Sunfire TGIII vs. B&W Ref 50

[Seth W]

<font color='#000000'>Hi all, newbie here. &nbsp;Nice forum. &nbsp;I'm upgrading my pre/pro from an old Marantz unit to something with DD EX etc. and just more bells and whistles. &nbsp;I own the Sunfire Cinema Grand Signature Amp and REALLY like the looks and performance--my old Rotel 5ch. could not drive my Martin Logans at all.

I've read a LOT about the TGIII, including the really harsh write up, and now I'm wondering about whether I really should still get that unit. &nbsp;Why get it? &nbsp;It matches. &nbsp;Stupid? &nbsp;Perhaps, but I always intended to get matching units. &nbsp;I can get the TGIII for about 2600 new.

I can get a B&amp;K REF50 for about 1600 new.

My dealer tells me to go with the B&amp;K, that the 1000 is simply not worth it and that the B&amp;K actually has a better version of the same remote.

I've read that the B&amp;K has a more difficult interface. &nbsp;True?

Has anyone done a side by side? &nbsp;

Disclosure: &nbsp;I've not listened to EITHER unit. &nbsp;I'm of the opinion that you just can't judge it unless you take it home and plug it in. &nbsp;My dealer (who is not local) will ship and take anything back, we have a longtime relationship. &nbsp;That said, I'd much prefer to measure twice and cut once.

TIA for your help.

Seth</font>

 

[gene]

<font color='#000000'>Seth;

If all of the shortcomings we listed and potential firmware issues of the TGIII don't affect your specific application then by all means go for it. &nbsp;I can certainly understand and respect your desire to cosmetically match your system. &nbsp;The TGIII is an easy unit to configure, partly because it is lacking many of the features in other processors that we mentioned. &nbsp;It certainly is appealing to have a processor that is easy to set-up and use, especially for a higher WAF

&nbsp;Also, the remote control the TGIII uses is a very good one. &nbsp;Clint did a review of a similar model that you may wish to read:

HT Masters Remote Review

As for the B&amp;K, while we never reviewed the unit, I did some research on it in the past and it appears to be a very good processor in dead. &nbsp;B&amp;K's $1000 discount does make it even more attractive!

You may also wish to look at the latest processor from Fosgate and Rotel.

Perhaps next year we shall review some of these new products.</font>

 

[Seth W]

<font color='#000000'>Thanks for the feedback. I've decided to go with the B&amp;K and that $1K I'm saving is going towards a &nbsp;universal DVD player (likely the Denon 5900). &nbsp;After it was all said and done, I've seen to many documented quality control and other issues with the TGIII to overcome its 1K price differential.</font>