Thoughts on Bryston amps

del44

I was wondering if any CP member has a Bryston amp in there setup. Or, your thoughts on them in general. I'm interested in the 4b-st and 4b-sst models. I will be pairing it up with a Musical fidelity A5 pre. Thanks.

mantis

They make great very dynamic and good sounding amps. I see no problems with them. I would own them myself.

Good choice.

Dan

Systems

Im using a 3B NRB a pair of 2B LP's and a PP120.There is a good reason most Hollywood scoring stages and a bizillion recording studios use them.Accuracy.

Although specs are similar the 4B SST is quite a bit different than the 4B ST.Both are great amps but the SST uses newer output transistors and has double the filter capacitance and its noise floor has been lowered even further.

del44

I'm really looking for an amp that is good quality and will make my speakers sound their best. I am really hoping that Bryston amps will do this. As of now I'm using a Rotel RB-1070. I need punch and power with good dynamics. I'm also looking into the Musical Fidelity A5 power amp. And I want silver.:D

schwarcw

Try a Parasound Halo. Several members here have the A21. It has 250 wpc @ 8 ohms, 400 wpc @ 4 ohms. Very smooth, and dynamic. Presents a deep, detailed soundstage. I've got 2 A21's biamped to my Polk 2.3's

You like a silver one?

Systems

If you are looking for dynamics 4B will give it to you.One of its strongest points is its deep and tightly controlled bass response.I have no expierence with that MF amp but they make some very good sounding products.

Systems

schwarcw wrote: »

Try a Parasound Halo. Several members here have the A21. It has 250 wpc @ 8 ohms, 400 wpc @ 4 ohms. Very smooth, and dynamic. Presents a deep, detailed soundstage. I've got 2 A21's biamped to my Polk 2.3's

You like a silver one?

Hey stop posting the ****:D

venomclan

Del,
What speakers are you using? That will help determine if they will mate well. I have heard that Bryston and B&W speakers do not mate well. I have no experience with it though. Others I know love their equipment. Another member here - Unc, uses a Bryston with his Gallo's and he likes the combo. If you are looking for punch and power, I have heard nothing yet that out-controls a Krell.
Venom

del44

I'll be using the amp to power a pair of Revel Ultima Studio's. They are power hungry speakers. That's the reason I was looking for something at least 200 watts. I was checking out the JC-1's but the price tag is a little to steep right now. But the A-21 looks like it might fit the bill. I was also thinking about the Krell 250A I think, and the 2250. I had heard that the Krells are solid in the bass department. I like that. I may go used, that way, if the amp doesn't sound well with the MF pre and Revel's, I can resell it. My source is a Cambridge Azur 840 cd player.

schwarcw

del44 wrote: »

I was also thinking about the Krell 250A I think, and the 2250. I had heard that the Krells are solid in the bass department.

del,

If you look for a Krell look for the KSA-250. Pure Class A, powerful amp that is smooth, detailed and has thunderous, dynamic bass. Be prepared, the amp weighs about 130 lbs.!!:eek: I've seen them on Audiogon selling for $1,700 - $3,000. The A21 sells used for $1,000 to $1,300. Good luck!

Carl

venomclan

del44 wrote: »

I'll be using the amp to power a pair of Revel Ultima Studio's. They are power hungry speakers. That's the reason I was looking for something at least 200 watts. I was checking out the JC-1's but the price tag is a little to steep right now. But the A-21 looks like it might fit the bill. I was also thinking about the Krell 250A I think, and the 2250. I had heard that the Krells are solid in the bass department. I like that. I may go used, that way, if the amp doesn't sound well with the MF pre and Revel's, I can resell it. My source is a Cambridge Azur 840 cd player.

The Krell I have is very powerful and fast, deep bass and an ultra-black background. Detail is also a strong feature. The drawback can be a dryness or coldness with certain speakers. However, this may be addressed with the right pre-amp, source, cables, etc...I have compared other amps the the Krell and none can match the detail and quiet backround.

The CA 840 is gretting excellent reviews and I was thinking about one also. I knew a guy with Revels that like Mark Levinson amps. Very expensive though.
Venom

Systems

Im not sure what they sell for on the Gon but a pair of the mono block Bryston 7B ST's would also be a great match for your Revels.

del44

Thanks for the reply's guys. It's good to hear what others think about mixing different brands of gear. I know that it will be my ears doing the testing buts it's still nice to know what you think. Since I'm kinda on a budget, some of the higher priced gear may have to wait. I know that the Levinson-Revel synergy is supposed to be really good though. I may do a little more research on the Halo and Bryston gear. Damn nice picture Carl.

