AudioCircle
Industry Circles => Bryston Limited => Topic started by: Sandrock on 17 Jul 2017, 11:11 pm
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Hello All,
I am in the process of both up grading and shrinking my system footprint for 2 reasons: first I am changing over to a Music Server format and down-sizing my amp power to more really fit in with my now smaller listening room size.
I have been looking at the Luxman M600A amp but I am not real thrilled about pure class A what with all the heat and power consumption even at idle.
The sound "yes" but not the extra baggage that comes with it.
So casting my net further afield I came across the Bryston 2.5B cubed amp.
price is manageable so is the physical size and the output fits right in with what I am looking for plus its class A/B so there is not the gobs of heat or power drain.
But as I look over the Bryston thread I can not find a thing mentioned about the 2.5B3 cubed amp and I am wondering why?
Can others please enlighten me.....
Thanks.
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http://www.10audio.com/bryston_2.5b3.htm
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https://www.cnet.com/news/the-little-amplifier-that-could-bryston-2-5b3/
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Hello James,
Thanks for your prompt reply submitting the 2 amp reviews.
The CNET one I have read before, but the 10Audio is new to me.
Thanks again for sharing them with me.
As I previously mentioned in my initial post, I was wondering why there are no posts regarding this amp?
Could it be that the amp is so new that it has not gotten into audiophile's hands for them to speak about it on this forum?
Just wondering if you might be able to shed some light on the subject?
From the little I have been able to glean, it appears that it is a great sounding amp and should attract a lot of interest.
Thanks.
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Hello, if it can help you, I have a 2B SST for 12 years and I have only good words for it. Very beautiful musicality. The power is very good with nearly 140 w / c. If your listening room is not huge, I recommend you try one at home. I think you will be pleasantly surprised.
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Hello James,
Thanks for your prompt reply submitting the 2 amp reviews.
The CNET one I have read before, but the 10Audio is new to me.
Thanks again for sharing them with me.
As I previously mentioned in my initial post, I was wondering why there are no posts regarding this amp?
Could it be that the amp is so new that it has not gotten into audiophile's hands for them to speak about it on this forum?
Just wondering if you might be able to shed some light on the subject?
From the little I have been able to glean, it appears that it is a great sounding amp and should attract a lot of interest.
Thanks.
Hi
Its a good question and I do not know if I really have an answer - it really is the sleeper in our line up. Maybe when customers come to Bryston they are coming for more power so the smaller amps get overlooked ?
james
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Hello James, I can appreciate your comment regarding amp-power.
I can attest that when I hear the mention of Bryston, I do the same and thing about "power".
Yet at the same time Bryston is more then just a high-power-amp company and they manufacture a full range of audio products including high-power amps. To me, I might suggest that there should be some time and space given to the smaller items along with their nuanced performances.
Giving to audiophiles a true and complete Bryston sonic picture.
Anyway, its food for thought, right?
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Hello James, I can appreciate your comment regarding amp-power.
I can attest that when I hear the mention of Bryston, I do the same and thing about "power".
Yet at the same time Bryston is more then just a high-power-amp company and they manufacture a full range of audio products including high-power amps. To me, I might suggest that there should be some time and space given to the smaller items along with their nuanced performances.
Giving to audiophiles a true and complete Bryston sonic picture.
Anyway, its food for thought, right?
Yes food for thought for sure but not sure I am enough of a marketing guy to figure out how to do it :scratch:.
james
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Yes food for thought for sure but not sure I am enough of a marketing guy to figure out how to do it :scratch:.
james
20% of your products provide 80% of your revenue. Your best bang for your marketing dollar is to focus 80% of your budget on those 20% products.
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20% of your products provide 80% of your revenue. Your best bang for your marketing dollar is to focus 80% of your budget on those 20% products.
Maybe you should buy a Bryston product yourself!
mak
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Hello Mak, I agree with you however I only stumbled on Bryston a few days ago and found out that they make a small amp that will work for me.
So I am just now starting doing my homework on the unit.
I have not seen the amp in person nor have I heard the unit either.
