Any difference sonically between B&K 7250/200.5 and how would they compare to others?
I'm currently using an Arcam FMJ 100x3 on my front & center. I'm satisfied with the Arcam but I want all 5 channels to match and I don't want to spend the money for a 5 channel Arcam. I'm watching for a good deal. I've seen some great prices on the B&K 7250. I even found a couple new ones. The reviews hear give high ratings but it's hard to take serious reviewers that say the B&K beat the Krell KAV or Bryston. My application will be 90% home theater, so I'm a little worried about comments of the B&K being warm.
I have no doubt the B&K would be a good value for the money but how does it compare to Arcam? Any loss in detail? Most reviewers said the B&K beat brands like Rotel or Adcom, so would you consider it a step up or just better competition.
If your amp is for the HT surround speakers
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr Peabody
I'm currently using an Arcam FMJ 100x3 on my front & center. I'm satisfied with the Arcam but I want all 5 channels to match and I don't want to spend the money for a 5 channel Arcam. I'm watching for a good deal. I've seen some great prices on the B&K 7250. I even found a couple new ones. The reviews hear give high ratings but it's hard to take serious reviewers that say the B&K beat the Krell KAV or Bryston. My application will be 90% home theater, so I'm a little worried about comments of the B&K being warm.
I have no doubt the B&K would be a good value for the money but how does it compare to Arcam? Any loss in detail? Most reviewers said the B&K beat brands like Rotel or Adcom, so would you consider it a step up or just better competition.
Then any possible advantage of going with a matched amp is strictly bragging rights.
The remote possibility that you could hear a difference would only be on SACD that was recorded so that major instrumentation comes out of the rear speakers. To me a SACD pressed this way is wrongly mixed, but there are some examples of it.
Have you ever stopped to listen what comes out of the surrounds?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr Peabody
I beg to differ, I heard a noticeable difference when all front channels match. I expect the same when the back matches the front. For instance, if you hear rain in all channels, I can tell when the sound don't match. Also on effects that may go front to back or back to front should have a better flow, seamless. This finer detail may depend on your preamp as well. Some times the difference is not so much a tonal one but more of a feel of consistency. It's like when the amps match it's more difficult to tell where the speakers are, the sound stage has unity. I may be a minority in this and many may not know what I'm talking about unless you experience it. When amps don't match, it doesn't really stick out like a sore thumb, unless you really have a mismatch, but you really notice the improvement when they do match.
I guess another big thing is how critical one listens while watching a movie. Last year when I first got my C-J amp in the mix, I hadn't even had time to get the levels balanced when my brother wanted to watch the Star Wars movie that just came out. So I humored him. I could tell right off the levels were off and the tubes weren't going to mix with my Arcam. I wanted so bad to stop the movie and at least adjust the levels, I asked my brother a couple times, " does this sound alright?" He thought it sounded good. I was climbing the walls and couldn't wait until the movie was over. That's no way to enjoy a new movie. I've since separated my 2 channel from my HT.
It's not much compared to the front three, and it's also phase shifted and time delayed for effect purposes. That's not something that you can do critical listening on. Of course if the levels are off then there will be a noticable problem. Are you using 5 of exactly the same speaker? If not, then the the speaker's sonic signature would have a order of magnitude greater effect on the sound than any change of amplification might have.
Better amplification is a GOOD thing
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr Peabody
Well, you got me there. I have Audience in the back and Contour in the front. I also used a cheaper grade speaker connect to the back because of distance. So it's not going to be the perfect match. I have and do listen to the rears. First the rears don't get much action and when they do it's rare that they work in unison with the fronts. I'd like to at least try it though to see if it would improve sound or knit things together better. Maybe borrowing and experimenting would be the wiser move. I don't listen to 5 channel music either.
If I had a 5 channel amp it would free up a shelf and one outlet :)
And your speakers love current, so your going to do well by increasing the quality/power of your amplification. I just woudn't expect too much from it, especially with helping match the sound.
Oh, just to let you know; A good friend runs all B&K amplification on his 5.1 B&W system. It works very well. The front two are powered by the reference 200. A very good amp indeed.