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B@K EX442 Sonata

N

Noamtasini

New Member
Thinking of pairing this with my magnepan LRS+.
A few questions to the experts on here.
Would $650 be a decent price to pay for this amplifier these days via ebay?
Considered, so I've read, to be a warmish /tubey sounding amp(if that can even be a thing; as amps shouldn't be coloring the sound, but amping the signal in a stable manner) , would a tube preamp be overkill or just stick with a SS preamplifier ?
Lastly... Any speaker protection embedded in its circuitry ?
Horror stories and such a-la Adcom?
Thanks for any info you folks have from your personal experience.
 
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that's about an average price for them nowadays. my 6 ch sonata is on the "warmish" sounding side.

some 442 have fuses on the outputs as the only protection, i think that some don't but i could be wrong. both rails on each channel are normally fused as well.

my vmr 654, is has a dual power supply with separate windings , rectifiers, caps for each bank of 3 channels. it appears to be super beefy and rated for 4 ohms yet, driving 2 channels, it delivers less power to 4 ohms than 8 on dummy loads(90wpc@4 vs 117wpc@8). not sure if this a trend with b&k.

i've had my b&k for over 20 years and it never gave me a problem being powered on 24/7 for a good 10 years. i did get a noisy mosfet a few years ago, which i replaced and i recapped it and aligned it at the same time. i have totally abused that amp and it kept going.

i have thought about buying some sonata series monoblocks but that whole 4 ohm/8 ohm output on mine has kept me from it.

if that 442 runs as hot as my 654 did, it's well past due for a recap
 
I have that same amp that I got from a shop in CA last year. I paid $290 shipped, so $650 seems a little high to me.
I love how it sounds with my B&W 802f, which are also difficult loads. It's never had a problem.
There seem to be a few different looking versions of this amp, and most B&K amps for that matter.
Here's a pic under the hood.

20221217_092841.jpg
 
Those are some great feedbacks you're giving me. Man, that thing was really well designed and built robustly . Impressive.
Definitely seems 'highish' in price. Maybe he'll accept a lower offer.
 
WillVT said:
There seem to be a few different looking versions of this amp
Click to expand...

EX442 with Hitachi metal cans (1988-1990) and EX442 Sonata with Toshiba metal cans (1990-1993)

The older 442 has an amperage rating of 50 vs 75 for the Sonata; also damping factor of 350 vs. 450 ( @ 50 Hz) for the Sonata.

Both rated at 200 wpc in 8 ohms and 350 wpc into 4 ohms.
 
I've also seen some with rack handles and with an external heatsink in the rear. Mine has 2 internal heatsinks.
 
So.. I'm a bit shocked.
He accepted $400!
100% feedback as a seller. Claims excellent condition and looks that way. I guess I'm the owner unexpectedly . Hope it's a good amp and no mechanical issues. . Returns accepted thankfully within 30 days. Was just low balling but you never know I guess. Probably could've gotten for less
 
WillVT said:
Nice! Be sure to show us pics when you get it!
Click to expand...
The whole concept is a Maggie room for my Jazz, classical, rock, Blues. Other room has the harder stuff sorted.
I was searching good amps for maggies, and this one came up with great past reviews and experiences. So I thought let's see..
Now I actually have to buy maggies.. Turntable.. DAC.. Preamplifier.. CD.. Stand.. Room treatment.. Ughhh
Hope I'm not disappointed, as the Sonata will be awaiting all the ancillary items.. You know.. To actually make music happen.
I need your reassurance and support is what I'm saying :)
 
So now the hunt for a good preamp is on. ;)
Was thinking of the Schitt Saga+(tube preamp) , but if reviews are to be trusted, the B@K EX442 Sonata is warmish/ tubish sounding as is. Would it be overkill in your opinion folks? Perhaps better to stick to SS for transparency and have the best of both worlds?
Any preamplifier under $500 used or new will be entertained. The Sonata takes balanced input as well I've noticed, so opens up the search wider still.
System will do it all: Vinyl, Qobuz and CDs.
I'm definitely not a bass head, but might add a sub to the LRS+ if I'll need that 80HZ and below fill.
I EQ as well if need be. Voracious apietite for all generes.
Thanks for any advice and/or direction you can impart my way.
 
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Like those B&K amps. I ran my Magneplanar 1.6 with an ST-202 (200wpc into 4ohms) amp. It could get a bit warm after long listening sessions, but not often.
I had that amp for 21 years!
 
PhotonDon said:
Like those B&K amps. I ran my Magneplanar 1.6 with an ST-202 (200wpc into 4ohms) amp. It could get a bit warm after long listening sessions, but not often.
I had that amp for 21 years!
Click to expand...
I'll probably get the LRS or LRS+, as the. 7 will probably be too much for my 11X13X9 room.
What preamp did you use?
 
I have an original Saga (which is now the + version) fed (normally) into a B&K ex4420. The tube is a buffer, and really doesn't change the sound that much. And can be switched off. It's a great little pre for the money, and I highly recommend it.
 
rickb119 said:
I have an original Saga (which is now the + version) fed (normally) into a B&K ex4420. The tube is a buffer, and really doesn't change the sound that much. And can be switched off. It's a great little pre for the money, and I highly recommend it.
Click to expand...
I'm thinking of the Saga+ or the Saga as well. Great price and functionality. Being called a tad warm of an amp, maybe just the Saga.. Then again the Saga + could do tube rolling and have some fun, or just turn off the buffer and run it passive.
 
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