B&K Components PT 3 Preamplifiers

B&K Components PT 3 Preamplifiers 

USER REVIEWS

Showing 21-24 of 24  
[Dec 11, 1999]
Dave
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

Easy to use and easy to hook up. Remote control is great. Ability to alter program via computer link is a plus.

Weakness:

The loudness button provides too much Bass enhancement for my taste

I had none of the quality problems mentioned in a previous review. The unit appears to be well made and comes with a five year warranty to back it up. My system consists of the PT-3 a B&K ST-1400 ser II amplifier and Vienna Acoustics Mozart speakers. Speaker wire is audioquest. The sound is open and true, even at low volumes. There is no coloring of the sound. All in all agreat package at a wonderful price (my local audiophile store was moving locations and I got the unit for just under $400.) Even at list price a great value/money spent.

Similar Products Used:

Carver CT-seven

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Apr 30, 2000]
mike paul
Audiophile

Strength:

excelant sound and fully adujstable

Weakness:

none i have found

i have read the other reviews and can not understand why
thay have not found the balence control the unit sound can be contured to any liking and the loudness can be adjusted by the bass control the unit works well with my rotel
amp and magie speakers one of the best preamps i have owned

Similar Products Used:

creek, pse ,rotel ,arcam

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Aug 20, 2000]
Charles
Casual Listener

Strength:

Very Transparent high & mid. Good bass. Best value by far!

Weakness:

Too much bass when "Loudness" feature is on.

Now that I have gone through proper break-in and gained more experience with other pre-amps and amplifers, I feel compelled to submit another review (Please see my earlier review). There is now no doubt in my mind that this pre-amp is by far the best value pre-amp I have ever listened to. It is very transparent and offers excellent definition except at the very low end (but still good). The only pre-amp I tested that sounded noticeably better was the $5,000 Audio Research SP-11 MK II (untouchable! only AR Reference 2 is better). Compared to top-of-the-line Class A equipment, the PT3 sounds more grainy, less dynamic, and a bit lacking in clean impact or "punch" but it doesn't sound unacceptable in comparison! It is also no slouch compared to far more expensive Bryston and Adcom solid state pre-amps. I can not comment for other amplifiers, but this pre-amp matches remarkably well with Bryston's 4B ST. There is absolutely no need to spend more for another pre-amp unless you want to upgrade to Class A category! This pre-amp kicks ass!

I now own:
Pre-Amps: B&K PT3 and Audio Research SP-11 MK II
Amps: Bryston 4B ST and McIntosh MC240(tube)
Speakers: Joseph Audio RM22 signature

Similar Products Used:

Bryston, Audio Research, McIntosh, Adcom

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Sep 11, 2000]
Chris Troianello
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

Remote and built-in tuner.

Weakness:

Sound.


After honestly wishing to feel otherwise, I cannot recommend this preamp. My system is as follows:

Adcom GCD-750 CD Player
B&K Reference 4420 Amplifier
Mirage OM-10 Speakers w. MIT Terminator 2 cables

I originally used an Adcom GFA-5400 for amplification, but there was not enough volume for me. I upgraded to the B&K and was dismally disappointed as there was very upgrade! I could hardly tell that I was running an extra 100W to both channels. Then my next-door neighbor let me try his Onkyo P-304 preamp for a week and boy did I see the light! What was previously muted and hollow was now detailed top to bottom, I now had a very open, 3-D soundstage, and the sound and fury with which my speakers were now performing made me want to cry tears of joy. I could not turn the volume past 9:00 because the Onkyo was really allowing the power of the B&K to pass through cleanly, so much more so than the PT3 (the same volume on the PT3, at about -35, was almost inaudible by comparison) that it was a joke to directly compare the two. Actually, after hearing the P304 I almost wished that I had stayed with the 5400 because I then knew that I was never really hearing it.

I returned to Tweeter and demoed my PT3 against another PT3 to make sure that the unacceptable sound quality was not just my unit malfunctioning. I am sorry to say that it was the same crap, different PT3. I left the store with an Adcom GFP-750 for $780 and never has my system sounded better! With the Passive Mode engaged the unit is absolutely transparent, or at least as close to a wire-with-gain that that I have owned. I urge any who use the PT3 to upgrade as soon as possible - at least A/B it with another less-restrictive preamp, one that doesn't choke out the signal and leave a shadow of it leaking through your speakers - believe me, you will be very happy once the PT3 is gone and you are enjoying your full range and powerband.

For the convenience of the excellent remote and the built-in tuner, I give this unit two stars for value. I cannot give it more than one for its overall rating because I truly think the PT3 is not worth one dollar for the way it compromises an otherwise beautiful sound.


CMT

Similar Products Used:

Adcom GFP-750, Onkyo P-304

OVERALL
RATING
1
VALUE
RATING
2
Showing 21-24 of 24  

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