Separates Baby..!!!

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jakelm
jakelm Posts: 4,081
edited February 2008 in Electronics
Stepped into the world of separates for my HT system.

Sami has, very generously, sold me his B&K AV5000. Hooking it up tonight, with my newly built cables.

I am very excited to hear the difference, between the internal HK's amp and B&K amp.
Monitor 7b's front
Monitor 4's surround
Frankinpolk Center (2 mw6503's with peerless tweeter)
M10's back surround
Hafler-200 driving patio Daytons
Tempest-X 15" DIY sub w/ Rythmik 350A plate amp
Dayton 12" DVC w/ Rythmik 350a plate amp
Harman/Kardon AVR-635
Oppo 981hd
Denon upconvert DVD player
Jennings Research (vintage and rare)
Mit RPTV WS-55513
Tosh HD-XA1
B&K AV5000


Dont BAN me Bro!!!!:eek:
Post edited by jakelm on
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,872
    edited February 2008
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    Congrats,looking forward to your impressions of the new powerhouse vs the HK.
    Testing
    Testing
    Testing
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  • jakelm
    jakelm Posts: 4,081
    edited February 2008
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    GV#27 wrote: »
    Congrats,looking forward to your impressions of the new powerhouse vs the HK.

    Funny thing is that, this might sound weird, but I'm hopping the HK holds up well, being I have been singing HK praises for years now...lol:p
    Monitor 7b's front
    Monitor 4's surround
    Frankinpolk Center (2 mw6503's with peerless tweeter)
    M10's back surround
    Hafler-200 driving patio Daytons
    Tempest-X 15" DIY sub w/ Rythmik 350A plate amp
    Dayton 12" DVC w/ Rythmik 350a plate amp
    Harman/Kardon AVR-635
    Oppo 981hd
    Denon upconvert DVD player
    Jennings Research (vintage and rare)
    Mit RPTV WS-55513
    Tosh HD-XA1
    B&K AV5000


    Dont BAN me Bro!!!!:eek:
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  • tcrossma
    tcrossma Posts: 1,301
    edited February 2008
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    Congrats. I too will be interested in what you think. When I moved into separates, I started with my B&K amp. It wasn't a night and day difference, but it was an improvement. Every upgrade since has been about the same: an incremental upgrade (including cables, source, and pre). But the results of all the upgrades taken as a whole is a very noticable and enjoyable sound that I simply couldn't achieve with my AVR.
    Speakers: Polk LSi15
    Pre: Adcom GFP-750 with HT Bypass
    Amp: Pass Labs X-150
    CD/DVD Player: Classe CDP-10
    Interconnects: MIT Shortgun S3 Pro XLR
    Speaker cables: MIT MH-750 bi-wire
    TT:Micro Seiki DD-35
    Cartridge:Denon DL-160
    Phono Pre:PS Audio GCPH
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  • jakelm
    jakelm Posts: 4,081
    edited February 2008
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    tcrossma wrote: »
    Congrats. I too will be interested in what you think. When I moved into separates, I started with my B&K amp. It wasn't a night and day difference, but it was an improvement. Every upgrade since has been about the same: an incremental upgrade (including cables, source, and pre). But the results of all the upgrades taken as a whole is a very noticable and enjoyable sound that I simply couldn't achieve with my AVR.


    What was your original pre w/ what B&K amp?
    Monitor 7b's front
    Monitor 4's surround
    Frankinpolk Center (2 mw6503's with peerless tweeter)
    M10's back surround
    Hafler-200 driving patio Daytons
    Tempest-X 15" DIY sub w/ Rythmik 350A plate amp
    Dayton 12" DVC w/ Rythmik 350a plate amp
    Harman/Kardon AVR-635
    Oppo 981hd
    Denon upconvert DVD player
    Jennings Research (vintage and rare)
    Mit RPTV WS-55513
    Tosh HD-XA1
    B&K AV5000


    Dont BAN me Bro!!!!:eek:
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  • tcrossma
    tcrossma Posts: 1,301
    edited February 2008
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    I was using my AVR as my pre. I then added my Adcom GFP750 and use it as my 2-channel pre. It has an HT bypass, so I still use my AVR as a pre for HT.
    Speakers: Polk LSi15
    Pre: Adcom GFP-750 with HT Bypass
    Amp: Pass Labs X-150
    CD/DVD Player: Classe CDP-10
    Interconnects: MIT Shortgun S3 Pro XLR
    Speaker cables: MIT MH-750 bi-wire
    TT:Micro Seiki DD-35
    Cartridge:Denon DL-160
    Phono Pre:PS Audio GCPH
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  • jakelm
    jakelm Posts: 4,081
    edited February 2008
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    tcrossma wrote: »
    I was using my AVR as my pre. I then added my Adcom GFP750 and use it as my 2-channel pre. It has an HT bypass, so I still use my AVR as a pre for HT.


