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B&K Ref50 Prepro

post #1 of 96
9/21/02 at 2:46pm
Thread Starter 
Pre ordered today. Ref50 pre-pro & Ref200.5 - 5 X 200 amp. October 15th scheduled delivery date.
Can't wait... All silver too. Home Theater Master MX-700 remote included, fully customized for the Ref50.
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post #2 of 96
9/21/02 at 4:09pm
Wow!!! Congratulations Chip. I'm kind of jealous. What are you replacing?
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post #3 of 96
9/21/02 at 4:31pm
Thread Starter 
Dana,

Right now i'm running a Denon 5803 receiver. I've had it for a few months now. Before the Denon, i had a B&K 307 receiver for about a year. I'm excited about moving to seperates After extensive time with receivers from B&K and Denon, i now know i prefer for sure, the B&K sound.
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post #4 of 96
9/21/02 at 6:34pm
Did they deal on it, and where did you order
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post #5 of 96
9/21/02 at 6:34pm
Chip- Got to ask, how much? Where from? Thanks!
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post #6 of 96
9/22/02 at 5:24am
Thread Starter 
I won't disclose "how much" but i will say i didn't pay list i ordered it from Tweeter,Deptford NJ.
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post #7 of 96
9/22/02 at 11:43pm
Chip- It'd also be nice if you'd could post your impressions here once you get it.
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post #8 of 96
9/23/02 at 2:11pm
Thread Starter 
Chip- It'd also be nice if you'd could post your impressions here once you get it.



I surely will ! It's gonna be a while yet though..
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post #9 of 96
9/23/02 at 2:21pm
Chip,

Did you buy this just because Max told you that it includes the MX-700? I saw that it sparked your interest over at hometheatertalk. Can't believe you jumped so quickly after it with only owning the 5803 so briefly. I am sure you will be impressed. Enjoy your new toy next month
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post #10 of 96
9/23/02 at 6:14pm
Thread Starter 
Greg,


Nooooooo. Lol.. The MX-700 was just an added bonus really. I planned on going back to B&K as soon as i heard about the Ref50. I used to have a 307 receiver and like the sound of B&K over Denon. Plus, i wanna go seperates.
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post #11 of 96
9/23/02 at 8:43pm
Chip , didn't you talk of the Elite for a little while?
Did your friend at tweeter let you trade in you 307 for the 5803 and the 5803 for the ref50 ref200.5 combo ?
Is that part of their policies?
If thats the case you've been upgrading at no cost...way to go!!!!!!!!!!
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post #12 of 96
9/24/02 at 3:54am
Thread Starter 
Matt,

Your memory is rock solid my friend.. The Elite never panned out only because my guy at Tweeter had a really hard time getting the 49TX in back then for whatever reason hence, the 5803. I don't get anything for free trust me. When i upgrade, i pay the difference. With the processing power of the Denon, and having seperates, i believe i'll be done with the Ref50-Ref200.5 combo The only thing i plan on buying hardware wise a few months after i get the new B&K gear is two of the new B&K monoblocks. I'll use the monoblocks for my front left & right main's and let the Ref200.5 handle center & surround duties for a full 7.1 rig. The monoblocks won't happen right away.. I'm working my ass off right now to afford this upgrade. Luckily, moneywise, i'm working out of my area which bumps my rate up (i'm a union cement mason).
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post #13 of 96
9/24/02 at 8:35am
Chip,
what I meant to say was, have you always received the full amount of the gear you had towards the next (more expensive) piece ? I know that Tweeter has a trade up policy and ,correct me if I'm wrong, you seemed to have been able to never loose any of your previous investments...You will have had a 307 ,a 5803 ,and soon a 50/200.5 all for the price of the 50/200.5.......
great way of working the system, I know a lot of people who have bought unit "X' for $2,500 then sold it 6 months later for $1,500 to get unit "y" for $3,000 , then sell that 9 months later for $1,500 to buy units "t & z" for $4,300....God , do the math!!!!
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post #14 of 96
9/24/02 at 10:24am
Just curious, if you liked the sound of B&K so much why did you go from the B&K 307 to the Denon 5803.
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post #15 of 96
9/24/02 at 10:34am
Just curious, if you liked the sound of B&K so much why did you go from the B&K 307 to the Denon 5803.
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post #16 of 96
9/24/02 at 1:48pm
Chip,
Aren't you going to miss the 5803's 2 multichannel analog inputs with bass management?
What about component video upconversion, does the B&K have this important feature? Does the Ref 50 have 3 component video inputs?
How about the Laserdisc AC-3 decoder of the 5803?
Also the Dual Surround Speaker Mode of the Denon, I use this feature a lot, is this important to you?

