We're taking a look at the B and K products. Seem to get good feedback on this site, generally, and their multiroom units seem like a very good value for what you get.

We aren't huge fans of the B and K keypads however. Although they seem well designed from a technical standpoint (chime in if I'm wrong here).... they aren't very pleasing to the eye.

We've used the Sonance keypads (k1, K2) and the RTI K4. Haven't yet used a RK3.
We also sell Nexus Audio, and we like the way their keypads are very discrete and "decora" style.

Can anyone offer some proven suggestions for controlling the B and K multiroom receivers (CT600, 602) with another brand of attractive keypad?

Thanks in advance

B&K is rock solid. It will perform as well as it's programmed. It will perform as good as the equipment it is tring to control. NO TOADS!

The programming is alot like Universal remotes MX-850 and MX700. It will do just about anything that a good IR system can do. There is probably not a better sounding amplifier out there.

In defense of the keypad. It looks better than the pictures you see in the trade magizines. But, it will work with just about anyone elses IR keypad. We have a system out there with Xantech and Xantech waterpads on it. The Water pad was a struggle.

Contact Eric Johnson at Universal Remote for more input. He is very helpful.

Mike

Nice thing about using B&K Keypads is feedback for the Built in tuner and Zone VOlume.....

Not going to get that with another innexpensive Keypad.

Are you sure they have feedback? I thought they were just URC remotes installed into a keypad enclosure.

They definitely have feedback, although some will find it more useful than others. The status is displayed at the very bottom of the screen, in small letters, and is difficult to see unless you're watching for it. And as far as I know, the status is only displayed momentarily whenever a preset is changed, or when the user presses the "status" button.

If the feedback isn't important to you, then any IR keypad (or remote) will work as a replacement.

Well there is minimal feedback as Impaqt has suggested. But I feel he is overselling that feature. It is very small text at the bottom of the soft panels and times out very quickly. I basically think that feature of the CK keypads is pretty much useless, from an everday user standpoint - and I live with these keypads (in my own showroom) every day. But don't get me wrong, otherwise, these are great keypads. Very reliable and rock solid, as long as you know how to program them and your equipment has all discretes!

I wish B&K would come up with a system that could feed back meta data from XM and MP3 servers. But that is a ways off. Other than that, these are very flexible keypads and probably have more programming flexibility than most other keypads out there. And the abilty to make it fairly intuitive for the customer to use.

And I do not find them un attractive and have never had any esthetic complaints from any customers.

Most of the B&K Systems I work on have AMX Touchscreens controlling them so I definatly do NOT sell on the B&K Keypads feedback... I was simply stating that it was there.

And also, you COULD use an RTI in wall keypad to run any (or all) zones you want.

URC and B&K publish all the remote control codes that any zone can or will repsond to. So you are not married to the CK keypads. And since they are sold separately, you don't have to purchase any keypads.

Each keypad zone input on the back of a CT600 or CT300 simply have 12volt +/- and IR data that could hook up directly to a connecting block from an IR repeating source. I have one zone that is being controlled by a MX950 via an MRF300 and it works great!

ANd dont foret that even though each zone has its own Keypad input you are NOT required to use that zones keypad to control only that zone... If that makes sense.....

What I'm saying is that I have one install with 2 CT-610's and 10 Sonance K2 keypads that control all 12 zones independantly.... 2 of the keypads are dual purpose. You just select which zone ou want to control and it sends out the controls for "Zone 12" even though the keypad is connected to "Zone 7"

Impaqt,

Not to high jack Fluid's thread. Have you used an RTI K3 or K4 in wall on a CT system? I alwasy thought that would be a nice combo. From a price - bang for the buck scenario - the CT married to a bunch of K3s would be cool. I am not an RTI dealer but want to jump on board within the next 12 months and feel that would make for a pretty marriage (CT and the K3).

Are there GUI template galleries for the K3?

No feed back on the K3, but couldn't the K4 get meta feedback from a Polk XM tuner or ReQuest MP3 server?

I am waiting for a couple of CT-602's to ship, they should go out tomorrow. I have a few Rk3's here already. Gonna give the combination a go, not a big fan of the B & K keypads. Nothing wrong with them, just not a fan. Hope to have some time over the weekend to build the rack and give it a go.

I'll post as I figure this out

I have used the CT with Sonance K2s, RTI RP1/6 via T1s and T2+s and RK3s, and of course Crestron.

All with good results.

Good to hear...

Off topic a little, but have you played with their HD-6??

Is there any truth that B&K keypads do not work with Integra receivers? We use a lot of mx 500s and 600s with no problems, but last week one of our installers tried using a B&k keypad with an integra receiver and had problems, I'm not sure what they were. But there engineering dept. says that we will have to send our remote to them. Does any of this makes since?

I used a B&K KP last month on a Sony system - recevier and 200 CD changer (via a Xantech 789-44 conn block) and it worked great.

I don't know why it wouldn't work with an Onkyo recv'r. It's just IR repeating in that mode.

HD 6 works pretty good. It's pretty much plug n play, when used with a CT600. I've had a few minor quips and have communicated those to Ed @ B&K. Have not heard from him since I emailed him last Friday.

It trasncodes (or upconverts) S and composite video to Component video. Does an ok job at that. Makes it very convinient for distributing video around the house.