B&K plus M&K = awesome!

bigsexy1

I finally got the B&K 101 receiver that I recently traded my Denon 3802 for fully set up. It's driving 4 M&K S85 satellite speakers and 1 M&K S85C center with an Infinity IL120S sub (which is admittedly the weak link in this system, just imagine it with a SVS PB2 ISD instead). This receiver without being yet factory upgraded from B&K has only Dolby Digital 5.1, not even DTS, but that's ok, because I have a Sony
S-7000 dvd player (which was top of the line for it's day) that also doesn't do DTS either. So, it was a perfect match.

Watched The Hulk, and all I can say is awesome! Believe the hype about B&K. I never knew the M&Ks could sound so good. I previously was driving them with an older Yamaha 2092 receiver that also only had DD 5.1 just like the B&K, but it's no contest. The M&Ks are also awesome as well now that I hear just what they are really capable of thanks to the B&K.

Even though it only has DD 5.1, this is at least a taste of the beginning of true high end home theater. The M&Ks also never sounded better on music either.

Tour2ma

Similar 2 ch experience many moons ago when I replaced my Yammie C-2 pre with B&K's AVP2000. It was like a veil was lifted...

bigsexy1

So true T2M. I honestly used to think that M&K was way over-rated, but not any more. After listening to them again last night, all of the initial impressions I had of this set up from the first night were only reinforced just that much more. I used to think that the M&Ks were just halfway decent for movies, and not too hot on music, but that has now changed. I know what I'm about to say might not go over too well here on this site, but I now honestly believe that the M&Ks are even better than the Polk RTis. I feel like now I have discovered a hidden jem that I had all along. That's how much of a difference the B&K made for them. Maybe Mantis is right when he says that a B&K receiver is even better than Rotel seperates. The Yamaha 2092 receiver I had was speced to drive 4 ohm speakers (it even had a 4/8 ohm selector switch on the rear panel). It was a very heavy receiver weight wise, and it would even dim the lights for just a split second when you first powered it up, but it just isn't in the same ball park as the B&K though. Hell, it isn't even in the same league. Not only obviously on music, but even on movies as well. I would have thought that the Yamaha would at least be close on movies, but it's not.

mantis

bigsexy1,
I see you discovered B&K...something they are.

The avr101 was a nice receiver in it's day,send it in to B&K for the upgrades and get up to speed.I remember the first 101 I installed.I couldn't figure the tuner to save my life.And 2nd zone forget it.Man putting in the codes on the remote for 2nd zone,then needing it to control the main zone...**** I hated that **** then....but the sound quality was off the hook.

Then came the mighty avr202.It tickled me pink.The sound quality got even better with more drive.I was shocked that it was as good as it was.

The avr307,**** what can I say,it is bare none the best sounding receiver on the market under 4k.Nothing sounds better driving it doesn't even matter speakers.

I demo'd the Rotel as you know and was shocked how well the B&K receiver stood it's ground and over time won my heart.

I can't take away from ROTEL ,It's the best for it's class I feel.Rotel has drive and awesome sound quality.Rotel took me by suprise,I didn't pay much attention to them untill I worked at Soundex.Then I Installed a Dynaudio/Rotel system and made me weak in the knees.I couldn't stop talking about that job.

Well good luck with your 101,it's an oldie but goodie.

Dan

Ps...I feel the B&K receiver IS better then the Rotel seperates.

bigsexy1

Dan, I will get the upgrade at some point. I'm thinking about maybe waiting on B&K to get DPL2X before I send it in to them. Right now, it is in the bedroom system with the M&Ks. To say that a B&K receiver is even better than Rotel seperates is a pretty strong statement, but I really wouldn't be too surprised if it is in fact true based on my experience with one of their older, pretty much obsolete models. I can only just imagine what the 507 must be like. BTW, the 101 I have and the 202 were identical except for DTS on the 202 being the only difference. Don't use or need zone 2, and don't really care about the tuner. It's mostly just DVDs and cds, satellite dish, and with the occasional vhs tape.

I continue to be nothing but impressed by this system. Watched some music dvds on it last night. Ted Nugent Full Bluntal Nugenty and Guns & Roses The Videos. Not only are the M&Ks great musical speakers, but they are actually great rock music speakers at that. And really, that's without even being in their ideal, optimal placement for imaging, soundstaging, etc. (I have the main L/R too high on bookshelves). I realize now that the Yamaha receiver was severly limiting them and holding them back from what they were capable of. I was actually at one time seriously considering selling them, but not any more! T2M said it was like a veil was lifted, but I'd say it was more like a thick, heavy quilt (or even two or three of them) instead. That's how much difference the B&K made.

If anyone out there who doesn't already have them ever gets the chance to, just do it! Go B&K, and never look back again. They are just that damned good!

mantis

B&K in my opnion IS better then Rotel or I would have gone with Rotel.

B&K..simply better and it doesn't even matter.