Don't take this the wrong way, please. I'm more interested to know what features of the Ref 50 have you dumping the 5803?

Regards,
geo
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post #17 of 96
9/24/02 at 2:49pm
Thread Starter 
Aren't you going to miss the 5803's 2 multichannel analog inputs with bass management?



Never used it Geo..


What about component video upconversion, does the B&K have this important feature?



I'm not sure yet if it has it but, i don't use it on the Denon. My Mitsubishi tv has three componet inputs, i have a high def satellite receiver and Sony S9000ES dvd player. They both go direct.


Does the Ref 50 have 3 component video inputs?



I don't know but i can tell you the 307 had two in and one out.




How about the Laserdisc AC-3 decoder of the 5803?



I don't know but, i never owned a lazer disc player.


Also the Dual Surround Speaker Mode of the Denon, I use this feature a lot, is this important to you?



I know the 5803 has this but i never set it up for different surround modes.


Don't take this the wrong way, please. I'm more interested to know what features of the Ref 50 have you dumping the 5803?




I'm looking for DTS-es, PLII, THX Surround-EX, Dolby Digital-EX and to get away from the aweful Atkis remote. The 5803 is a great receiver. Turns out to be a hair bright too my ears compared to B&K. I want to go seperates. If the 307 had the processing features i mentioned, i'da never got rid of it. Me getting the 5803 was kindof a fluke because i really wanted a 49TX. My dealer had problems getting it, the 5803 showed up, i took it. I've been happy with it but, not happy enough to keep it. I got a deal i couldn't pass up to move to the Ref combo.
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post #18 of 96
9/24/02 at 6:40pm
Also the Dual Surround Speaker Mode of the Denon, I use this feature a lot, is this important to you?
================================================== =====
Actually it is the way Denon implements that feature that bothers me...B&K does it so that you only need ONE set of rear surrounds and you can "shift on the fly".....
having sold both for years I say B&K hands down...not for features ,there Denon has the advantage (currently), but for sound quality....Also the presets and notch filtering have spoiled me......I could go on, and on........
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post #19 of 96
9/24/02 at 10:29pm
Quote:
Actually it is the way Denon implements that feature that bothers me...B&K does it so that you only need ONE set of rear surrounds and you can "shift on the fly".....

How exactly does B&K turn dipolar speakers into direct radiating speakers?
And how does B&K move those speakers from side placement to rear placement "on the fly"?

Regards,

geo
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post #20 of 96
9/25/02 at 5:44am
WIDE dispersions in the side position and direct radiators in the rear position ...the B&K allows you to hit the surr. button on the remote and then a # on the 10-digit pad to choose :
"surround 5 side" = 3front and the 2 sides
"surround 5 back" = 3 front and the 2 rears
"surround 6" = 3 front , 2 sides and 2 rears playing mono matrixed rear center info..
"surround 7" = all seven with side and rear channels both playing same l/r surround info (5.1 from 2 pairs)
For the Denon you would need two sets of rear waal speakers plus the sides to do this and you would have to go into the on-screen menu to switch....
I ain't gonna put four speakers on my back wall....
'''''''''''''''''''''''''
This has been covered in other threads....and am looking for other pre-pro's that have this feature....It is very important to me....
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post #21 of 96
9/25/02 at 6:16am
I just got off the phone with B&K to confirm some of the information about the Ref 50, Since today is the start of cedia, I have plans to attend but I just do not see the time available today.
Most that has been leaked on several forums is correct.
Balanced ins and outs.
Yes, The MX-700 remote is included.
The Silver Ref will have matching silver knobs.
The cross-over is still an uncertainty, as to if it
is global as with the Ref 30 or not.
The guys at B&K that I spoke with do not seem to have all the facts straight yet.
Again they write their own software code,
So they can and will add what the public wants as long as the processor is capable.

I will stop by the B&K booth to take a look and speak to George from B&K,
Any further improvement on the flexibility of the Ref 30 is a WIN for all B&K users, The 30 is very flexible at this time.
Let the fun start!
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post #22 of 96
9/25/02 at 6:55am
Quote:
What about component video upconversion, does the B&K have this important feature?
I'd find this feature useful, though not a deal-breaker. It'd mean one less step in the remote's macro commands when switching sources, which means less time I'd have to hold up the remote waiting for all the commands to run through. Maybe it's not as much an issue if the MX-700's dispersion is wider than my MX-500's.
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post #23 of 96
9/25/02 at 8:42am
Quote:
For the Denon you would need two sets of rear waal speakers plus the sides to do this and you would have to go into the on-screen menu to switch....