F1nut

I found Bryston amps too dry and sterile for my tastes, but you can't beat their 20 year transferable warranty.

Chicomoralessxm

Now thats a solid warranty........and yes those halo pictures are really nice.

unc2701

I've got a MF cd pre pushing a bryston 4bsst and couldn't be happier. As Venom mentions, I've got them pushing gallos and I've done just about every possible combo of krell kav-300i, tube spud amp, adcom 555, Bryston 4bsst & 9bsst, and Gallo SA that you can do on them and the Brystons were always my favorites.

One drawback on the Brystons: if it's on the recording, you'll hear it. Everytime you go from a good recording to a crap one, you'll think that your system has died, when it's really just the media.

Systems

unc2701 wrote: »

One drawback on the Brystons: if it's on the recording, you'll hear it.

Yes neutral and accurate especially the SST series.If you want some added warm and a rolled off top end they aren't for you.

del44

GV#27 wrote: »

Yes neutral and accurate especially the SST series.If you want some added warm and a rolled off top end they aren't for you.

One thing about the Rotel I'm using now, is that it seems a little harsh in the midrange. Especially when being driven. Some of this could be the IC's and speaker wire I'm currently using. (el Chepo) I have heard that the Levinson amps can sound a little cold?steril. Do the Brystons fall into this catagory. I would like warmth in the midrange though. But I still need my highs.

del44

venomclan wrote: »

The CA 840 is gretting excellent reviews and I was thinking about one also. .
Venom

I haven't had mine too long, but the more I listen, the better it sounds. And having digital inputs is an added plus.

Systems

del44 wrote: »

Do the Brystons fall into this catagory.

No I would not characterise the ST or SST series as cold and sterile but they are very revealing of the source material and the components upstream.The ST models are a tad on the bright side whereas the SST's with there newer Motorola output devices have a more refined treble but maintain the excellent detail.

Spacedeckman

F1nut wrote: »

I found Bryston amps too dry and sterile for my tastes, but you can't beat their 20 year transferable warranty.

Their new SST stuff is different. I've tried both the 3B and the 7B monos in my system and didn't find them dry or sterile. They are slightly tipped up on the top end to my ears, but not obnoxiously so (I went right from EL34s to the 7Bs) but I think they are very tonally accurate, dynamic, open, with a big soundstage.

Krell on the other hand, has come off in the past 10-15 years as sterile and dry. Amusical. I wasn't much on the old ST Brystons because they were too bright, and some of the older stuff from 20 years ago was kind of rolled off on the top.

The 2B is magical, almost tubelike. I would love to try a pair monoed in a system once.

Mark

Mike Reeter

Carl,I would love to have a pair of Halos in my rack also...but at 19" deep I'll have to get a new rack 1st

Spacedeckman

If you buy a Bryston, get an SST. The only exception to this rule is the 2B, which, although lacking the dynamics of the bigger amps, is incredibly smooth, open....well, magical, not so much dependent on generation.

I've run a 2, 3, and a pair of 7s, using a tube pre. The 2 is the perfect transition amp for a tube guy into solid state. The 3 is a good amp, I'm seriously considering a 4BSST some time next year. The 7s were scary...I loved it.

The 2B lies to you a little bit. The others don't. Bad recording or other component? Don't expect the amp to hide it.

The Halo is a good piece too, I borrowed the big 2 channel once "just to see". I had run a Marsh in the system before that, and the Halo was a far better amp. I'd still rather have the 4BSST than the Halo...the Bryston is more dynamic and imparts less of a "signature" IMHO. I could be plenty happy with the Halo, though.

Mark

Systems

Spacedeckman wrote: »

The only exception to this rule is the 2B, which, although lacking the dynamics of the bigger amps, is incredibly smooth, open....well, magical, not so much dependent on generation.

You are spot on with your assesment of the 2B .Im currently using a pair of these little sweeties ,one drives the tweets the other the mids in my active speaker setup and a 3B NRB does woofer duties.

There are good reasons the 2B LP has been in production for over twenty years, they sound good,they very reliable,compact.

The LP version is still being produced even though the 2B SST is available.The SST is quite a different beast and has the SST family traits with the new output devices,input buffer and substantially bigger power supply.

del44

If an sst is that much better than an st, I may as well think about Levinson also. Not that much more $ used, if getting the 3xx series. I believe that the Revel's are voice matched with Levinson amps.