate this is but I do know that the Ref. 50 is getting old concerning newer technology but for the price it is right up there.

Let us know how you like the DVDO VP 30. I am saving up my money and will probably order one by January 1.
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post #9 of 14
11/15/06 at 7:26pm
While the sound is pretty nice (though I don't know if adding more warmth to a SF speaker makes more sense), the units are pretty dated. Well in need of an upgrade. You'd be stepping prettey far back in capability at this point.
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post #10 of 14
11/15/06 at 8:51pm
I disagree that the S2 B&K's are dated. They have all of the audio processing options that other gear has, with the exception of proprietary formats like Logic 7, etc. From a video standpoint, they do not switch HDMI, but until all of the handshake issues are addressed it makes more sense to use an outboard HDMI switch. Preferably, one that can be updated until HDMI becomes stable.

You can even go back to the S1 and have everything but PLIIx. I doubt you'd miss it, because B&K's proprietary 7.1 algorithm for 2.0 material is excellent, and THX Ultra2 7.1 processing for 5.1 material is exceptional.

Bottom line, go for sound quality, build quality and reliability before you go for whistles and bells.
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post #11 of 14
11/15/06 at 9:44pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by waynecan View Post

Hello All,
I am considering purchasing either the B&K AVR or the Ref 50S2 series along with Sonus Faber Cremona speakers for my main theater components along with a DVDO VP 30 Scaler... I am upgrading from a Denon 3805 today. This is my first forary into this high end area and am a bit out of my element, so thought some of you might give me some advice or reasons why this should not be a good sytem to go with or otherwise, why I should pluck down this much money!


You cant go wrong with a B&K. If I were you I would get a 7X200 200.7 b&k amp and use the 3805 as a pre/pro. I test a 200.7 B&K with a denon 3802 and it sounded exceptional (Denon "Direct" for 2 channel is awesome.). You get the denon processing with B&K amp quality.
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post #12 of 14
11/15/06 at 9:48pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Need4spdnb View Post

Thanks Dmamsa, didn't know I could just do the firmware upgrade. Also didn't know that the S2 upgrade was $700. I called yesterday and got a machine, nobody called me back. Guess I will give em another try tomorrow. How much is the firmware upgrade?

If you bought it from an authorized dealer and under warranty it is free. Talk to someone in B&K support and they will walk you through.
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post #13 of 14
5/27/07 at 2:06pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by vanut View Post

You cant go wrong with a B&K. If I were you I would get a 7X200 200.7 b&k amp and use the 3805 as a pre/pro. I test a 200.7 B&K with a denon 3802 and it sounded exceptional (Denon "Direct" for 2 channel is awesome.). You get the denon processing with B&K amp quality.


How about the denon 5803 as the pre pro for the b&k 200.7?
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post #14 of 14
8/3/07 at 3:47pm
B&K should be coming out with their new stuff at Cedia and it should included HDMI. They have been on the fence with dvi/hdmi for years. As they are a smaller US company, I dont they have the money or manpower to shift gears every year and produce a new unit. On the other hand, they are great with updates and upgrades.

I personally have a Ref 20 that I have kept upgraded although it doesnt have many of the features like component switching, it still does a great job. I will be upgrading this year to whatever new preamp they have
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