Found a B&K Deal Today and some listening experiences
pjdami
Posts: 1,894
Well, looks like I finally stumbled on a nice deal today that I just couldn't pass up. The "why doesn't this ever happen to me" feeling when all of you guys find some nice deals around finally happened to me for a change. What goes around comes around? I said to myself I didn't need any more gear.. Have some self control... right.
Picked up a B&K Reference EX4420 two channel stereo amp at about 1/3 original price from my local B&K dealer. 350 watts into 4 ohms peak and 75 amps current draw. Almost identical specs to the Ref 200.2. This is the generation reference amp prior to the 200.2.
While I was there, I got the privilege to check out and listen to some Martin Logan Ascents on a Krell KAV400xi integrated with a new Rotel RCD 1072 cd player. All wire used was Transparent as they are also a dealer for them and they firmly believe it is the best wire out there. Very clean and clear open sound not bright at all (some people say Krell is bright). I guess it depends on the equipment matching.
Next room were the Martin Logan Aeon i's on the new Rotel RSP-1098 processer. Amp was the Rotel RB-1095. Source was the Pioneer Elite 59 player (the new one). Huge DLP screen from Samsung. Room was setup just like a living room. Couches, carpeting, drapes behind the seating position, and some canvas paintings along the sides of the wall (I guess these help to reduce some reflections). I just sat there for about 1/2 hour just digging it all in. The new Rotel sounds more refined to me than the RSX-1055 I had. Could have been that I was listening to DVD Audio and watching at the same time (as I usually just listen to redbook) but it was pretty impressive. I have a SACD player and I'm not even taking advantage of it. This will change after this demo. The two channel dinosaur that I am has been schooled a little. I still like two channel redbook, but this surround experience was very enjoyable to say the least.
So after that thrilling experience, the salesman asks me what I think and I said it was pretty awesome. So he says you want to see our "reference room". I'm like sure. He takes me to the back room where they have the Martin Logan Odysseys on Krell seperates and a Martin Logan sub. Source was Meridian. Some really high end Transparent wire used here. This had to be the best system I have ever heard in my life. The room was huge and I briefly listened at about 100 db with the system not straining at all. I don't know how loud it could have gotten but I never listen to these levels anyways. I felt poor walking out that showroom after listening to over $25,000 (or more, I have no clue) worth of gear. The good news is that I felt that the Martin Logan sub really wasn't much more impressive than my SVS. It sounded very good and musical but this was the only saving grace here that I felt like I wasn't bested by with my system.
So I get home and hook up the new amp to my PT5 and Jolida cd player as the source with the LSi 15s. With more than double the current available now (compared to the ST125.2 amp I own) I felt like this was the best I ever heard the 15s. I turned the sub off and ran the 15s full range. After a while, I felt like this sounded pretty damn good. Bass from the 15s was very nice on some tracks. Not as deep as when I have the SVS on but still I could feel the vibrations in my chair sitting about 10 feet away with a very focused center "thump". I still feel like the LSi are a great value. They aren't Martin Logans but when one compares the cost of systems here I think they are a great value and very enjoyable to own.
Needless to say, I had an "earful" today. Multichannel SACD is on the horizon for this dinosaur as well.
Picked up a B&K Reference EX4420 two channel stereo amp at about 1/3 original price from my local B&K dealer. 350 watts into 4 ohms peak and 75 amps current draw. Almost identical specs to the Ref 200.2. This is the generation reference amp prior to the 200.2.
While I was there, I got the privilege to check out and listen to some Martin Logan Ascents on a Krell KAV400xi integrated with a new Rotel RCD 1072 cd player. All wire used was Transparent as they are also a dealer for them and they firmly believe it is the best wire out there. Very clean and clear open sound not bright at all (some people say Krell is bright). I guess it depends on the equipment matching.
Next room were the Martin Logan Aeon i's on the new Rotel RSP-1098 processer. Amp was the Rotel RB-1095. Source was the Pioneer Elite 59 player (the new one). Huge DLP screen from Samsung. Room was setup just like a living room. Couches, carpeting, drapes behind the seating position, and some canvas paintings along the sides of the wall (I guess these help to reduce some reflections). I just sat there for about 1/2 hour just digging it all in. The new Rotel sounds more refined to me than the RSX-1055 I had. Could have been that I was listening to DVD Audio and watching at the same time (as I usually just listen to redbook) but it was pretty impressive. I have a SACD player and I'm not even taking advantage of it. This will change after this demo. The two channel dinosaur that I am has been schooled a little. I still like two channel redbook, but this surround experience was very enjoyable to say the least.
So after that thrilling experience, the salesman asks me what I think and I said it was pretty awesome. So he says you want to see our "reference room". I'm like sure. He takes me to the back room where they have the Martin Logan Odysseys on Krell seperates and a Martin Logan sub. Source was Meridian. Some really high end Transparent wire used here. This had to be the best system I have ever heard in my life. The room was huge and I briefly listened at about 100 db with the system not straining at all. I don't know how loud it could have gotten but I never listen to these levels anyways. I felt poor walking out that showroom after listening to over $25,000 (or more, I have no clue) worth of gear. The good news is that I felt that the Martin Logan sub really wasn't much more impressive than my SVS. It sounded very good and musical but this was the only saving grace here that I felt like I wasn't bested by with my system.
