Introduction The
$598 B&K PT-3 is the latest pre-amp/tuner from B&K. The PT-3 is
a full-featured line level remote controlled pre-amp and tuner. The
AM/FM tuner has 40 preset memories that recall not only the station but
can also recall volume and tone control settings. The pre-amp features
six inputs, a tape loop, tone controls, a 12-volt trigger and IR relay
capabilities. The six presets can be custom-labeled to match your
sources. The remote that comes with the PT-3 is well thought out and
does not appear to be an off-the-shelf model, but rather one developed
by B&K.
The Music I
utilized the PT-3 in my reference music system, which at this time
consists of Martin Logan Scenarios, a Sunfire Subwoofer Jr., a Pioneer
Elite PDR-19RW and a B&K ST1400II (125wpc), connected with Audio
Analysis cabling. In addition to listening to the PT-3 at home, I
brought it with me to my office to see how well the tuner performed in
a more urban area. The tuner performed fairly well in the urban
environment but had problems pulling in distant stations when in a
rural setting. My Yamaha TX-950 tuner was noticeably better with
pulling in distant stations from my rural residence. The PT-3 tuner
performed no worse than the plethora of other tuners I have used, but
was not quite as good as the Yamaha. With clean signals, the tuner
performance was admirable. The tuner maintained the signal without
drifting and presented a very easy-to-listen-to stereo program.
The
source I used for the majority of my critical listening was a Pioneer
Elite PDR-19RW CD player, which I connected through the CD input on the
PT-3. I tried connecting the CD player to the other inputs - there was
no noticeable difference in sound quality based upon the inputs.
Several months ago, I reviewed another B&K product, the Reference
20, a pre-amp/tuner/surround processor. As I still have this unit
handy, I brought it out to use as a basis of comparison for the PT-3.
The PT-3 had similar sonic characteristics to the Reference 20, but was
also able to improve upon some of what I believed to be the Reference
20's sonic weak points.
I went back to some of the music I had utilized in my review of the
Reference 20 while listening to the PT-3. For Duke (Realtime Records)
was one of the first CDs I put in it. The PT-3 noticeably improves upon
the Reference 20's two-channel playback capabilities. This album came
through somewhat forward, thin-bodied and with a slight bit of
graininess on the Reference 20. The complaints on the Reference 20 are
actually fairly nit-picky and are even less noticeable on the PT-3. I
would be a bit hesitant to pair the Reference 20 with speakers that
were on the bright side, I would be more confident in doing the same
with the PT-3. If I was pressed to pick which side of neutral the PT-3
falls on, I would still have to say that it is slightly forward, but
only very slightly.
In addition to replaying the music I had listened to in reviewing the
Reference 20, I also played Robbie Robertson's self-titled album
(Mobile Fidelity) and Crystal Method's Vegas (City of Angels).
Throughout my listening sessions, my observations remained fairly
constant. The PT-3 exhibited the characteristics that some would say
are the downside of solid state electronics: the hint of graininess and
thinness of body when compared to fine tube electronics. On the other
hand, the PT-3 also exhibits the strengths of solid state electronics,
most notably control and detail in the lower frequencies as
specifically exhibited on the "Busy Child" track on the Crystal Method
album.
The Downside The
PT-3 was remarkably satisfying as I listened to the PT-3/ST1400II
combination in place of my Bow Technologies Wazoo ($3,500).
As I listened and made my listening notes I had to remind myself that the B&K setup was only half the price of the
Wazoo. That aside, I could definitely detect some differences. The
B&K set-up, while smoother than the Reference 20 I had previously
reviewed, was not quite as smooth as the Wazoo. The Wazoo presented a
slightly fuller-bodied and smoother presentation. The volume control
may also present a problem for those with high-gain amplifiers or
otherwise sensitive systems, as it moves only in 2dB steps. While this
does not directly affect the sound quality, it may make it difficult to
achieve the exact listening level desired.
Conclusion At
$598, the PT-3 is a strong contender for a remote-controlled line level
pre-amp. The flaws are slight and not at all atypical for valve
oriented solid state electronics. The slight sonic flaws of the PT-3
are not likely to be noticed in, and indeed are likely to be hidden by,
most moderately-priced systems. This pre-amp/tuner offers a lot of bang
for the buck and would be at home in all but the most high-end systems.
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