B&K Ref-50 series 2 overall rating: 91/100
Pros: Great Sound Quality, Really Good Featureset, Solid Build
Quality, Parametric EQ, excellent value, great remote.
Cons: Doesn't sound quite as refined as the very best pre/pros
out there (Krell, Levinson, Meridian), doesn't upconvert all
incoming video to component, no ethernet connection.
NOTE: The B&K Ref-50 is about to be replaced by the B&K
Ref-70. This processor was scheduled to be released at the end
of the second quarter, but B&K's desire to get the product 100%
pushed the ship date back. As this is written in mid July of '08, the
shippining date for the Ref-70 is reportedly imminent.
It has 6 HDMI inputs on a custom video input board, has true
balanced audio all the way, takes multi channel PCM for Dolby
TrueHD and DTS Master Audio, and uses the Silicon Optix HQV
chip for video processing . It should be a great pre/pro at this
price point. Stay tuned for a full report here.
Every once in a while a product comes along that hits a home run.
It's a great value, has great sound quality, solid build, aesthetics,
features, pretty much the whole deal. I felt this way about the B&K
reference 50 preamp processor at it's original retail price of
$2,798.00. B&K evidently thought that although the Ref-50 was
already a great value, it was just too expensive. So they did the
unthinkable and lowered the price by $800.00. If it was a great
value before, it sets the standard in a high value surround pre/pro
now.
First of all let me reveal that since this review was published, I
actually put my money where my mouth is and purchased one of
these great, little surround processors for my own home theater.
First of all, unlike many modestly priced components these days,
B&K designs AND BUILDS all their electronics right here in the
good old USA. And this stuff is built like a truck, albeit a good
looking one. It comes in traditional black or silver. Actually, a case
could be made that silver is actually traditional and is just making
a come back. The silver looks especially great. The display is a
fluorescent blue that nicely complements the silver faceplate.
This unit is feature packed, which wouldn't mean squat if it didn't
sound great, which it does, but I'll get to that later. In addition to
the expected features:
- Numerous digital audio inputs (6 coaxial, 5 optical)
- Wideband component video inputs (3)
- All the usual suspects for digital surround (DD, DTS, DTS-ES,
DTS-ES Discrete, DTS-NEO 6
- DPL2 for the best in analog surround
- THX ultra2
- 2nd zone output
The Ref-50 offers some really special features that combine to
deliver a welcome level of flexibility and customization.
- 12v triggers
- RS-232 com port for advanced control systems and
configuration using B&K's special set-up software
- Balanced inputs & outputs
- A true parametric EQ for taming those tough room resonances.
- Continuously adjustable crossover frequency for both high and
low pass with independently adjustable slope for both.
- A Firewire port (as yet un-enabled)
- A really great smart remote. The company that OEM's the
remote for B&K sells it for over $200 as a stand alone unit. If you
are not using a dedicated control system or touchscreen remote
control, this is a great one.
Pros: Great Sound Quality, Really Good Featureset, Solid Build
Quality, Parametric EQ, excellent value, great remote.
Cons: Doesn't sound quite as refined as the very best pre/pros
out there (Krell, Levinson, Meridian), doesn't upconvert all
incoming video to component, no ethernet connection.
NOTE: The B&K Ref-50 is about to be replaced by the B&K
Ref-70. This processor was scheduled to be released at the end
of the second quarter, but B&K's desire to get the product 100%
pushed the ship date back. As this is written in mid July of '08, the
shippining date for the Ref-70 is reportedly imminent.
It has 6 HDMI inputs on a custom video input board, has true
balanced audio all the way, takes multi channel PCM for Dolby
TrueHD and DTS Master Audio, and uses the Silicon Optix HQV
chip for video processing . It should be a great pre/pro at this
price point. Stay tuned for a full report here.
Every once in a while a product comes along that hits a home run.
It's a great value, has great sound quality, solid build, aesthetics,
features, pretty much the whole deal. I felt this way about the B&K
reference 50 preamp processor at it's original retail price of
$2,798.00. B&K evidently thought that although the Ref-50 was
already a great value, it was just too expensive. So they did the
unthinkable and lowered the price by $800.00. If it was a great
value before, it sets the standard in a high value surround pre/pro
now.
First of all let me reveal that since this review was published, I
actually put my money where my mouth is and purchased one of
these great, little surround processors for my own home theater.
First of all, unlike many modestly priced components these days,
B&K designs AND BUILDS all their electronics right here in the
good old USA. And this stuff is built like a truck, albeit a good
looking one. It comes in traditional black or silver. Actually, a case
could be made that silver is actually traditional and is just making
a come back. The silver looks especially great. The display is a
fluorescent blue that nicely complements the silver faceplate.
This unit is feature packed, which wouldn't mean squat if it didn't
sound great, which it does, but I'll get to that later. In addition to
the expected features:
- Numerous digital audio inputs (6 coaxial, 5 optical)
- Wideband component video inputs (3)
- All the usual suspects for digital surround (DD, DTS, DTS-ES,
DTS-ES Discrete, DTS-NEO 6
- DPL2 for the best in analog surround
- THX ultra2
- 2nd zone output
The Ref-50 offers some really special features that combine to
deliver a welcome level of flexibility and customization.
- 12v triggers
- RS-232 com port for advanced control systems and
configuration using B&K's special set-up software
- Balanced inputs & outputs
- A true parametric EQ for taming those tough room resonances.
- Continuously adjustable crossover frequency for both high and
low pass with independently adjustable slope for both.
- A Firewire port (as yet un-enabled)
- A really great smart remote. The company that OEM's the
remote for B&K sells it for over $200 as a stand alone unit. If you
are not using a dedicated control system or touchscreen remote
control, this is a great one.
B&K Reference 50
Home Theater Surround
Preamp / Processor
Home Theater Surround
Preamp / Processor