Zino

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 3.00 votes

Price Paid:  $1300.00 from eBay

Summary:
Bought new, in box, from a former B&K dealer who was only doing custom home-automation installs at from that time. It's been solidly reliable and sounds great. Watching movies and listening to music through a Denon DVD 5900, a very musical, detailed source, is very satisfying. The B&K has plenty of power for my speakers... they have 12" woofers and are very warm and capable for old ones. The bass response shakes the house, literally. "Subwoofers? We don't need no steenkeen subwoofers!" Yes, there are the 'clicks' between modes but they don't bother me... probably to protect the circuits from pops, and sounds impressively powerful. Proper programming and setup is critical. I suspect that some of the less-than-flattering reviews simply hadn't sussed out the proper settings. I had that experience and really had to study the manual but it's well worth it. I've never heard another home theater receiver that comes close. Decidedly upper-middle-fi and a pleasure to own. I'd love to know how to turn off the speakers when I listen on the headphones, though!

Strengths:
Fabulous with music and video. Plenty of punch at the low end and very natural, detailed sound with the right source equipment. Can listen to two different sources in two different rooms simultaneously. Has enough setup options to fit any room, and is actually NOT that difficult to configure if you take your time. It's really a computer with a honkin' big amp connected to it. Upgradeable and beautifully made.

Weaknesses:
Very, very heavy. Slightly complex setup. And can somebody tell me WHY the speakers don't cut off when I plug in the headphones? I can't find that in the manual! Can get warm even in standby, and sometimes unit itself 'buzzes' when left in standby mode for long periods, though no noise whatsoever through speakers... very quiet there.

Similar Products Used:
Vienna Acoustics speakers, Jolida, Micro turntable, Sony CD changer, Denon DVD, Victor S-VHS, Sony DAT

bmarcinczyk14

Overall Rating
 2 of 5

Value Rating
 2 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
2.00 of 5, 5.00 votes

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
I was looking for the best reciever on the market that sounds the nearest to seperates. I went to the local tweeter center and thats when I heard about the compation between the B&K AVR 307 and the Denon AVR-5800. I then decided to audition both of them. I have a seperate home theater and stereo set up. So first I decided to audition the musical side of each reciever. So I unpacked the Denon first to hook it up to my D38 Proacs. I was pleasantly surprised by how clean,open, and transparent the sound was. Although it didin't sound quite as good as the Classe seperates I usually use for my Proacs, but good enough for a reciever. I was particularly impressed by the AVR-5800's deep, tight, and well-defined bass. After I turned of the Velodyne sub and ran the proacs with no sub, the 5800 had no trouble driving these high end loudspeakers. Then once I was finished with the audio side of it, I hooked it up to my B&W home theater system. I used the Star Wars DVD as a test. The voice the AVR-5800 produced through my B&W center channle was amazingly real. And when playing Saving Private Ryan the AVR-5800 made it so you really felt like you were in the middle of the fight sence. The explosions were very deep and clear. Now for the B&K. That reciever just didn't give me that same enviorment the AVR-5800 did. The musical side sounded very muddy when running it with my proacs. And the movies just were not as real as the 5800. The explosions sound harsh and had very little extent of bass. I am now very proud that I decided to go with the AVR-5800.

Strengths:
The manual was pretty nice and the reciever was alot easier setting up than the Denon

Weaknesses:
Sounded unreal and muddy compared to the Denon

Similar Products Used:
AVR-5800, Theta Casablanca 2, Yamaha RX-Z9

mileysubet

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
1.00 of 5, 1.00 votes

Price Paid:  $2500.00 from on line

Summary:
They should put a review for the newer AVR 507 on this sight.

Strengths:
The 307 is a solid built Reciever

Weaknesses:
none

Similar Products Used:
Pioneer Recievers Bose(oops) Boston acoustics Axiom M80ti

Price Paid:  $2500.00 from vanns

Summary:
It's a great receiver. I just sent it in for the upgrade ($465.00) which makes it an AVR 317. Buy the Denon if you must or any of the mass-produced massively marketed equipment that stress effects and wizbang glitter but you won't find a better receiver. B&K stresses the music and expands from there. Mine is a perfect match with my Tannoy speakers. Of course the Synergistic Research Active Master Coupler P/C also helps bring out the best.

Strengths:
It just sounds great without sounding gimmicky or mechanical

Weaknesses:
cost

Similar Products Used:
Sony ES, Marantz SR-19

Price Paid:  $2200.00 from magnolia hifi

Summary:
This thing rocks!! I demoed the Denon 5803 which costs more at the same time in a blind test. The salesman switched between the two recievers and asked me which one was the better sounding unit and it was the B&K. So far its only hooked up to some B&W cdm 1NT and a velodyne sub for stereo use until I get my M&K 150s. Compared to the Rotel amp that was connected to the B&Ws previously, the sound stage has opened up quite a bit and greater detail is revealed. Gear: AVR 307, B&W CDM 1NT, Monster Cable, Panamax 5100, Sony es changer.

Strengths:
Everything except for that a sub doesn't work in direct mode. Plus my salesman gave me a copy of the BK Suite program. Price: no better deal out there for any reciever of this caliber.

Weaknesses:
Not too many know of the brand. That's actually a good thing.

Similar Products Used:
Denon 5803, Rotel,