B&K en it up!!

logo896
logo896 Posts: 322
edited December 2011 in 2 Channel Audio
Ive always been a fan of vintage Marantz gear but my current set up has been much more modern B&K. After my failed my experimentation with the ref 50 for a stereo pre amp( you needed a freakin degree to set that thing up), I have a new Ref 5 stereo pre amp that is now on the way also from B&k. ETA is Monday and I have not found a lot of these out there and there are not many reviews on them either. I look forward to telling y'all what I think. I ll be matching it with a ref 200.2 and running AQ sidwinders right now for my IC's. Source is my PC with a Dac Magic. For now its just a pair of LSI 9's and an SVS NSD-12. I plan on dropping the LSI's and picking up a pair of golden ear tritons as my I love me gift/ re enlistment bonus. Closest dealer is in Dallas and I have not demoed them yet but Im pretty sold, Ive always loved ribbons and the dual 1200 rms dsp subs. Well that's just awesome.

Anyone own one of these pre amps or the GoldenEar's already and like it?
Post edited by logo896 on
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  • rromeo923
    rromeo923 Posts: 1,513
    edited December 2011
    I have heard the Golden Ears and was very impressed! I have had a B&K ref 50 for about 10yrs or so and it has worked flawlessly. Good stuff!!
    I got static in my head
    The reflected sound of everything
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  • DollarDave
    DollarDave Posts: 2,575
    edited December 2011
    Yes, I own own. In fact, I sold my first one earlier this year after having it for a couple, missed it, and just bought a new one. In other words, I like it a lot.
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  • Joe08867
    Joe08867 Posts: 3,919
    edited December 2011
    It's hard to go wrong with B&K. The ref 50 is a nice piece. I have not heard the Ref 5 but I am sure it will sound good.
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,966
    edited December 2011
    I would imagine the sound signature would be almost identical. B&K made nice stuff, and plenty of us here have had/ still do have their gear. Their receivers are practicaly the same as their pre/pro's with a amp bolted to it. The processing is above par too and while you think you need a degree to set them up, it is pretty straight forward but also allows for endless tweeking of the sound. If you need help setting up any of their products just give us a yell.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
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  • smglbrth
    smglbrth Posts: 1,472
    edited December 2011
    Congrats on your new toy. I have the PT 3/Series II preamp. Pretty sure the only difference between mine and the Reference 5 is the balanced outputs and the Phoenix connector. Sonically I'm sure there's not much difference between the two. While I haven't heard the Reference 50 I would think it would be the same as well. I really like B&K gear. I also have the 200.2, nice amp. I was saddened when they went out of business, glad to see ATI pick them up, and also think B&K was always underrated and under-appreciated...
    Remember, when you're running from something, you're running to something...-me
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  • Tour2ma
    Tour2ma Posts: 10,177
    edited December 2011
    Started my B&K love affair with the old AVP 2000 and nabbed a Ref 50 when they were new. The former is retired; the latter is still the brains of my HT. Excepting up-sampling the 50 is still all I could want in an AVP.

    Nabbed a used 200.2 off ebay years ago. Very well-mannered yet muscular sand amp.
    More later,
    Tour...
    Vox Copuli
    Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. - Old English Proverb

    "Death doesn't come with a Uhaul." - Dennis Gardner
    "It's easy to get lost in price vs performance vs ego vs illusion." - doro
    "There is a certain entertainment value in ripping the occaisonal (sic) buttmunch..." - TroyD
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,966
    edited December 2011
    ....and here I took you for a HTIB type of guy Bruce. YUK, YUK !!

    Nice B&K combo you have. You'd be hard pressed to do better. Their SQ is top notch for sure. Had a love affair with the 307 myself, though flowers and chocolates wasn't enough to keep it from moving on.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
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  • logo896
    logo896 Posts: 322
    edited December 2011
    I thought their receivers looked really nice for sure. Ive even thought about moving down to the 125.2 since I really dont use the power the 200.2 puts out.

    smglbrth what is the phoenix connection.
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  • smglbrth
    smglbrth Posts: 1,472
    edited December 2011
    logo - I really can't tell you (actually, B&K equipment was the first I'd ever heard of it). The manual states "Allows connection to a remote keypad/IR sensor via a 5 pin plug in Pheonix connector. Also supplies a control voltage for an amplifier". Someone much more knowledgeable than me will chime in I'm sure. If not you could google it. I never bothered finding out since I don't have one...
    Remember, when you're running from something, you're running to something...-me
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  • smglbrth
    smglbrth Posts: 1,472
    edited December 2011
    logo896 wrote: »
    I thought their receivers looked really nice for sure. Ive even thought about moving down to the 125.2 since I really dont use the power the 200.2 puts out.

    smglbrth what is the phoenix connection.