I am trying to find a dealer near me who has the amp in stock and or on display for me to listen to the amp.
So in the end I am trying to come up to speed with this particular model.
Do you have one?
If so, can you give me some idea as to what I might expect sonically from the amp?
Thanks for your insight.
Cheers
Ian
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Hello, if it can help you, I have a 2B SST for 12 years and I have only good words for it. Very beautiful musicality. The power is very good with nearly 140 w / c. If your listening room is not huge, I recommend you try one at home. I think you will be pleasantly surprised.
Hello Pierre, I am in love with your phraseology saying the amp is "very beautiful musicality"!!!
That is the sound I am looking for big time.
I also understand that what you said is also 'subjective' but thinking alike and talking the same language is important in describing the sound we are trying to achieve.
I am wondering IF the 2.5B3 would sound the same way as you described?
Just wondering....
Cheers
Ian
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Yes food for thought for sure but not sure I am enough of a marketing guy to figure out how to do it :scratch:.
james
So James, perhaps you might suggest that idea to those who might have the abilities to push the amp in the market from a marketing prospective.
I believe that Bryston might be missing that end of the market, given that they are a more boutique manufacture who should cater to the finer sensibilities of the audio market as well as the power seekers.
That way they are not leaving any money on the table.
And yet at the same time Bryston will cover all the bases both for high power and high resolution at the same time.
People/audiophiles with then beat a path to your door.
Just a thought.....
Cheers
Ian
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20% of your products provide 80% of your revenue. Your best bang for your marketing dollar is to focus 80% of your budget on those 20% products.
Maybe you should buy a Bryston product yourself!
mak
(https://tctechcrunch2011.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/awesome.jpg)
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Hello Pierre, I am in love with your phraseology saying the amp is "very beautiful musicality"!!!
That is the sound I am looking for big time.
I also understand that what you said is also 'subjective' but thinking alike and talking the same language is important in describing the sound we are trying to achieve.
I am wondering IF the 2.5B3 would sound the same way as you described?
Just wondering....
Cheers
Ian
Actually I disagree with Pierre here.
You DON'T hear a Bryston amp. What goes in comes back out, just louder. I own a 4B SST2. I am beyond happy with it, even so it will somewhat retire in te future. I am looking at going half active/half passive (woofer on the 4B SST2 and mid plus high on a new 2.5 cubed).
Will I audition the 2.5? No. I'll just buy one.
Any color, as long as it's black and 19 inch wide.
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Hi, Sandrock. We use the 2.5B3 amp for convenient auditions at customer homes, because it provides the same sound character as the more powerful Cubed amps in an package that is a lot easier to carry around. (In addition to featuring it in one of our setups.) I think it's fair to read the reviews for the higher powered Cubed amps and apply what you read to the 2.5B3 as well.
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And yet at the same time Bryston will cover all the bases both for high power and high resolution at the same time.
People/audiophiles with then beat a path to your door.
Just a thought.....
Cheers
Ian
You're kidding, right?
They've been doing that for years.
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Quote from: witchdoctor on Yesterday at 14:27:28
20% of your products provide 80% of your revenue. Your best bang for your marketing dollar is to focus 80% of your budget on those 20% products.
Quote from: racerxnet on Yesterday at 15:08:18
Maybe you should buy a Bryston product yourself!
mak
(https://tctechcrunch2011.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/awesome.jpg)
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=165741)
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As I previously mentioned, I am in the process of downsizing my older but very-loved larger sound system due to a smaller listening area.
So I have began selling off my equipment and replacing it with smaller and more current electronics to better suite my new environment here in the SF bay area.
Recently I have been casting about for a smaller sized amp and came across the Bryston line and noticed that they included a 2.5B3 amp which is exactly what I am looking for to complement my other electronics.
However, generally Bryston has not crossed my purview, other then knowing the name and the fact that they manufacture larger powered amps, that was it.
So I am coming to the table with a fresh mind and interest, especially know knowing that they build a more petie-sized amp which I hope appeals to Audiophiles and not just those wanting 'more-power'
I am anxious to hear/see the 2.5B3 so I can make an informed judgement as to whether it will fit sonically into my selected system.
