Amp/Preamp Asylum: REVIEW: B&K Components Reference 30 Preamplifier (HT) by mschlack

Model:	Reference 30
Category:	Preamplifier (HT)
Suggested Retail Price:	$2795
Description:	DTS/AC3/THX-Ultra System Controller
Manufacturer URL:	B&K Components
Manufacturer URL:	B&K Components

Review by mschlack ( A ) on August 25, 2006 at 13:18:27
IP Address: 68.160.27.125

Add Your Review
for the Reference 30

Since no one has reviewed this, I will, even though it's been superceded by the newer Ref 50. Hopefully, someone looking at a used one will find this useful.

This is my third pre/pro, following a low-end Rotel and the Ref 20. The Ref 30 is a solid unit. Upgrades are available with all of the latest surround modes, if that's your thing.

For movies, it does the job. I've never had any issues with any DVDs or my satellite in terms of locking in and reproducing the signal as recorded or broadcast. Speech is clear, music is what it's supposed to be.

For audio, the Ref 30 is a decent preamp. It delivers good detail and imaging throughout the tonal range. You can get a better preamp, but maybe not for this money. I recently asked a store clerk where they carry both B&K and Parasound how it compares to the Halo line and his opinion was the Ref 30, hands down. It has very fast processors, and that helps it to render attacks and decays very well, apparently. Anyway, I have heard better from the likes of a Conrad Johnson tube pre, but that's a totally different beast. This unit has enable me to get into decent audio, and paired with my B&W 703s, it really is very nice.

It's also very flexible. It has two different adjustable notch filters, one at the low end, and one at the high end, that you can use to help tame your room, in addition to adjustable crossover. This has worked well for me, since my room has a bay and some wicked bass booms. At the same time, I use the Direct analog bypass mode to run my TT.

The unit has six analog inputs for SACD/DVD-A. Too bad the music industry screwed that up, because a good SACD heard from my Pioneer DV59AVi through this and my speakers can sometimes exceed vinyl in realism and presence.

The DACs in this unit are good. I ultimately opted for a Bel Canto DAC2 instead, mainly because it upsamples, and I like what that does to CD. But I wouldn't slit my wrists if I had to listen to the Ref's own DACs. It has decent array of digital ins and outs, both coax and optical. With good digital cables, I get very good results.

In short, this unit can handle most anything you throw at it and put you solidly into very nice reproduction. If you're building a hybrid HT/music system and want to keep the whole thing under $10k, this will let you put your money into better front ends and speakers and not embarass you otherwise.

Product Weakness: Short of the best in detail and imaging, but not by a lot
Firewire input was never enabled by B&K, if that matters
No real glaring weaknesses for this price
Product Strengths: Good sound, flexible setup, easy to setup for all the options

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	Odyssey Stratos
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Ref 30
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Pro-Ject 1.2
Speakers:	B&W 703
Cables/Interconnects:	mostly Audioquest Jaguar, Cobra
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	jazz, blues, rock, classical, folk
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	Monster 2500
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	Short of the best in detail and imaging, but not by a lot Firewire input was never enabled by B&K, if that matters No real glaring weaknesses for this price
Product Strengths:	Good sound, flexible setup, easy to setup for all the options