couldbee

Overall Rating
 2 of 5

Value Rating
 2 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5, 2.00 votes

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
I have used many B&K products and after reading the reviews for the AVR202 I decide to take the plunge and go ahead and get one. I traded a Parasound HCA-2200 amp for the B&K and have never been so disappointed in a product!! It has an absolutely gutless 105 watts! I thought it would fit my needs and I could have the best of both worlds, stereo and surround!! Uh no! This unit sounds absolutely terrible in stereo. My wife, who is terminally distraught when you even mention audio equipment, commented on how it sounds thin and lifeless! I always assumed that she never paid attention to my audio endeavors. But she nailed it on the head, this unit was lacking big time. I went into all the parameters to make sure everything was up to par. I reset everything and it still sounded like crap! I didn't even get to the surround portion because most of my listening is done in stereo, ther surround was bonus. I hooked up the subwoofer and all I got was a buzz/hum coming out of it! I gave up a fantastic sounding piece of equipment for this audio annoyance!
Fortunately, the gentleman that I traded with, is allowing me to return his unit and give me back my Parasound.
I have owned the B&K Reference 30 and 50, PT3 and PT5, ST 2140 and AV-5000 and have loved all of them, but this one bites. Maybe there is something that I missed in the setup, but right out of the box it did not show me anything. So if you have the opportunity to buy one, don't! Go for the 307 or above because they at least have more wattage pushing them. I have a cheap Sony digital receiver that I paid $8.00 for at the Goodwill that sounds better than the 202! I was seriously disappointed! If you do purchase it I hope that it does what you expect it to.

System includes:
Meridian 508.24
Audio Research LS3B
Sound Wave 3.0 Speakers
M&k Sub
MIT Cables
(Hopefully my Parasound back)

Leslie

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
1.00 of 5, 1.00 votes

Price Paid:  $550.00 from gramaphone

Summary:
This unit is definetly geared toward the audiophile. If what you're looking for are the bells and whistles of a mass market product you won't find them here. The difference between the sound of this and the "made in china" Harmon Kardon I replaced with it is outrageous. Sure it laks pre-ins and 6.1 7.1 (which my harmon kardon had), but the sound is drop dead gorgeous and in my small room I couldn't really tell the difference (between 6/7.1 and plain ol 5.1) anyway. The direct mode is awsome if you listen to alot of 2channel and have resonably full range fronts and a good source. The combination of this and my Vandersteen 1c's seems to be a marriage made in heaven as they now kick out much tighter more satisfyiing bass than i've yet heard from them, not to mention the almost holographic imaging that has my non-audiophile friends constantly asking if the center channel and surrounds are on when they're not. The tuner section is outstanding sounding and has no problem picking up even the most difficult staions with a decent antenna attached. This is a true audiophile piece of equipment that requires a proper power source and a well ventilated location. A big fat high current Mosfet amp like this won't last long in a tight fitting audio rack or sealed up in an entertainment center/cabinet. Thanks to it's age you can find them for bargain basment prices on ebay and it's still upgradeable from B&K; for a grand you get all the latest surround modes and pre-ins. The original price was way out of my range but at current ebay prices its a steal. After this I can never go back to the mass market made in china/malasia/taiwan junk I once had. American equipment is the best. If you're tired of speniding your hard earned cash at the bix box stores only to see "made in china" on the back when you get home than this would be a good choice. It's a night and day upgrade from any big box store equipment.

Strengths:
Audiophile build quality. Very musical, transparent sound. 2 channel performance is stellar. Surround modes will knock your socks off. If you have full range speakers warn the neighbors. it's not an earthquake it's just my stereo! Far beyond the performance of any mass market product I have ever heard. Can be found cheap on ebay. Made in buffalo New York. If you get an itch for something more than you can have the motherboard upgraded to include all the latest surround modes with a multi pre-in option for a grand. A good way to satisfy the audiophile itch without completley sacrificing surround.

