B&K Components AVR305 A/V Receivers
B&K Components AVR305 A/V Receivers
USER REVIEWS
[Jun 03, 2003]
chas46034
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
Build,power(45 amps)and clarity.Good default position.Online upgrade for softwares
Weakness:
Can't think of any. I was never happy with digital sounds,especially multichannel ability to play music.I thought it was a software problem,but I am a very cost conscious person and did not want to spend the money for a meridian or lexicon processor.I tried all the different formats ie HDCD,SACD,DVD AUDIO,VIDEO etc.I even bought a MSB DAC.Nothing made the grade and on the verge of giving up and ready for the big bucks,I picked up this B&K product as a DEMO at a post holiday firesale.No remote but my research revealed it to be a Universal remote product SL9000.I started it up and the rest is history.I wish I had not spent so much on my DVD/CD player(Denon 3300)Any old one with a coaxial link would work great.Don't know why but even the standard 16 bit 44.1 mhtz CD sounds great.I think there is some upsampling going on.Anyway I am very happy and I have finally parted with my Linn Sondek Similar Products Used: Marantz,Rotel,Sony,Panasonic, |
[Jun 05, 2002]
corsini
AudioPhile
Strength:
Smooth, yet detailed audiophile sound. Even my Quad owning friend was impressed. Incredibly micro-adjustible tweakability.
Weakness:
Needs more analog throughputs I personally have had no problems with this unit so far. Sonically, it is simply in another league from all the Jap stuff out there. I do not say this for any "rah-rah go USA reasons". It is simply a fact. I am a bit of an audio snob (own a lot of high-end gear) and saw the B&K as just another mass-produced receiver when I was looking for a do-everything centerpiece for my home entertainment center and first tried Yamaha and Denon because much better daels could be had on them. The Denon 4800 was ok for the $$$ and I think Yamaha makes superb electronics, but the major problem with all Japanese receivers (no matter what the price) is that their amplification sections suck! On the advice of the Store manager I decided to give the B&K a whirl. What a difference! The B&K is an honest to goodness piece of audiophile gear. I even use the preamp section to run my high-end tube amp with great results. Sonically, this unit is at a stratospherically different level from the Denon 4800 0r 5800 series. Don't believe everything you read in magazine reviews; advertising $$$ buy a lot! Probably the only other a/v receiver of this caliber is the one from Macitosh. If you want equal or better, you will have to go with separates. This is a unit for adults and those who value music reproduction first. To me, 5 stars means the absolute best available and when it comes to a/v receivers, this unit is. DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME WITH MASS PRODUCED JAP STUFF WHICH COSTS JUST AS MUCH! |
[Mar 29, 2002]
JBKing
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
Build. Sound quality.
Weakness:
2-channel stereo. Went looking for some beef in an A/V receiver, and think I found it. Replaced a Denon AVR-2800 which I was happy with, but had heard good things about B&K, and wanted more 2 channel punch w/o going to separates. I have no "complaints" per se, but am a little confused using the B&K analog inputs from a rather pricy Rotel CD player. Having spent more than planned on high-grade interconnects, I have learned from B&K that the incoming analog signal is converted to digital, then back to analog (again?) utilizing the B&Ks onboard DACs. If this is the case, what''s the point of utilizing the Rotel DACs, only to have the analog signal be "re-DACed" in the B&K? Does this not limit you to PCM out of any CD player, regardless of the quality of the player? Why go through the same step twice? The only true analog option is to choose the "direct" option, but that eliminates the ability to use a sub. Am I missing something here? I''m feeling like I overspent on both CD player, and interconnects, and should go with CD transport in mind, and a good digital coax. I would appreciate any input from a more educated audio person than I appear to be. I''m not panning the unit by any means. It sounds wonderful in all modes, but I can''t get my hands around this issue. Similar Products Used: Yamaha, Denon. |
[Jan 14, 2001]
Steve Herrala
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
Upgradable, Build Quality, Value
Weakness:
Binding posts. (I posted this on the 307 section as well) Similar Products Used: Marantz, Denon, Onkyo |
[May 20, 2001]
Russ
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
Clean sound, lots of power
Weakness:
none Excellent unit, very pleased so far. Lots of power, clean sound. On 2 channel stereo music comes alive. Saving private ryan feels like you are in combat. Was looking at the REF 30 and an amp. This is essentially a REF 30 wiht a 5 channel 150 watt amp included. If I need more power for the fronts later, can always add a 2 channel amp and reconfigure the reciever. Listened to the Denon 5700 and went with the B&K. B&K does not have all the features of the denon, but seems (at least to my ear) cleaner sound Similar Products Used: Denon 3300 |
[Mar 19, 2001]
Auditor
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
Sound Quality, Build Quailty, Flexibilty.
Weakness:
not very user friendly, difficult to set up. This is sort of a pre-review considering that i just purchased this unit and only had it less than a month.I will do a follow review later. The avr 305 is the same unit as the avr 307 without the two internal amps for the back surrounds, so this is not a weakness because I chose to purchase it this way due to the fact that i have no need for back channels, should that change I could always have them added to this unit, thus making it the 307. Similar Products Used: Denon 4800, Denon 5800*, Yamaha RX-V1* [*intensely auditoned] |
[Sep 26, 2001]
Mark Curtin
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
Excellent sound and flexibility. Easy to set up and use. Wonderful with all inputs when it works.
Weakness:
Consistent failure of the unit. Let me start out by saying I love this unit. It produces simply wonderful sounds from all input sources. The flexibility in input was a strong selling point as well as the upgradeable processor. Similar Products Used: B&K, Audible Illusions, Sony |
[Mar 23, 2001]
Thomas
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
Build quality, sound quality with music and HT
Weakness:
Popping noise when changing CDs while in digital decoding mode Overall, I have to say the 305 is a great product. While I was using the Yamaha RX-V 3000 for about 2 month (which sounded quite good), I had the nagging feeling that I was missing something, especially with music material. Therefore, I sold the Yamaha and got the B&K instead. Similar Products Used: Yamaha RX-V 3000 |
[Mar 21, 2001]
NIGEL BOUCHARD
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
IT,S A B&K!!
Weakness:
YOU NEED TO LEARN HOW TO USE IT (BUT FOR THAT YOU WILL BE REWARDED) NEXT TO MY ........NO THIS IS THE BEST THING I HAVE EVER DONE PERIOD.I FEEL SO LUCKY Similar Products Used: ADCOM |
[Jan 13, 2001]
Jared Gurfein
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
Best sound I have heard from anything other than Most expensive seperates
Weakness:
Remote sensor has a bit of tunnel vision I actually had stuck this in the older model's review page. Now that this page is up, I am repeating it here, with some minor tweaks at the end since I have owned it a while: Similar Products Used: Denon, Marantz, Sony, etc. |