Less known manufacturers

[psbfan9]

I'm looking to upgrade my receiver, an Onkyo 608, so I can add an external amp. I'm looking at the Emotiva XPA-3.

So, we all know Denon, Marantz, NAD, Onkyo, and Yamaha, etc,..

Searching for a new receiver I've found a company called B&K. They were in NY until 2010 when they were sold to ATI. They are also an American company which may help with TLSGUY's dislike of Asian made receiver/amps.

B&K Components: High End Audio Equipment Manufacturer : Home

My question is, are there other receiver/amp manufacturers that are not as well known as the ubiquitous amps mentioned above? Are they quality well built receiver/amps?

What I'm looking for is a receiver that will allow me to add an external amp, has great video processing, sounds great, and has internet radio on board.

 

[highfigh]

I'm looking to upgrade my receiver, an Onkyo 608, so I can add an external amp. I'm looking at the Emotiva XPA-3.

So, we all know Denon, Marantz, NAD, Onkyo, and Yamaha, etc,..

Searching for a new receiver I've found a company called B&K. They were in NY until 2010 when they were sold to ATI. They are also an American company which may help with TLSGUY's dislike of Asian made receiver/amps.

B&K Components: High End Audio Equipment Manufacturer : Home

My question is, are there other receiver/amp manufacturers that are not as well known as the ubiquitous amps mentioned above? Are they quality well built receiver/amps?

What I'm looking for is a receiver that will allow me to add an external amp, has great video processing, sounds great, and has internet radio on board.

They're not lesser known, they're actually pretty well-known. The problen is that they had been bought by a large company that owns several other A/V brands and since their performance didn't go according to plan, they were closed, then sold off. Being in the business, I wouldn't want to pick up a line that has the potential of going under when I need them, either to continue supplying equipment or for support after the sale. It's great to be on the "I sold them when they were a very small company" but not when the economy is the way it is now.

Also, there's no small number of American companies who don't make a single thing here. I would prefer that America was able to make everything we need this country but high labor rates have made that absolutely impossible.

 

[walter duque]

I'm looking to upgrade my receiver, an Onkyo 608, so I can add an external amp. I'm looking at the Emotiva XPA-3.

So, we all know Denon, Marantz, NAD, Onkyo, and Yamaha, etc,..

Searching for a new receiver I've found a company called B&K. They were in NY until 2010 when they were sold to ATI. They are also an American company which may help with TLSGUY's dislike of Asian made receiver/amps.

B&K Components: High End Audio Equipment Manufacturer : Home

My question is, are there other receiver/amp manufacturers that are not as well known as the ubiquitous amps mentioned above? Are they quality well built receiver/amps?

What I'm looking for is a receiver that will allow me to add an external amp, has great video processing, sounds great, and has internet radio on board.

B&K was a good company. I did own a few of their earlier power amps. They made a good product. I still use my Ref 50 S2. Never had any problems with any of their equipment. The problem I've seen coming with that company is by the time they came out with a new AVR or Pre Pro it was already obsolete. Build quality was good, wouldn't say great, but good. I wouldn't put it in the highend catagory, but still good equipment.

 

[Swerd]

I own a B&K AV receiver and a separate 2-channel amp. I completely agree with highfigh and walter. With emphasis that B&K was a good company, but they are now history.

I guess one thing that might be different is that I bought all my B&K gear used. And unlike walter, who has owned a wide variety of electronic gear, all the B&K stuff I have, compared to my previous Denon, are the best I've known.

A feature I really like in the both the B&K receivers and the pre-pro is its built-in digital parametric equalizer. It allows you to create a narrow notch filter to eliminate room reflection caused bass peaks. I think this works very well, and, in my opinion is much more likely to work well than any of the automated systems available. For a better explanation, download an AVR 507 S2 or Reference 50 S2 manual, and read pp 27-28 (in the AVR manual).

The THX rated 500 series AVR and pre-pro allow making one notch filter. The series 2 models, like walter's, allow making 3 notch filters. They dropped the THX rating for that model and made better use of the space it freed up on the digital chip(s). If this makes sense and appeals to you, I would look for a used AVR505 or 507 series 2 receiver, or a Ref 50 series 2 pre-pro. For a better explanation, download one of the manuals still available online,

So, with that in mind, what are you looking for in a receiver? If you only want the ability to add external amps, a used B&K AVR or pre-pro might be a good way to go. You would buy at a price that takes into account that there will be no factory repairs available.