    I'm sorry , let me clarify. Which model B&K amp did you have when you first started out? Was it 5 channel or 2 channel? And which AVR did you have?
    Monitor 7b's front
    Monitor 4's surround
    Frankinpolk Center (2 mw6503's with peerless tweeter)
    M10's back surround
    Hafler-200 driving patio Daytons
    Tempest-X 15" DIY sub w/ Rythmik 350A plate amp
    Dayton 12" DVC w/ Rythmik 350a plate amp
    Harman/Kardon AVR-635
    Oppo 981hd
    Denon upconvert DVD player
    Jennings Research (vintage and rare)
    Mit RPTV WS-55513
    Tosh HD-XA1
    B&K AV5000


    Dont BAN me Bro!!!!:eek:
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  • tcrossma
    tcrossma Posts: 1,301
    edited February 2008
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    Oh, oops, misread your question. I bought my B&K Ref 200.5 (5 channel @ 200w) as my first and only amp. I am currently using it for my fronts (bi-amp'd) and center, and using my AVR for my surrounds.
    Speakers: Polk LSi15
    Pre: Adcom GFP-750 with HT Bypass
    Amp: Pass Labs X-150
    CD/DVD Player: Classe CDP-10
    Interconnects: MIT Shortgun S3 Pro XLR
    Speaker cables: MIT MH-750 bi-wire
    TT:Micro Seiki DD-35
    Cartridge:Denon DL-160
    Phono Pre:PS Audio GCPH
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  • DannyD
    DannyD Posts: 133
    edited February 2008
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    I recently added my first separate amp for my HT as well. I bought a used 5 channel Marantz MM-9000 that is rated at 150wpc. I'm using it to bi-amp my RTI10's and have my center hooked up to it. I can honestly say there is a definite improvent in 2 channel stereo mode. The bass from the 10's is much tighter and they overall really seem to sing better with more power. I can't really say there has been a night and day improvement in regards to movies. I've had it for only a week and have'nt really been able to do much testing. I am using really junk interconnects that the seller of the amp threw in for me. I'm going to change those for signal analog two's very shortly. I will hopefully have more insight in the near future. Have fun with the B&K. One thing is for sure, it can only make your system soung nicer!!
    Fronts: RTI10's
    Center: CSIA6
    Rears: RTIA3's
    Sub: 15" Velodyne DLS5000R x2 Stacked:D:D:D
    Amp: Marantz MM-9000 150wpc (bi-amped for RTI10's) and CSIA6
    Blu-Ray: PS3
    Harman Kardon AVR247
    Monster Cables
    Signal Analog II IC's
    Panamax MP-5300 Power Conditioner
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  • jayman_1975
    jayman_1975 Posts: 672
    edited February 2008
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    You will definitely notice a difference when you put some good IC's in the mix. I just finished discovering that IC's do make an improvement.
    Onkyo TX NR 5008 modified by The Upgrade Company
    Oppo BDP 93 modified by The Upgrade Company
    Arcam CD37
    Monitor Audio Gold GS 60
    Revolver Audio Music 5 towers.(surround)
    Vandersteen V2W
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  • jakelm
    jakelm Posts: 4,081
    edited February 2008
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    Well after about 2 hours of playing with it. There are noticable improvements.

    First the factual:

    1. After driving hard for an hour, the amp never misses a beat. Pun intended...:p

    2. The temp on the HK has cut in half and with the B&K warmed up , its still cooler than the HK.

    3. The HK would output 80dB's at a setting of -14 on the volume. With the exact same calibration, 80dB's was reached at -17 on the volume. Not a big difference in amplification, but a big enough difference to me.

    4. The amp is big, as big as the HK. And the HK635 is no little toy. I was suprised at first that an amp, of this size, would have no heat sinks, but I guess it doesnt get hot enough. The transformer is freakin huge.

    Opinion:

    All I can say is WOW!!! The overal sound quality has improved. The mids are more pronounced. There is twice the ambient noise, from the increase in detail in the mids. The depth, is much more 3D like. Was watching Lost, they were on a ship, the creeking and cracking of the ship noise in the background, just seemed farther back, making the intire audio more 3D.

    All in all, it was a great addition to my HT, it does outperform the HK. Not by much in amplification. But a good bit in sound quality.

