Aragon 8008BB vs B&K M200 monoblock amps

audioluvr

Looking to to upgrade and I have these two locally I'm considering. Both are in the $1,000 budget I'm trying to keep. Thoughts?

Viking64

Find a way to buy both of them. Compare them against each other. Then sell the one you like less.

audioluvr

Viking64 wrote: »

Find a way to buy both of them. Compare them against each other. Then sell the one you like less.

I wish I could! Maybe offer a shoot out competition

Nightfall

Well, the B&K monoblocks are already out unless you have AI-1 or Dreadnought.

Do you know if the Aragon is common ground?

DaveHo

Nightfall wrote: »

Well, the B&K monoblocks are already out unless you have AI-1 or Dreadnought.

Do you know if the Aragon is common ground?

This is a good point. I know my 8008x3 is not, but it's a 3 channel amp, so...

pitdogg2

http://www.indyaudiolabs.com/blog/2013/4/11/common-ground-amplifier-designs

http://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/160279/aragon-amps-with-sda-speakers

audioluvr

Nightfall wrote: »

Well, the B&K monoblocks are already out unless you have AI-1 or Dreadnought.

Do you know if the Aragon is common ground?

Yes I have the Dreadnaught.

Nightfall

audioluvr wrote: »

Nightfall wrote: »

Well, the B&K monoblocks are already out unless you have AI-1 or Dreadnought.

Do you know if the Aragon is common ground?

Yes I have the Dreadnaught.

B&K sounds great and if you have the proper space for them and your power circuit isn't already too loaded monoblocks are just cool is my vote.

TNTsTunes

Nightfall wrote: »

audioluvr wrote: »

Nightfall wrote: »

Well, the B&K monoblocks are already out unless you have AI-1 or Dreadnought.

Do you know if the Aragon is common ground?

Yes I have the Dreadnaught.

B&K sounds great and if you have the proper space for them and your power circuit isn't already too loaded monoblocks are just cool is my vote.

If he can get B&K monoblocks they are the way to go. They are very high current amps, they can deliver twice the current a 200.2 can, the power supplies are the same. They have 150 amps of current available to drive the most power hungry speakers there are without breaking a sweat.

I would be all over those.

msg

I'm a big B&K fan, but I just started reading about this Aragon. I'm intrigued. Dual 1.1KVA toroids? Pfwhewee. I love the B&K sound, but I'd want to check out this Aragon, too.

I have no sense of whether these transformers are anything like the Avel Lindberg KVA used in the Dreadnought, but if they are... well I don't know what that means, but I'm curious now, because even just one of those AvLin ones is friggin mmmassive.

I couldn't find a current spec for the 8008BB, but Aragon's product page says it can take advantage of one's entire 15A/120V circuit? What/how that works I don't know.

Wouldn't want this dilemma like Viking says, I'd be trying to justify buying both to compare.

pitdogg2

msg wrote: »

I'm a big B&K fan, but I just started reading about this Aragon. I'm intrigued. Dual 1.1KVA toroids? Pfwhewee. I love the B&K sound, but I'd want to check out this Aragon, too.

I have no sense of whether these transformers are anything like the Avel Lindberg KVA used in the Dreadnought, but if they are... well I don't know what that means, but I'm curious now, because even just one of those AvLin ones is friggin mmmassive.

I couldn't find a current spec for the 8008BB, but Aragon's product page says it can take advantage of one's entire 15A/120V circuit? What/how that works I don't know.

Wouldn't want this dilemma like Viking says, I'd be trying to justify buying both to compare.

From the early amps I heard from Mondial Designs were arc welders. They grabbed a hold of speakers and made them their biotch. I have not heard any of the amps once the went to Klipch or Indy audio. I can't imagine they changed but one never knows.

Dawgfish

I prefer the house sound of B&K (warm and smooth) all day and twice on Sunday over the Aragon house sound (bright and fatiguing).

Jetmaker737

Dawgfish wrote: »

I prefer the house sound of B&K (warm and smooth) all day and twice on Sunday over the Aragon house sound (bright and fatiguing).

I ran an Aragon 8008 MkII for eight years and never would describe it that way. It is/was excellent. Ran it with LSI-15s and then SF Cremonas with a ModWright tube pre. The MkII is identical internally to the 8008BB but with Klipsh cosmetics which look a lot better. Only went away from it due to downsizing to an integrated. In fact if someone is interested I will be letting it go.

audioluvr

Ya, I'm really leaning towards the B&K's especially since I have an outlet behind each speaker and they are on separate circuits...

audioluvr

Well I picked up the B&K M200 Sonata mono's today. Opened them up to clean them but they were in pretty good shape. These are really simple inside. One 1kva transformer, 4 beer can sized Panasonic capacitors and one pcb with
a zillion sandcast resistors. Transformer says "made exclusively for B&K 1992".

