[stereocilia]

I'm happy to hear what you think:

space:  half of a 17 x 20 room with 7'6" ceiling
source:  Benchmark DAC1 USB.
preamp:  Jeff Rowland Consonance -- sometimes the DAC1 drives the amp directly.
amp:  Rotel RB-1582 
music:  indie, electronica, jangly guitar folk, metal from time to time, basically a wide variety of recording qualities played at moderate to moderately-loud (but no louder) volumes.

goals:  improved midrange transparency, immediacy, and tighter bass.  I like to hear the individual vibrations of strings and the reedy buzz of horns.  I want a big soundstage, and I do not want any added sibilance.  Cymbals need to sound like real metal objects being struck.  Excess sibilance is a deal breaker.  I'm willing to give up bass extension.

Locally available contenders:
McIntosh MC302
Ayre V5xe
Bryston 4B SST2

Thanks!

[stereocilia]

Tried all three at the dealer.  So far the Bryston is my favorite by a modest margin.   I brought the demo home and
It  is sounding fantastic.   I will probably bring the Ayre home for a demo in case my ears overlooked something.

[mr_bill]

The PSB Ones are great speakers.

[stereocilia]

I'm about to unleash a cliche.  It passes the wife test.  She says it sounds more real with less static in the background.   Straining to hear the difference was not required, but straining to understand why it's worth the difference is.

[stereocilia]

So for my system, the Bryston wins.  For the record she was the one straining to understand the price difference, not me; that wasn't clear in my last post.  She gets it though.  She likes the look of the silver faceplate better than the black.  I'm ordering the black one anyway.   

[Ericus Rex]

Heading all Canadian, eh?  I look forward to hearing your new setup when I can get ooot of the hooose!  Will you have some Moosehead in the fridge for me?

[jimdgoulding]

Bet yer excited.  I am for you. 

[sts9fan]

Will you have some Moosehead in the fridge for me?

I hope not!

[hdspeakerman]

What did you think of the McIntosh?  Howard

[frankg]

I use a Bryston B-60 SST with my PSB T2 (and a Benchmark Dac1). I highly recommend the combination of Bryston and PSB.

[Ericus Rex]

I hope not!

You must be a Molson Ice fan!     

[stereocilia]

The McIntosh sounded a little darker, and it didn't seem to be a synergistic pairing.  The 2 ohm tap worked best, but the other amps sounded better to my ears.  Maybe with thiel or b&w it would be great,  I don't know.

I'm stoked that Natural Sound is letting me hang on to the demo until the new one arrives.

I will crack open the Molson, The Tragically Hip, Cowboy Junkies, Diana Krall, Neil Young, and maybe even some treble charger.   Everyone is invited.  It will be like a possum lodge meeting on the Red Green show.