    If you ever think about moving that amp it shouldn't be difficult, given a decent price...
    Remember, when you're running from something, you're running to something...-me
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  • logo896
    logo896 Posts: 322
    edited December 2011
    smglbrth wrote: »
    If you ever think about moving that amp it shouldn't be difficult, given a decent price...

    Well see, Ive looked at the paradigm studio 10's as an alternative to my lsi9's. I love the 9's but im really a believer in the phase plug technology that those and the monitor audio's use.
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  • Tour2ma
    Tour2ma Posts: 10,177
    edited December 2011
    tonyb wrote: »
    ....and here I took you for a HTIB type of guy Bruce. YUK, YUK !!
    Oh, I am... It's just a really big box... :cheesygrin:
    logo896 wrote: »
    smglbrth what is the phoenix connection.
    I believe Phoenix is a manufacturer and one of their many "connectors" is a multi-pin terminal used in data systems, which is what AVP's have become the heart of... In the B&K case, it is an 8-pin connector used to control multiple rooms with one AVP.
    More later,
    Tour...
    Vox Copuli
    Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. - Old English Proverb

    "Death doesn't come with a Uhaul." - Dennis Gardner
    "It's easy to get lost in price vs performance vs ego vs illusion." - doro
    "There is a certain entertainment value in ripping the occaisonal (sic) buttmunch..." - TroyD
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  • logo896
    logo896 Posts: 322
    edited December 2011
    Ok I just my ref 5 SII just came in today. Ive only had a few hours, but I must say it is really everything Ive been looking for. Ease of use is great, looks nice and holy crap is this thing sound transparent. While I liked the ref 50 it just did to many things i did not need so this is my new baby.

    It is also making me consider going towards some maggies or something instead of the lsi's.

    Its been a good week I am very happy with my HT set up and 2 channel set up. Im only a few hundred out from being where i want both systems to be after going through all kinds of gear in the last 2 years. SVS,HSU,POLK DSW, KLIPSCH, MIRAGE, And Energy sub woofers for starters.
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  • smglbrth
    smglbrth Posts: 1,472
    edited December 2011
    Glad you like it so much. Is the sound very similar to the Reference 50? I'm curious about your wanting to get away from the Lsi's. Is the sound too laid back with the B&K gear? I know transparency means different things to different people...
    Remember, when you're running from something, you're running to something...-me
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  • logo896
    logo896 Posts: 322
    edited December 2011
    smglbrth wrote: »
    Glad you like it so much. Is the sound very similar to the Reference 50? I'm curious about your wanting to get away from the Lsi's. Is the sound too laid back with the B&K gear? I know transparency means different things to different people...

    Most definitely everyone's use of the word is different.In my experience the ref 5 is better sounding. My thing with the LSI's is after putting them on this new stuff they sound very different in the bass. The best way i can describe it is the bass is much more neutral and clean sounding instead of that rawness it had when i paired it with a few different amps. The 200.2 has just stunning power and bottom end, when paired with other pre amps. Ive used it with marantz, NHT and emotiva amps. Im really just looking for something that has a fuller range possibley that can get me down into the 20's. I feel like the rti 12's i used to have would be a great match for this set up.
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  • smglbrth
    smglbrth Posts: 1,472
    edited December 2011
    I have heard that same thing from other people, your talking of paring the 200.2 with other preamps and it sounding "stronger", for lack of a better word. I, personally, have experienced the same thing with the ST 125.2 I used to have. I like the "transparency" and detail of the PT 3 I have but I've always wondered why the B&K pre's tend to be on the laid back side of things. It was after this experience that I knew pre's had MUCH more to do with the sound than just amps. Different strokes for different folks I guess. Maybe someday I'll try a different pre with my 200.2...
    Remember, when you're running from something, you're running to something...-me
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