B&K Reference ST125.2

halo

I just picked up a preowned B&K Reference ST125.2 to hold me over until I get my McCormack amp back from being serviced.

I am very impressed with this amplifier. I'm surprised that there aren't more reviews on this amp out there from the audio enthusiast community. I've heard people on this forum talk about the B&K amps before and they seem to be well regarded. The price was ridiculously low & the seller is giving me a 60-day warranty (I figured I had nothing to lose). I know that B&K is no longer in business but the amp should be serviceable by any qualified technician.

So, how does it sound? Pretty amazing! Instrument separation is fantastic. I do not notice this to be an overly warm or dark sounding piece of equipment. It mates well with the rest of my setup. Vocals are wonderful and instruments are very articulately & accurately reproduced. The bass is accurate and not overly present, with which I am really pleased. This is also a surprisingly light weight amplifier, comparable to the Halo A23, being very easy for me to move this piece around without issue.

When I had the Parasound Halo A23 in my setup, it seemed sterile in comparison to the McCormack. The A23 was too analytical (if that makes any sense). I guess that it lacks the "tube sound" associated with the McCormack & the B&K amplifiers? In my setup, the B&K is a big step up from the A23.

FYI, I'm using MIT Interconnects & Speaker Cables. I have a Creative Cable Concepts "Green Hornet" Digital Coaxial cable running from the music server to the P5.

Silly good amplifier for the price folks. If you have a second system in need of an amp, I would not hesitate to recommend that you try a B&K.

I may take a grinder to the front of it in order to turn the faceplate silver......J/K!

tonyb

I don't think you'll get any arguments from the crowd, we all love B&k stuff and now the used markets make them a stupid good bargain for putting together a system on a budget.

Congrats man, she's a keeper.

mikeyb128

I love, love, love B&K! Very warm, musical, with an excellent soundstage. For the money they are an incredible value.

Dawgfish

Used to own that exact amplifier. Really enjoyed it before moving on to several tube and tube/solid state hybrid amps. I sold it to a friend and he is still enjoying it to this day. As much as I enjoyed the ST125, I had a ST202+ before that that was a large step over the 125 in bass, soundstage, and smoothness. To this day the 202+ is still one of the best amps I've owned. If you ever have a chance to get one, jump on it!

halo

Dawgfish wrote: »

Used to own that exact amplifier. Really enjoyed it before moving on to several tube and tube/solid state hybrid amps. I sold it to a friend and he is still enjoying it to this day. As much as I enjoyed the ST125, I had a ST202+ before that that was a large step over the 125 in bass, soundstage, and smoothness. To this day the 202+ is still one of the best amps I've owned. If you ever have a chance to get one, jump on it!

I'm hoping to get my McCormack DNA-125 back in the mix soon. I'm also using a sub with my bookies so they're good on the bass reproduction. I am very happy with this amp. The instrument separation is what grabs me the most.

Thanks for the comment on the 202+, I will look into it if I decide to stay with B&K over McCormack.

Nightfall

Count me another fan. Wouldn't trade my Reference 4420 for any other entry (~$1k) amp.

hochpt21

Rick88 wrote: »

I had a 200.2 for a while and I loved it! Out of all the gear that's passed through my setup in the last 10 years (and there's been A LOT), it is one of the few I miss the most and wish I still had.

I have owned separate amps from Rotel, Parasound, and B&K. The B&K was easily my favorite.

Congrats on the score, and Rock On!!

I also miss my 200.2

smglbrth

I had this exact model as well. As a matter of fact I preferred it on some different levels compared to the Reference 200.2 which I still have. The ST 125.2 just seemed "livelier", for lack of a better word. The only reason I could see, spec-wise, was that the dynamic range of the 125.2 was 1.4 db, compared to 1.2 db for the 200.2. Don't get me wrong the 200.2 is powerful and sounds, obviously, similar to the 125.2. However, I miss the 125.2 and wish I still had mine...

halo

I am very happy with the B&K but I'm getting the McCormack back from service next weekend. It will be tough to decide which amp is going to stay.

The one thing I wonder about is how B&K rates the power output of their amps. They don't do it from 20Hz - 20kHz, 2ch driven, they do it at 1kHz, 2ch driven. If I'm correct, their rated output is higher than what they actually produce, no?

smglbrth

I remember years ago when I was researching B&K and this same thing popped into my head. I read, somewhere on the internet, that the amps actually put out more power than they rated them. I'm sure someone else will chime in on this as I'm no expert on B&K equipment. Dan should be able to answer this with ease...

mantis

Awesome amp. Love the ST line. B&K was such an amazing company. I miss B&K.

msg

Love to read about listener delight with B&K stuff

I downloaded all the stuff I could from the B&K website a while back. Not sure how the measurements were taken for their specs, but attached is a .pdf of some specs and info for that series of amps and AVRs.

I don't see it on the faceplate - is that considered the Reference model?

halo

msg wrote: »

Love to read about listener delight with B&K stuff

I downloaded all the stuff I could from the B&K website a while back. Not sure how the measurements were taken for their specs, but attached is a .pdf of some specs and info for that series of amps and AVRs.

I don't see it on the faceplate - is that considered the Reference model?

I cannot find any information on the ST125.2 on the web. All the info I see refers to the ST125.2 S2. The S2 appears to be the 2nd version / updated version of the amp I have. I would think the 8 ohm power rating is the same given the name.

smglbrth

Per the two manuals (st and st II) the specs are a little different.

ST125.2 ST125.2 II

140/8ohms - 185/4ohms -- 125/8ohms - 185/4ohms
Input Sensitivity RCA - 1.4V -- 1.0V
Damping Factor - 100 -- 180
Dynamic Headroom - 1.4dB -- 1.2dB

Other than that they are pretty much the same, spec-wise...

halo

smglbrth wrote: »

Per the two manuals (st and st II) the specs are a little different.

ST125.2 ST125.2 II

140/8ohms - 185/4ohms -- 125/8ohms - 185/4ohms
Input Sensitivity RCA - 1.4V -- 1.0V
Damping Factor - 100 -- 180
Dynamic Headroom - 1.4dB -- 1.2dB

Other than that they are pretty much the same, spec-wise...

Thanks!

Can you post a copy the manual here in this thread or send it to me in a pm?

msg

Me also, please, if in PM.

smglbrth

I don't physically have the manuals, I found it on-line under "manualslib.com". Just punch in "B&K 125.2/125.2 II manual" in google and it'll pop up...

halo

Here is the link to the manual for the B&K ST125.1, ST125.2, & ST125.3https://manualslib.com/products/BAndk-St125-2-1720033.html

zarrdoss

I have the same amp as this but series 2 version, wonderful amp, direct descendant of the legendary ST 140. Great score!