So I get home and hook up the new amp to my PT5 and Jolida cd player as the source with the LSi 15s. With more than double the current available now (compared to the ST125.2 amp I own) I felt like this was the best I ever heard the 15s. I turned the sub off and ran the 15s full range. After a while, I felt like this sounded pretty damn good. Bass from the 15s was very nice on some tracks. Not as deep as when I have the SVS on but still I could feel the vibrations in my chair sitting about 10 feet away with a very focused center "thump". I still feel like the LSi are a great value. They aren't Martin Logans but when one compares the cost of systems here I think they are a great value and very enjoyable to own.
Needless to say, I had an "earful" today. Multichannel SACD is on the horizon for this dinosaur as well.
Post edited by pjdami on
Comments
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Congrats on your find. Sounds like you spent the day well too.
Don't forget that SACD's play 2 channel as well, you don't need a multi-channel set up to enjoy it.Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
Yeah F1. I already bought two hybrid SACDs today. From now on, if the hybrids are available I'm getting that over redbook only for cds even if it is a few dollars more.
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Nice report and congrats on your find, I really like the sound of my B&K, and Jesse got it going on with SACD 2 ch, a great way to get the best of both worlds.
My Fleetwood Mac DVD-audio has the same option of either multi or stereo. -
Great report, Paul. Nice to see how the other 1/2 lives every now and then.
"What we do in life echoes in eternity"
Ed Mullen (emullen@svsound.com)
Director - Technology and Customer Service
SVS -
pjdami,
Control is what I think is better there.Having more current and a higher dampening factor is why your Lsi's sound better.Not to mention a new level of detail is onlocked.Such a nice find man,congrads.
Martin Logan subs are so Impressive.This is there first wave of them.You feel SVS subs are that good?man why can't I get a demo of a SVS sub?Do I just need to break down my own rule,buy one and demo in my own house???Is this the only way I can get the demo????
Man..........:(
DanDan
My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time. -
Great deal, Paul!
Once you're ready with SACD MC, try out Diana Krell latest "Girl in..." You'll love it!I am sorry, I have no opinion on the matter. I am sure you do. So, don't mind me, I just want to talk audio and pie. -
Martin Logan subs are so Impressive.This is there first wave of them.You feel SVS subs are that good?
Dan, the Martin Logan sub they had playing in the "reference" room was the Descent. I think this sub retails for $2,700. Like I said it was nice and I only spent about 20 minutes or so with it in that room but I felt like it didn't give me anything beyond what my SVS PB1+ can do. In fact in some ways I felt like it wasn't quite as clean with the depth of the bass as my SVS. So many variables here as calibration comes into play. People in and out of that room all day and I wouldn't be surprised if someone effed with the gain on the sub and it was too exaggerated. I will have to go back with some DVDs and music as the salesman invited me over at any time he said. People bring their lunch here to this place during work hours. It is like a big audio playground / refuge. So cool that is.
If you even remotely thought that the Outlaw sub you heard at the New York Entertainment show was good then you might just like a SVS. As Doc mentioned in another thread, that Outlaw sub is pretty much equivalent to the HSU STF-3 in design. The SVS PB1+ and the SVS PC-Ultra are right up your alley in the $1,200 price point and both of these subs will outperform the Outlaw subs you heard due to the better drivers / amps.
There is a website where people sign up and offer local demos to others that live near them. I'll have to look that up; kind of in a hurry right now but maybe somebody else remembers what it is. Somebody up there in Philly near you just has to have a SVS in their system somewhere.
Then there is the new LSi sub coming out next month as well. that should be interesting. Is the place you working for going to get them in?
For the price / performance, I felt the new Rotel gear, especially the RSP-1098 / RB-1095 combo with the Aeons was the most impressive. Although not cheap, this gear is within the reaches of affordability for some of us. Krell $15,000 seperates with a $5,000 Meridian player perhaps not. -
pjdami,
the Outlaw sub I heard at the show was nice for the money.600 bucks and your into a nice sounding wooferbox.I don't however think it would make me happy.
It would be cool to go hear someones SVS sub in there home.For some reason or another I'm not a big fan of buying something,demoing it,then if I don't care for it,having to pack it up and send it back,wait for my money to return.This might be the best way to go about it, but Call me old fashion or something.
The Descent is an incredible subwoofer.I have installed them and found they work well even in the largest rooms.Pressure is remarkable.Sound quality is very musical and gone with in the room.
Yes we will be carring the LSIW sub as soon as it gets here.I believe middle of the month it will hit the stores.I'm gonna demo it as well.
DanDan
My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time. -
Dan,
I am certainly not saying that the SVS is for you. You may love it or hate it or it may be so-so. A demo is in order for sure though if you are going to be buying a sub. You may get a pleasant surprise then again maybe not. Who knows but you?
Didn't Doc invite you over to his place a while back? Don't know how far a drive that would be but sounds like fun for you two to hook up. Doc bought some LSi 7s and some Outlaw monoblocks which would be fun to hear firsthand.
I'm still looking for that website where you can get invited to listen to other peoples gear. I thought I saw it over at HTF once. I'll keep looking.
