Amps - Better amps = better sound
EndersShadow
Posts: 17,590
So I've had the B&K in my system for about a week after getting it back from the shop. Last night I finally had some time to sit down and calibrate it with Audyssey.
Lets just say the difference in sound is INCREDIBLE. The dialog opened up, the bass become more clear, and I am guessing its due to the better response and extra overhead of my B&K (200 @ 8 ohms) v the Carver (125x5 @ 8 ohms) and I am sure the difference at 4 ohms is decent as well (B&K is 375, Carver doesnt have a rating I've found).
Now this is NOT to say the Carver is BAD, its actually a GREAT amp as it ran my LSi setup at any volume for years with no issues, complaints and I never tripped it. Its just to say that the B&K is a lot better, but again given what I paid for both it had BETTER be a improvement.
The experience is quite different. Clearer at all volumes, Gunshots have a phenomenal ting, reloading in Halo sounds right (I can hear the shells trickle down the ground which I never heard before), and explosions sound a bit more real.
And the difference with DTS-MA, TrueHD only gets better. I watched my rip of Enders Game last night and it was a different experience. Dolby 5.1 is better as well.
I should mention I also tweaked my crossovers to put my 15's @ 60 hz, the LSiC and F/x are at 80 and I set the F/x as bipole rather than dipole as well, which likely played a slight role in this change.
My sub is EQ'd by my MiniDSP and currently is at @75% gain and set at -1 level wise and the fronts are all at 0 or -1/-2 max. This is v the -12 of the sub with the last EQ run, and the levels at -5 or -6.
So even if you've got a dedicated amp, always try to get a BIGGER one.
125x5 @ 8 ohms (no 4 ohm rating on specs) v 375 @ 4 ohms..... 75 amps max current draw... makes a insane difference.
PS I still have 2EQ on my Integra. Can't wait to see what XT32 can do! (can it be march already)
FYI the Carver will be on the market in the near future so if your looking for a decent starter amp @WLDock & @daboyz let me know.....
Lets just say the difference in sound is INCREDIBLE. The dialog opened up, the bass become more clear, and I am guessing its due to the better response and extra overhead of my B&K (200 @ 8 ohms) v the Carver (125x5 @ 8 ohms) and I am sure the difference at 4 ohms is decent as well (B&K is 375, Carver doesnt have a rating I've found).
Now this is NOT to say the Carver is BAD, its actually a GREAT amp as it ran my LSi setup at any volume for years with no issues, complaints and I never tripped it. Its just to say that the B&K is a lot better, but again given what I paid for both it had BETTER be a improvement.
The experience is quite different. Clearer at all volumes, Gunshots have a phenomenal ting, reloading in Halo sounds right (I can hear the shells trickle down the ground which I never heard before), and explosions sound a bit more real.
And the difference with DTS-MA, TrueHD only gets better. I watched my rip of Enders Game last night and it was a different experience. Dolby 5.1 is better as well.
I should mention I also tweaked my crossovers to put my 15's @ 60 hz, the LSiC and F/x are at 80 and I set the F/x as bipole rather than dipole as well, which likely played a slight role in this change.
My sub is EQ'd by my MiniDSP and currently is at @75% gain and set at -1 level wise and the fronts are all at 0 or -1/-2 max. This is v the -12 of the sub with the last EQ run, and the levels at -5 or -6.
So even if you've got a dedicated amp, always try to get a BIGGER one.
125x5 @ 8 ohms (no 4 ohm rating on specs) v 375 @ 4 ohms..... 75 amps max current draw... makes a insane difference.
PS I still have 2EQ on my Integra. Can't wait to see what XT32 can do! (can it be march already)
FYI the Carver will be on the market in the near future so if your looking for a decent starter amp @WLDock & @daboyz let me know.....
"....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
Comments
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It's the 75 amperes Dan, nuthin' like boat loads of current into large radiating surfaces. Not a fair comparison to the Carver if you ask me. I think the Carver is a tad lightweight for the LSI's anyway. Not that it's a bad amp either, neutral sounding, but it has it's limits.
Glad your digging the B&K though, hard to do better at those price points.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 -
Congrats! Glad your enjoying it.
I still enjoyed "Enders Game" even after reading all books in series multiple times... they got more right then wrong & think it was as good as can be done in the a movie.
May have to watch it again now!2 ch- Polk CRS+ * Vincent SA-31MK Preamp * Vincent Sp-331 Amp * Marantz SA8005 SACD * Project Xperience Classic TT * Sumiko Blue Point #2 MC cartridge
HT - Polk 703's * NAD T-758 * Adcom 5503 * Oppo 103 * Samsung 60" series 8 LCD -
It's the 75 amperes Dan, nuthin' like boat loads of current into large radiating surfaces. Not a fair comparison to the Carver if you ask me. I think the Carver is a tad lightweight for the LSI's anyway. Not that it's a bad amp either, neutral sounding, but it has it's limits.
Glad your digging the B&K though, hard to do better at those price points.
Didn't say it was FAIR lol. The Carver actually does a great job but the B&K is just a whole step or two higher."....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963) -
B&K ruled it's price point by a long shot. They where the very best sounding everything anywhere near.
I miss them so much.Dan
My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time. -
B&K ruled it's price point by a long shot. They where the very best sounding everything anywhere near.
I miss them so much.
Amen brother....
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 -
B&K was my first "Real" amp paired with a pair of ProAc Studio 100's monitors...I still remember the combo to this day."2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up.
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Having a beefy amp means never having to say you're sorry to sound quality.
Salk SoundScape 8's * Audio Research Reference 3 * Bottlehead Eros Phono * Park's Audio Budgie SUT * Krell KSA-250 * Harmonic Technology Pro 9+ * Signature Series Sonore Music Server w/Deux PS * Roon * Gustard R26 DAC / Singxer SU-6 DDC * Heavy Plinth Lenco L75 Idler Drive * AA MG-1 Linear Air Bearing Arm * AT33PTG/II & Denon 103R * Richard Gray 600S * NHT B-12d subs * GIK Acoustic Treatments * Sennheiser HD650 * -
SCompRacer wrote: »Having a beefy amp means never having to say you're sorry to sound quality.
LOL... I like that one!
"....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963) -
SCompRacer wrote: »Having a beefy amp means never having to say you're sorry to sound quality.
true dat....lol, but you may need to apologize to the double W.
Wife/wallet
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 -
Funny side note.. my new entertainment center is now sagging under the weight.....
I've put some 2x4 support blocks on it to try and help a bit but man this thing is HEAVY!!!!!!!!!!!
I am slowly getting her to come around to just dropping the money into a Salamander Synergy triple 30.... or a Standout Designs (not as big a fan of those).
The Salamander would just look so stinking nice and I could put my center in it as well."....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