My first impression compared to the Carver M1.0 mk2 was slightly more/tighter bass, imaging was much more defined. These attributes I am very pleased with but there was a crispness to certain sounds like horns, and when fingers are slid across guitar strings, that took on an almost harshness that soon turned fatiguing. I would play a song or two on one amp then switch to the other. Listening to classical, country, rock, pop and techno.

At higher volumes on certain music I would almost have to say I like the warm, non-fatiguing sound of the Carver better.

BUT in the meantime I think I will leave the B&K's hooked up for a while. I may get used to them.

pitdogg2

Nice

Gerres26

I don't have direct experience with the B&K monoblocks, but I've owned a few other B&K amps and I'm really surprised by the fatiguing sound comment. Maybe these need a little refreshing? Normally B&K sound is described as musical and maybe even a little laid back.

I've also never heard that Carver amp so maybe it is even more laid back sounding than the standard B&K offering.

audioluvr

Essentially I am comparing a 26 year old amp to one that's better than new. Many other factors here as well. Could be my ears are sensitive to certain higher frequencies. Who knows. I am bringing friends over tomorrow to get 3rd party evaluation... Right now I'm listening to Depeche Mode on them. Love the image clarity these produce. I'm curious what can be done to them upgrade wise

audioluvr

Update: I recently set up my presets on my B&K Pre/Pro and moved my DVD player to the CD input since I never used it as a DVD. Well in doing so I forgot to check how the previous owner had programmed the settings (I had the DVD set up flat). Long story short they were set up with the treble turned WAY up. Now I'm pretty sure I will be keeping them. I still like the warm sound the Carver produces but I think they will be going into my barn with the SDA 2.3's.

Clipdat

Glad it was a simple fix/tweak. Those are great looking amps and from what you are describing, they image like a ****! Nice choice.

Got any pics of them or your setup?

headrott

Firstly, congratulations on the purchase of the B&K monoblocks.

I have not heard the B&K's, but I used to own the Mondial made Aragon 8008bb amplifier. For my tastes, B&K makes a warmer (but also less detailed) sounding amplifier. The bass is looser, and more muddy sounding (I won't say muddy, however).

The Aragon 8008bb is a great amp and as stated, will control your speakers with ease. The reason I sold it was because (to my ears) it was "robo-bass" sounding. The bass sounded artificial because it was too well controlled. The high end was on the harsh side and the midrange needed more warmth and presence, IMO.

I think you made the right choice going with the B&K.

I wanted to suggest an upgrade at some point. Mine was from was from the Aragon to a Pass Aleph 30, to a Balanced Audio Technology VK-200 (which I recently sold) and now own a BAT VK-255SE.

I would suggest upgrading to a Balanced Audio Technology amplifier at some point as it is a great balance of solid, tight bass (without being "robo-bass"), warm midrange and highs, all with having excellent detail and resolution.

audioluvr

headrott wrote: »

Firstly, congratulations on the purchase of the B&K monoblocks.

I have not heard the B&K's...

I would suggest upgrading to a Balanced Audio Technology amplifier at some point...

Thanks, the more I listen to them the more I like them. Imaging went from "somewhere over there to "Bam! pinpoint accuracy!"

Ya, I wanted to get your BAT amp but the timing just wasn't right. It's all a work in progress here but other than a couple line conditioners and figuring a rack system I'm pretty happy with what I have.

Anybody know if these amps can be safely operated in the vertical position?

pitdogg2

I wouldn't operate them vertically

audioluvr

Gotcha

afterburnt

audioluvr wrote: »

headrott wrote: »

Firstly, congratulations on the purchase of the B&K monoblocks.

I have not heard the B&K's...

I would suggest upgrading to a Balanced Audio Technology amplifier at some point...

Thanks, the more I listen to them the more I like them. Imaging went from "somewhere over there to "Bam! pinpoint accuracy!"

Ya, I wanted to get your BAT amp but the timing just wasn't right. It's all a work in progress here but other than a couple line conditioners and figuring a rack system I'm pretty happy with what I have.

Anybody know if these amps can be safely operated in the vertical position?

The SKS is a nice touch, really makes a statement.

audioluvr

afterburnt wrote: »

The SKS is a nice touch, really makes a statement.

Not as much as the sign at the bottom of the driveway...

afterburnt

audioluvr wrote: »

afterburnt wrote: »

The SKS is a nice touch, really makes a statement.

Not as much as the sign at the bottom of the driveway...

I want some of those signs to place randomly around my patrol

audioluvr

Pretty much stopped people from coming up my driveway randomly. I fish occasionally with some county deputies and that was their first reaction too. " Oh I have GOT to get some of these!"