Finally moving forward from 1985!

Mr_Hz

I recently purchased a (used) Bryston 4BSST2 amp to power my main system in the living room. This is the latest 2009+ generation. Up to this point I've been using a re-furbished Yamaha M-80 amp (1985) to power a set of Polk SDA2's (same year - 1985) which I feel has been doing a descent job. With the Bryston aboard, it will be powering a newly refurbished/modified set of Polk SDA1C speakers(Gen3/4 - 1989?). Spatial & voice accuracy improvements should be readily apparent with the newer amp & speakers.

While the Yammy is no slouch, the Bryston has much more power reserves and out weights the Yamaha by a good 15-20lbs.
Yamaha M-80 250W into 8 ohms, 330W into 4ohms
Bryston 4BSST2 - 300W into 8 ohms, 500W into 4ohms

The bigger SDA's love lots of power, so the Bryston will perform just great in this configuration with the 1C's.

I like the progression here. The Yammy & the SDA2's move down to the Rec/Family room, making a very capable 2ndary system in my estimation. I'm really looking forward to the increased musicality, spatiality, and sharpness that the new components will offer in the living room.

The living room system pairs the Bryston 4BSST-2 with a newly obtained Marantz AV7701 pre/pro while the basement/rec room has the Yamaha M-80 paired with a used/eBay Marantz AV7005. HDMA 1.4a, 3D and all the whistles offered in both systems. Multi-channel will have to wait as I assimilate to these new improvements. (After all this is the 2-channel audio thread, right?!) At least the potential is now there if I decide to pursue multi-channel audio at a later time.

I will say I've been on board with Polk SDA technology since 1985 when I purchased this original set of SDA2's. Only recently have I branched out to check out other models in the Polk SDA lineup, as well as consider other power and management sources than my original Yamaha M80/C80/T80 which were purchased at the same time as the SDA2's.

Brushing off the cobwebs was well over due!

Progress is a good thing!

tonyb

Congrats on the new toys. Always fun to throw new things in the mix and wonder why you waited so long. Enjoy

xjghost

Congrats! I remember going into the high end audio store in my home town back then and drooling over the Yamaha systems of that era!

voltz

Congrats I like what I've read & seen about that Bryston amplifier! Audio Advisor is always advertising them.

boston1450

Nice. That should definitely make them sing. Ive never heard that very amp but what ive read they do a great job powering speakers.

Mikey081057

I have had my M80 hooked up to my 2.3's and it did a nice job, but I prefer my 30 watt Yaqin MC100b as it is much sweeter and detailed yet still gives me plenty of gain. I am holding out for a Parasound A21 and a P5 pre deal i can feel.

Mr_Hz

I've heard a lot of good things about tube amps but I've always ran SS amps. I keep telling myself that one day I need to take a 'hear see' at one of the local AV showroom stores. I'm just fearful that I'll really like something top end!

My 'newly' refurbished/modified 1C's are actually still a work in progress, not quite ready for prime time. Still piecing them together between house projects and work demands. So I'm still using the SDA2's/M80 but have just integrated one of the pre/pro's and am getting used to all those options. Good times.