B&K Power Amp Opinions...

[2sixR]

I'm looking for a power amp to help drive my JBL L80T speakers (with T3 crossovers)... I have a limited budget and the Adcom 545 II was at the top of my list until I came across a B&K ST2140... I have never had a power amp in my system before so don't know anything about them other than what I have read on the forums... would the ST2140 be worth an extra $150 or so over the Adcom... any feedback appreciated... thanks.

 

[mnilan]

B & K amp

2sixR:
I can't give you a definitive answer to your question as I have never heard an Adcom amp. However, I can say that I have been using B&K amps for years to drive Magnepan speakers (MG 1.6s and MG 10s mostly) and I find them to be very fine, reliable amps with plenty of power to drive the Maggies. I like B&K as a company and the few times I have needed assistance or service on my amps, they have been very professional and helpful.

 

[hatrack71]

I have an ST2140. Great sounding amp! I like it better than any Adcom amp I have heard- even the GFA-555.

 

[gearhound]

I owned a 105wpc B&K ST-140 amplifier from 1988 to 2010, when I gave it to my son.
I thought it was a GREAT sounding amp, driving a little pair of power-hungry early 80's B&W DM12 speakers.

Two things of note:

1) The B&K ST-140 amplifier does NOT do well with 4 ohm loads.
ALL of the other B&K amplifier models are fine with 4 ohm loads.

2) B&K has just recently went out of business.
While there are probably spare parts to be found on-line, somewhere at least?
You'll have to find a good amp tech to do repairs, or if capable, do them yourself.

Steve

 

[audio1025]

I think B&K is now owned by another company, ATI, Amplifier Technologies, so support and service is available.

 

[thedelihaus]

I like the ST-140. Warm, smooth.

Love the ST-202 and ST-202+. Warm, smooth, but more "oomph", and for the "+" model, more articulate, more detailed

Ecstatic for the dual-mono EX-442 and EX-442 Sonata. (I currently own three). Velvet hammers. Smooth, powerful, very articulate withever sounding brash or hard or edgy.

Damn lusty for the monoblock version of the 442, the M200. See above, and add a tiny bit more power and resolution.

If the B&K ST2140 are anything like the above, it's a winner.


I have lots of respect for Adcom, but the B&K models are better in my opinion.

 

[Uncle Paul]

I think B&K is now owned by another company, ATI, Amplifier Technologies, so support and service is available.

ATI is an outstanding company. They even wind their own toroidal transformers. If I were to ever buy a new amplifier (not new to me, but actually in the box new) it would be ATI. No blue lights or frills, just the highest level of performance. One of our forum members uses ATI to power a pair of JBL 9900 K2's with great success.

 

[goldear]

I've always enjoyed the sound of B&K amps myself.

 

[aldread]

As you can tell by my signature, I like B&K products. The amplifier that I have is the 5125, it's 5 x 125 watts. I bought my HT preamp on eBay and it required service. B&K was located in Buffalo, NY before they were sold to ATI. Even though ATI is going to make new B&K products, in conjunction with ATI the service on the legacy items is being done by Eastern Elite Audio Visual in Buffalo. EE-AV is comprised of employees of the original B&K. They serviced my preamp quickly and competently.

Eastern Elite is even coming out with their own line of tube amps!

B&K's price/preformance ratio is outstanding, their products were quite expensive when new, and are very reasonably priced now They are MOSFET amps, with toroidal transformers etc. I think they are a great bargain.

 

[Renzor213]

Both Adcom and B&K make very nice amps, but've heard from some here, the Adcoms don't don't hold up so well when getting on in years. Something to consider, as shop repairs could easily run $150 bucks. Bettin' you'll like going with a power amp, as been using high power seperates for years, and never really considered doing it any other way.

 

[audio1025]

I think B&K is now owned by another company, ATI, Amplifier Technologies, so support and service is available.

I have the Reference 20 preamp and it is outstanding. Clean sound, solid construction, nice DAC. The faceplate is 1/4" machined aluminum and it weighs a lot, if that means anything.

 

[2sixR]

thanks to all for the feedback... went ahead and made an offer the seller accepted on the ST2140... hopefully it'll be packaged up properly to survive shipping... better stop now with the audio stuff, the wife is getting tired of it... looking forward to hearing the JBL L80T's with T3 crossovers and recap with the B&K power amp...