High current, high voltage amp.
Excellent build quality and superior sound stage.

The power transformer is a bit small and it is a little light for its class.

B&k ST 140 is a high quality, hi-end looking and soild sate power amp with a thick steel metal plate and two sliver handle bars at the front. I picked up a used one from a friend of mine about a year ago. I brought it because of the "love-of-first-sight".
I did not plug my B&W spearkers in that bk right away, instead, I stripped the amp totally. I was suprised with the bk "simplicity design concept", the amp looks simple inside, alright! However, it is powerful, it has a single large power transformer, two hug caps (over 100,000uf/ch.)big enough to jump start a Toyota 1.5L. The special two "discrete mother boards" designed for separated channel outputs. As a result, it gave more channel separation. The superior component and expensive parts made this bk an "audiophile" grade amp.
In the testing section, I used a Rotel pre-amp, B&W spearkers, Sony (32bits) cd player, and all high-end Moster cables. As a result, it made my favour classical piece, "Four seaon", sound realitic and The Beetle's famous song "Yesterday", had more background separated sound images. The ultimate test was on "The Notorious B.I.G." rap music, it made Biggi's voice sound it so smooth and focus, yet, the background music wasn't harsh. If an amp can sound good on the rough rap music, it will sound super in other type of music, believe me just try it.
Although the ST 140 did not have the best multiple vocal seperation (during the Beetles playback)compare with Krell ST-150, never-the-less, it has an excellent build quality, expensive parts inside, and it produced the "ultra high current" even at 4ohms/210watts.
If u don't have an audiophile ear, u will not tell the difference between the B&K ST 140 (Bishop of the amp world)
and the Krell ST-150 (Queen of the amp world). If u see on in the used market or e-day, put down the "big bucks" and buy it. Don't u agree?

Similar Products Used:

Krell st 150, Byston 3B

I have to agree with the other review, this b&k amp is a good amp, especially if you get one used from ebay or something. It has a very nice warm feel, and has good dynamic power. Tone and balance are good. Soundstaging is ok, but it really could be a little bigger. My biggest complaint about this amp, is the lack of detail. Everything that the amp displays is very palpable, but all of the fine detail is missing. (You probably won't be hearing anyone in a sympony hitting their bow on their stands) Over all 5 for the money but 3 for the sound.

I recently traded an Adcom 540 II amp for a B&K ST-140 to a friend of mine (he wanted an amp to power a subwoofer). I have a relatively modest system using the ST-140 with an Adcom GFP-400 preamp-tuner and B&W DM-500 speakers.
I was particularly struck by the stark contrast in sound between these two equally priced amplifiers. The Adcom amplifier has better and faster bass. It also is more foreward and has harsher midrange and treble than the ST-140. The ST-140 has a warmer and slightly laid back sound that added a softer, more musical quality to my sound system. Although it won't play quite as loud as the Adcom, I can now listen to this system for longer periods of time with less fatigue. Even my wife noticed the difference, stating that "it sounds much less annoying even at high volumes".

Considering the price-performance ratio, this is a very good amp for the money, although it dose not get everything right. If you carefully shop around, you can pick up a used ST-140 for 200-250$ in good condition.