    I should be very please with this amp for a good, solid 6 months...lol:D
    Monitor 7b's front
    Monitor 4's surround
    Frankinpolk Center (2 mw6503's with peerless tweeter)
    M10's back surround
    Hafler-200 driving patio Daytons
    Tempest-X 15" DIY sub w/ Rythmik 350A plate amp
    Dayton 12" DVC w/ Rythmik 350a plate amp
    Harman/Kardon AVR-635
    Oppo 981hd
    Denon upconvert DVD player
    Jennings Research (vintage and rare)
    Mit RPTV WS-55513
    Tosh HD-XA1
    B&K AV5000


    Dont BAN me Bro!!!!:eek:
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,630
    edited February 2008
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    Congrats...........there is no going back now. Separates always tend to be more "musical". :)
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | Holo Audio Cyan 2 Dac | MIT Shotgun S1 | Puritan Audio PSM136 Pwr Condtioner & Classic PC's | Legend L600 | Roon Nucleus 1 w/LPS - Tubes add soul!
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  • jakelm
    jakelm Posts: 4,081
    edited February 2008
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    heiney9 wrote: »
    Congrats...........there is no going back now. Separates always tend to be more "musical". :)


    Yeah, I didnt even get into the serious 2 channel yet. Will do that this weekend, when the rest of the family is busy and not wanting to watch movies. I'm curious to see how it will compare the the HK and Hafler in 2 channel.
    Monitor 7b's front
    Monitor 4's surround
    Frankinpolk Center (2 mw6503's with peerless tweeter)
    M10's back surround
    Hafler-200 driving patio Daytons
    Tempest-X 15" DIY sub w/ Rythmik 350A plate amp
    Dayton 12" DVC w/ Rythmik 350a plate amp
    Harman/Kardon AVR-635
    Oppo 981hd
    Denon upconvert DVD player
    Jennings Research (vintage and rare)
    Mit RPTV WS-55513
    Tosh HD-XA1
    B&K AV5000


    Dont BAN me Bro!!!!:eek:
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  • venomclan
    venomclan Posts: 2,467
    edited February 2008
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    Congrats.
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  • john22614
    john22614 Posts: 214
    edited February 2008
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    One of the things I noticed when I got my Anthem was an impressive improvement in the vocal richness and clarity of dialogue from both movies and TV along with the crisper discreet sounds and, of course, vastly improved stereo musical performance. Congrats! B&K makes very nice amps.
    B&W 804s mains
    B&W HTM4 center
    Polk PSW 1000 sub
    Outlaw 990 Pre Amp
    Anthem MCA 30 Amp
    Monitor Radius 180 surrounds
    Audiosource Stereo Amp for surrounds
    Denon 2910 Universal DVD/SACD Player
    Comcast DVR
    Pioneer Elite 42" Plasma 940 HD
    Harmony Universal Remote
    Blue Jeans interconnects and biwires
    Itunes Air Express
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  • jakelm
    jakelm Posts: 4,081
    edited February 2008
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    Just finished listening to Loreena Mckennit on Parndora radio. Absolutly fantastic, even though its rated @ 128kbs.
    Monitor 7b's front
    Monitor 4's surround
    Frankinpolk Center (2 mw6503's with peerless tweeter)
    M10's back surround
    Hafler-200 driving patio Daytons
    Tempest-X 15" DIY sub w/ Rythmik 350A plate amp
    Dayton 12" DVC w/ Rythmik 350a plate amp
    Harman/Kardon AVR-635
    Oppo 981hd
    Denon upconvert DVD player
    Jennings Research (vintage and rare)
    Mit RPTV WS-55513
    Tosh HD-XA1
    B&K AV5000


    Dont BAN me Bro!!!!:eek:
    · Share on Facebook
  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,630
    edited February 2008
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    jakelm wrote: »
    Absolutly fantastic, even though its rated @ 128kbs.

    Not sure how that could be........yuck mp3's :eek:;)
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | Holo Audio Cyan 2 Dac | MIT Shotgun S1 | Puritan Audio PSM136 Pwr Condtioner & Classic PC's | Legend L600 | Roon Nucleus 1 w/LPS - Tubes add soul!
    · Share on Facebook
  • jakelm
    jakelm Posts: 4,081
    edited February 2008
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    heiney9 wrote: »
    Not sure how that could be........yuck mp3's :eek:;)

    I have questioned the 128kbs rate. I have many songs @ 128 with iTunes. Pandora sounds 10 times better than iTunes.
    Monitor 7b's front
    Monitor 4's surround
    Frankinpolk Center (2 mw6503's with peerless tweeter)
    M10's back surround
    Hafler-200 driving patio Daytons
    Tempest-X 15" DIY sub w/ Rythmik 350A plate amp
    Dayton 12" DVC w/ Rythmik 350a plate amp
    Harman/Kardon AVR-635
    Oppo 981hd
    Denon upconvert DVD player
    Jennings Research (vintage and rare)
    Mit RPTV WS-55513
    Tosh HD-XA1
    B&K AV5000


    Dont BAN me Bro!!!!:eek:
    · Share on Facebook