Weaknesses:
This receiver doesn't have pre-in's. this could really put a damper on the party if you're into multichannel dvd-audio or sacd. No 6.1 or 7.1might turn some people off. My unit isn't completly silent either. Put your ear right up to the center with nothing playing and you can hear some noise although very faint and not audible from the listening position; possibly due to power liine interference. Like with any home theater product you definetly need to spend time reading the directions. If you dont you'll probably end up fumbling around with the front panel controls which on most modern equipment isn't really intended for everyday use anyway. It is intended to be hooked up to a tv and primarily operated via the on-screen menus and remote. Ufortunatley this seems to present a difficult learning curve for a lot of people. Also it has no rgb video inputs so if you need alot of rgb switching this won't work for u. Since this is a high current mosfet amp it requires careful placement as it will run hot if not properly ventilated which will really shorten the life of such a component. Its definetly not for the kids!

Similar Products Used:
I have had/have recievers from sony, pioneer, harmon kardon and marantz. All now seem like toys compared to this B&K

Price Paid:  $450.00 from privately

Summary:
This unit is amazing the sound clarity and seperation are beyond compare. It blows away my NAD AV-716 and my old Marantz. It's super easy to set up and you will find yourself playing DVD's or CD's that you had'nt watched or listened to in awhile just to hear the difference. I have heard sounds on some tracks that I never heard before. This is the best audio equiptment purchase I've ever made and I'm nearly 50, and my son who is 17 loves it too.
This unit is currently powering NHT fronts, Klipch center, cutom built full range 3 way rear speakers and an RCA 200 watt 12 inch sub.

Strengths:
Clarity and versatility. Any kind of hook up you need to make it has in multibles. The power it has is more than anyone with ears need. It also allows the operator to select the sizes of the speakers, insuring that small speakers are not over taxed and large speakers can get their fill.

Weaknesses:
None found so far.

Similar Products Used:
Nad av-716

RowdyPig

Overall Rating
 1 of 5

Value Rating
 1 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
2.00 of 5, 8.00 votes

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
I would like to point out to anyone who is considering purchasing this lemon: Look at the length of time the reviewers to date have owned the unit. If you would notice that the only Positive reviews are ones from people who have had it less than a year. Furthermore, they all remark on the fact that it is "built like a tank" or "looks good in my rack". If you are concerned about quality of your music don't get one. If you are concerned about the visual appearance of your system , go to BlackBox or some other In-Wall cabinet manufacturer and I'd be willing to bet you could afford a custom in-home air-conditioned unit on just the money you would save by avoid this miserable piece of junk. AGAIN: PLEASE NOTE THE REVIEWERS TIME OWNED --everyone loves it at first, then grows to hate it.

Strengths:
Built Like a WWII Tank, can heat a room quicker than a furnace.

Weaknesses:
The single line display is such a pathetic novelty that you will feel duped after you pass the menu Item you want for the third of fourth time because the buttons are so mushy, the rotator is so hard, and there is such a tremendous delay between what is shown on the screen and what you have entered.

Similar Products Used:
Everything Sony, Couple of Denon, Marantz, JVC, Yamaha, NAD

mississippi_xj

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
Well.... I have to admit that I really like and appreciate the support @ B&K. I had my reciever develop a hum in the left channel after a few years. I called up B&K and told them about the problem. They just asked my name and told me to ship it to them. I didn't have my proof of purchase or anything, they just helped me out. Turned out that a capasitor was leaking and they fixed it and had it back to me in less than a week. They even repaired my wobbly volume knob. This is the best customer service I have experienced. Made me a B&K fan for life for sure.... The problems didn't show up for years and they stood behind their product. I plan on making the upgrade in the next year or so. The thing is just so darn neutral.... It just gets out of the way of your source components and speakers.

Strengths:
Great smooth natural sound. Great Power. Great low level detail. Investment grade product in my opinion. I plan to use it for years to come (with upgrades from B&K) At current used prices it is a real steal. Even at retail it was definately worth the price in my opinion.

Weaknesses:
doesn't have the latest modes, etc... Don't really care. a "Pre-out / Main-in" loop would be nice.

Similar Products Used:
various yamaha, sony es.....