Santa too bring me a new amp?!?
Kahuna
Posts: 35
For years I have been lusting for a Bryston 4B (Present configuration carries an SST designation) and have been giving it a little more serious thought. I am currently using a Carver M4.0t in my 2 channel system, (interchanging 2 pre-amps, a Carver C-16 solid state, and a Carver C-19 hi-bred tube pre-amp) and was wondering if anyone could give me some insight comparing these 2 amps. (Strengths and weakness of each etc.) Thanks!
Post edited by Kahuna on
Comments
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I love my 4.0t, and look around at amps, but it would take a great amp at a sweet deal for me to upgrade. My 4.0 currently drives a pair of Teledyne AR9's, without a hint of breaking a sweat. if you get the Bryston, I would be interested in any differences you hear, but that Carver is no slouch.
I would consider going with a tube preamp, or a preamp upgrade before upgrading the amp for a better bang for buck upgrade. when I went the tube preamp route, I considerred it some of the best money I spent on my system, bar none.Living Room 2 Channel -
Schiit SYS Passive Pre. Jolida CD player. Songbird streamer. California Audio Labs Sigma II DAC, DIY 300as1/a1 Ice modules Class D amp. LSi15 with MM842 woofer upgrade, Nordost Blue Heaven and Unity interconnects.
Upstairs 2 Channel Rig -
Prometheus Ref. TVC passive pre, SAE A-205 Amp, Wiim pro streamer and Topping E50 DAC, California Audio Labs DX1 CD player, Von Schweikert VR3.5 speakers.
Studio Rig - Scarlett 18i20(Gen3) DAW, Mac Mini, Aiyma A07 Max (BridgedX2), Totem Mites -
Thanks for your reply. Are you suggesting a different tube pre-amp? (Other than my Carver C-19).
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I've got a 4b sst and it's the one piece of gear that I feel pretty confident will never leave my system. It doesn't hurt that I'll probably be dead before the warranty on it runs out (20 years is a long time).
The biggest complaint with the bryston is that it is VERY solid state. Everything that they say about SS is very true for bryston. Also, it's so clean and quiet (and what some people might call grainy), you're gonna hear every flaw with the rest of your system.
Bryston w/ a tube pre is a great combo. Despite what my sig says, I've had the Dodd & 4bsst=>LSi25's for the past few months & I've been very happy.Gallo Ref 3.1 : Bryston 4b SST : Musical fidelity CD Pre : VPI HW-19
Gallo Ref AV, Frankengallo Ref 3, LC60i : Bryston 9b SST : Meridian 565
Jordan JX92s : MF X-T100 : Xray v8
Backburner:Krell KAV-300i -
as far as I know, the Carver pre you have is not a tube pre, its solid state.
some examples of Tube pre's I know are,
Dodd ELP
Anthem Pre2l (currently own, and LOVE it)
do a search, theres a ton of info on tube pre's on this sight.Living Room 2 Channel -
Schiit SYS Passive Pre. Jolida CD player. Songbird streamer. California Audio Labs Sigma II DAC, DIY 300as1/a1 Ice modules Class D amp. LSi15 with MM842 woofer upgrade, Nordost Blue Heaven and Unity interconnects.
Upstairs 2 Channel Rig -
Prometheus Ref. TVC passive pre, SAE A-205 Amp, Wiim pro streamer and Topping E50 DAC, California Audio Labs DX1 CD player, Von Schweikert VR3.5 speakers.
Studio Rig - Scarlett 18i20(Gen3) DAW, Mac Mini, Aiyma A07 Max (BridgedX2), Totem Mites -
ohskigod wrote:as far as I know, the Carver pre you have is not a tube pre, its solid state.
FWIW, the C-19 pre-amp I have uses 4 - 6DJ8 vacuum tubes. 2 in the line amplifier and 2 in the phone stages. -
The C-19 is, indeed, a tube pre and a nice one.
I've owned several Carver amps, and my fave is the m4.0/TFM 45/42.
Is the Bryston a better amp? Sure, but, it all depends on what you want to spend for incremental improvements in sound.
BDTI plan for the future. - F1Nut -
TroyD wrote:The C-19 is, indeed, a tube pre and a nice one.
slap my @ss and call me susan, I had no idea
Living Room 2 Channel -
Schiit SYS Passive Pre. Jolida CD player. Songbird streamer. California Audio Labs Sigma II DAC, DIY 300as1/a1 Ice modules Class D amp. LSi15 with MM842 woofer upgrade, Nordost Blue Heaven and Unity interconnects.
Upstairs 2 Channel Rig -
Prometheus Ref. TVC passive pre, SAE A-205 Amp, Wiim pro streamer and Topping E50 DAC, California Audio Labs DX1 CD player, Von Schweikert VR3.5 speakers.
Studio Rig - Scarlett 18i20(Gen3) DAW, Mac Mini, Aiyma A07 Max (BridgedX2), Totem Mites -
no worries.....learning new stuff is half the fun!I plan for the future. - F1Nut
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Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
You will notice that I didn't
BDTI plan for the future. - F1Nut -
Noted!Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
F1nut wrote:Somehow, I can't see anybody ever calling you Susan.
only my friends, and those that run faster than me
Living Room 2 Channel -
Schiit SYS Passive Pre. Jolida CD player. Songbird streamer. California Audio Labs Sigma II DAC, DIY 300as1/a1 Ice modules Class D amp. LSi15 with MM842 woofer upgrade, Nordost Blue Heaven and Unity interconnects.
Upstairs 2 Channel Rig -
Prometheus Ref. TVC passive pre, SAE A-205 Amp, Wiim pro streamer and Topping E50 DAC, California Audio Labs DX1 CD player, Von Schweikert VR3.5 speakers.
Studio Rig - Scarlett 18i20(Gen3) DAW, Mac Mini, Aiyma A07 Max (BridgedX2), Totem Mites
