|   How Could I Compare Sunfire III With B&K Ref 30 | pate
Aug 28, 2002 5:54 PM | | I think these are two great preamps,but which better sound for movies, are is it an over kill. THANKS |
| re: How Could I Compare Sunfire III With B&K Ref 30 | jdodmead
Aug 29, 2002 3:58 AM | | I have the REf 30 and absolutely love it for movies and 2 channel. Sorry this is all I can give you, as I have not compared it to the Sunfire. But I am under the impression that the Sunfire will color the sound somewhat to get the "hologram effect" which may not be bad, but a consideration. And I also may be wrong on this. |
| You can switch off the "hologram effect". | A
Aug 29, 2002 10:39 AM | | Carver has his own special processing, but you can choose whether or not to use it. It is somewhat like any other special processing mode. |
| re: How Could I Compare Sunfire III With B&K Ref 30 | wanderingbob
Aug 29, 2002 7:07 AM | | I have the B&K Reference 30 and I am extremely satisfied with it. I don't have experience with the Sunfire, although I understand that Sunfire was formerly Bob Carver and that Sunfire products offer outstanding quality. I can tell you about the B&K and you can compare specific features to the Sunfire if you like.
Sonically, the Reference 30 is an accurate, high-resolution processor for music and decodes the latest home theater sound formats including Dolby Digital EX, DTS ES, 7.1 channels, etc. The Reference 30 is THX certified. I don't believe I could improve the sonic quality of my music / HT system without moving up to quite expensive electronics, for example from Krell or Mark Levinson.
The Reference 30 includes many inputs and outputs including analog, optical digital, coaxial digital, composite video, S-Video and component video, all switchable (important if your HDTV has only one component input and you have multiple component sources). It's upgradable via an expansion card, includes low voltage remote trigger input and output, and even has an RS-232 port for control by computers or sophisticated "whole house" systems. The programmable remote control is the best I've used and controls my entire HT system.
A flexible array of on-screen menu options allow almost any configuration imaginable; the options include default settings per source, custom names for sources, THX speaker level matching, signal timing per channel ("speaker distance"), variable frequency EQ, extensive bass management, and a room notch filter for attenuating room resonance modes. The unit includes options for both side and back surround speakers.
Build quality is outstanding and the unit, which is made in the United States, features a five-year warranty.
There aren't many downsides, but I'll try to list them here. The limited display on the Reference 30 itself would make it difficult to program without an external display (I've never tried because my unit is hooked to my HDTV). I wish the unit included more notch filters, since my listening room suffers from more than one resonance mode. There's a solid kind of clicking sound when you switch sources (I actually like the clicking sound; it reminds me that high-quality electromechanical relays are being used to switch sources). At $2,300, the unit wasn't cheap, but the Sunfire probably isn't either.
Bob Gardner
wanderingbob@yahoo.com |
| re: How Could I Compare Sunfire III With B&K Ref 30 | diode1
Sep 6, 2002 8:44 AM | | Sonically, the Reference 30 is an accurate, high-resolution processor for music and decodes the latest home theater sound formats including Dolby Digital EX, DTS ES, 7.1 channels, etc.
Incorrect, Only does EX not ES,
The new firmware upgrade and chip will fix this.
Jerry |
| re: How Could I Compare Sunfire III With B&K Ref 30 | diode1
Sep 6, 2002 8:48 AM | | I also have the Ref 30.
One of ther best parts is the B&K software Suite.
Make all your settings via a windows computer.
Save them as default.
Sit in the sweet spot and make real-time adjustments
without the layers of onscreen menu's.
The software is free from your dealer. |
| re: How Could I Compare Sunfire III With B&K Ref 30 | A
Aug 29, 2002 10:42 AM | | My advice is to go and audition them both. I doubt that you can go too far wrong with either one, but there is nothing like trying them out for yourself. Who knows, maybe you will find that one of them is inconvenient to use for your purposes. But you probably won't know that without playing with them both to see for yourself. |
| re: How Could I Compare Sunfire III With B&K Ref 30 | Doug C
Aug 29, 2002 1:43 PM | | Go to B&K's site and download the Ref. 30 manual and do the same for the Sunfire. Read both in detail so you understand how features & operation differ.
I have the B&K and really like this unit. It has a lot of features so therefore can be a little complicated at first. The Bass Managment Features are a must if you want to achieve great bass.
Doug C. |
| re: How Could I Compare Sunfire III With B&K Ref 30 | _Luke_
Sep 3, 2002 5:19 PM | | I've heard the Ref 50 is coming out soon. Not much word on what is being upgraded, but the Ref 30 may soon be less expensive. |
| re:WHY SOMEONE FROM SUNFIRE HAS NOT COME FORWARD | pate
Sep 4, 2002 5:52 PM | | |
| re:WHY SOMEONE FROM SUNFIRE HAS NOT COME FORWARD | A
Sep 5, 2002 10:32 AM | | Who visits this site on a particular day or week or month is somewhat random. If you asked the same question a month or two ago, you may have had a very different set of responses. If you ask the same question next month, you may also get different responses.
In any case, no one has said anything bad about either one (except for the mistake about the "sonic holography", which can be switched off). And at their prices, there certainly should be nothing wrong with either one.
My advice is to read the manuals for both, go and play with them both, and then decide. I really doubt that you can make a horrible mistake in deciding between these two. Both should perform very well for many years to come, though obviously either company could make a 'lemon' from time to time. |
| re: How Could I Compare Sunfire III With B&K Ref 30 | sam9
Sep 13, 2002 9:08 AM | | Both have a good rep. I'd bet that if you constructed an "apples-to-apples" listening comparrison there would be little difference. If I were making the choice, I would base it on the features and connectivity options and choose the one the best met my needs. If they both do then it would just be a matter of price. |
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