If you are also interested in HDMI connection and all that related software, you probably are better off staying with the big makers. I would avoid the newer B&K 700 series. It will cost more and may require more software upgrades that will probably never come.

 

[walter duque]

I own a B&K AV receiver and a separate 2-channel amp. I completely agree with highfigh and walter. With emphasis that B&K was a good company, but they are now history.

I guess one thing that might be different is that I bought all my B&K gear used. And unlike walter, who has owned a wide variety of electronic gear, all the B&K stuff I have, compared to my previous Denon, are the best I've known.

A feature I really like in the both the B&K receivers and the pre-pro is its built-in digital parametric equalizer. It allows you to create a narrow notch filter to eliminate room reflection caused bass peaks. I think this works very well, and, in my opinion is much more likely to work well than any of the automated systems available. For a better explanation, download an AVR 507 S2 or Reference 50 S2 manual, and read pp 27-28 (in the AVR manual).

The THX rated 500 series AVR and pre-pro allow making one notch filter. The series 2 models, like walter's, allow making 3 notch filters. They dropped the THX rating for that model and made better use of the space it freed up on the digital chip(s). If this makes sense and appeals to you, I would look for a used AVR505 or 507 series 2 receiver, or a Ref 50 series 2 pre-pro. For a better explanation, download one of the manuals still available online,

So, with that in mind, what are you looking for in a receiver? If you only want the ability to add external amps, a used B&K AVR or pre-pro might be a good way to go. You would buy at a price that takes into account that there will be no factory repairs available.

If you are also interested in HDMI connection and all that related software, you probably are better off staying with the big makers. I would avoid the newer B&K 700 series. It will cost more and may require more software upgrades that will probably never come.

If the company would still be in business and I or someone would be looking for an AVR B&K would be the first one that I would recommend. I turned a few of my friends on to some B&K equipment and they still enjoy it today. It is a notch above your norm. I still like the brand. If they would have just stayed in the power amp business they would still be around. That's what they did well.

 

[Swerd]

If the company would still be in business and I or someone would be looking for an AVR B&K would be the first one that I would recommend. I turned a few of my friends on to some B&K equipment and they still enjoy it today. It is a notch above your norm. I still like the brand. If they would have just stayed in the power amp business they would still be around. That's what they did well.

So true.

They probably went under because they borrowed money to launch the HDMI-capable 700 series with all the new video processing, releasing it just when the economy went south. Eventually the bank called in the loan, and now they're gone.

Their power amps were very good and still sell quickly on Audiogon. They never looked sexy with large slabs of machined aluminum, or exotic-looking heat sinks. They are highly visible but are not what build quality is really about. But they never cost those exotic high-prices either.

Why is it that the very large and very small companies seem to survive bad economic times, but the medium sized ones often fail? At least ATI makes good amps, in the USA, and still survives.

 

[psbfan9]

So, with that in mind, what are you looking for in a receiver? If you only want the ability to add external amps, a used B&K AVR or pre-pro might be a good way to go. You would buy at a price that takes into account that there will be no factory repairs available.

If you are also interested in HDMI connection.

What I'm looking for is a receiver that will allow me to add an external amp, has great video processing, sounds great, and has internet radio on board.

After reading and appreciating the comments here, I have decided to go a different route.

I auditioned an Integra DTR 50.3 yesterday. I was very impressed. The thing weighed a ton and had all the features, and more, that I want.

 

[highfigh]

What I'm looking for is a receiver that will allow me to add an external amp, has great video processing, sounds great, and has internet radio on board.

After reading and appreciating the comments here, I have decided to go a different route.

I auditioned an Integra DTR 50.3 yesterday. I was very impressed. The thing weighed a ton and had all the features, and more, that I want.

Look at the Denon AVR-3311CI or AVR-3312CI. It has all of what you list, and more. Sound quality is excellent, has very good video switching/conversion, pre-out, IP control along with DLNA & control via iPhone/iPad app.