Actually switching is only a matter of hitting the "Speaker" button on the remote. Hitting this button switches from surround A >>>> surround B >>>>> or both.
The rear surrounds configuration is done during inital setup and can be altered rather easy with two buttons on the remote. I like the way Denon at least gives you the option of using dual surrounds.
However B&K's method looks to be pretty cool also. I wonder if they will have to make some mods to accomodate the new formats now included on the Ref 50?

Regards,

geo
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post #24 of 96
9/25/02 at 10:48am
Geo,
I new about the switching on the Denon remote ,just CAN'T abide 3 or 4 speakers along the rear wall....and everytime I explain this somebody tries to come up with a "switch-box" solution that will make the denon work with only 2 rears ...0000
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post #25 of 96
9/25/02 at 3:40pm
Thread Starter 
Jerry,

Absolutely report back with anything you dig up. If your bringing a digital camera and can snap some pic's especially of the back panel, that'd be great.
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post #26 of 96
9/25/02 at 3:54pm
Quote:
The cross-over is still an uncertainty, as to if it
is global as with the Ref 30 or not.

Hmm...that's a potential bad sign. This thing is due to ship in October, right? -and they don't know the status of the crossover? That strikes me as odd.
Granted, it's a software change but judging by the length of time it takes most companies to offer software upgrades you've got to wonder.
Of course, it could have just been ignorance on the part of the person you spoke to.
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post #27 of 96
9/25/02 at 4:35pm
Camp,
He did say that the sales staff knows much more about the
Ref 50 then the tech department that I spoke with.
I'm sure that this will be one sweet pre.
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post #28 of 96
9/26/02 at 9:03am
Thread Starter 
Here's some info someone posted at AVS from a spec sheet:



Surround formats:
Dolby- DD/DPL2/EX
DTS- ES/Neo6
THX- Ultra2

Inputs:
Unbalanced RCA 7
Balanced XLR 2
Digital Ins Optical/Coax 5/6
Composite 7
S-video 7
Component 4

Outputs
Unbalanced RCA 8 Zone A
Balanced XLR 8 Zone A
Analog Zone B 1 pair
Digital Out Optical/coax 1/1 Zone A 0/1 Zone B
Composite 5
S-video 5
Component 1

Audio
Frequency response +0/-0.5db 5hz-20khz
Line Level Sensitivity: 2V in, 1.5V out (0db)
S/N A weighted 89db
Output impedance 221

FM/AM Tuner

Dimensions 17w 5 3/4h 10d
Weight 10lb.
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post #29 of 96
9/26/02 at 9:53am
Quote:
Can't wait... All silver too. Home Theater Master MX-700 remote included, fully customized for the Ref50.

Quote:
Yes, The MX-700 remote is included.
It appears then that the MX-700, or an OEM version of it, is included with the Ref50, correct? The question then is, do they include the initial file that is loaded into the MX-700 as well as a cable? One can always make a cable, but if the file (or the individual device files) is not included, then how is one to augment the remote's functions without losing the pre-loaded devices? Each new download from the PC to the MX-700 fully overwrites what was there before. An alternative is if the Ref50 device file is available from either B&K or URC. Of course, any further customizations done by the retailer would require the updated file, although I doubt Tweeter will normally be doing this.

Oh yea, one more solution if the file is not provided: if one has a different learning remote, one can learn each MX-700 command to the other remote, then transmit it back to the MX-700 while it's connected to the PC in learn mode. This will create the PC file needed and will thus allow further customization. All this assumes that if this is an OEM version of the remote that either the URC software will work with it or B&K provides the necessary software. Also, I assume the hardware functions are the same as the retail unit.

I have not been keeping up on info at remotecentral, so maybe there's info about the B&K version of the remote or OEM versions in general, if there is even an OEM version.

BTW, it's a great remote!

Doug
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post #30 of 96
9/26/02 at 1:30pm
Finally, a freq response that *means* something:

Quote:
Frequency response +0/-0.5db 5hz-20khz

Rather than the 20 to 100 kHz, - 3 dB that a lot of components quote now...
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