I am also gathering everyones comments and reading any and all reviews about the 2.5 and Brystons associated equipment.
So in my mind, 'the more one knows, the better off they are'.......
What I have gleaned so far is that Bryston produces respected equipment.
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What I have gleaned so far is that Bryston produces respected equipment.
I have been in audio since the early 1970's and since owing the SP-3, BDP2, BDA-3, and the 2.5SST2 and dealing with tech support from Bryston, I will never own any hi fi prodjuct unless it is a Bryston product. I trust the company. :thumb:
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Gbaby, thanks for your enthusiastic recommendation on the Briston amps.
So I can gather that you are very pleased with the sonic characteristics of the Bryston amps?
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Hi, Sandrock. We use the 2.5B3 amp for convenient auditions at customer homes, because it provides the same sound character as the more powerful Cubed amps in an package that is a lot easier to carry around. (In addition to featuring it in one of our setups.) I think it's fair to read the reviews for the higher powered Cubed amps and apply what you read to the 2.5B3 as well.
Thanks NekoAudio for your comments. I can agree with you about having an amp that performs well and at the same time is easy to carry around to demo. And also for your positive statements about the fact that the amps as a whole sound much alike and that I can accept the reviews of other bryston amps and as you mentioned "apply what I read to the 2.5B3.
That is quite a nice thing to say about the Bryston line of amps.
Thanks for sharing.......
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Is there an echo in here?
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Go for it Sandrock. You will not be disappointed in a new Bryston amp. I own Byston products.... and LOVE them. Magical sound... and a warranty lasting decades. And made in Canada. Just give'er my friend. :thumb:
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Thanks to TJ sully, PierreB and Gbaby for your enthusiastic comments regarding Bryston and in particular the 2.5b3 amp.
I am now doing my due diligence on the amp.
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Hi Sandrock,
Can you tell us what is the dimension of your room and what gears you have.
Thanks.
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I own one and it is just great. It sounds a lot better than the previous series IMO.Not that is was bad it is just that the cubed series is a big step up. I did listen to other amps and they really did not compare.
Along with the great support and service you can't go wrong.
Good Luck
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Sorry for the delay in responding back. I have been very busy with work and travel and just came down with a summer head cold that has made my body ache all over.
This evening is the first day I have felt well enough to respond back.
Anyway, Wes with Neko Audio in South San Jose noticed that I also live in the local SF Bay Area and volunteered to lend me the Bryston 2.5B to try in my home system for several days. (That was a great gesture on his part, Thank you Wes) My listening section lasted several days straight to become completely acclimatized to the Bryston's sonic characteristics without any back and forth interference.
On the fourth day I made the switch back to the PS Audio Stellar S300 amp. I have to say it was close sound-wise. So I started the old switch-a-roo game. In the end I got very good at it and could make the change over very quickly. But as much as I began to notice subtle sonic differences, I decided that I needed another set of ears to confirm my suspicions. So I brought out the "big guns" you know, the boss!!!! Prior to the start of this ordeal she was only a casual listener saying that "it all sounds good." Its her way of not wanting to get involved in the decision making process. Well by this time I was not having a bar of it. I asked for some quality time to provide me with her opinion of which one she liked better, and why!
So we started off with 8 songs that she is familiar with and started making the switch back and forth. In the end the song list was narrowed down to four songs, then down to her best 2 songs of the bunch. In the end she without any pre selling or prompting by me came to the conclusion that the Bryston sounded "flat" that is her words.
By comparison the PS Unit had more inner detail, a better center channel image and was cleaner, slightly warmer sounding and less fatiguing to listen to over time, also more enjoyable musically to listen too. She initially liked the Bryston on first blush, but with critical listening the Bryston just did not hold up against the PS Audio amp and she said so, quickly and sharply. There was no hesitation on her part.
So it looks like the PS Audio will for now stay and the Bryston has been returned to Wes of Neko Audio. Thanks for lending me the Bryston Wes. In home A/B testing is really the only true way to compare any audio gear.
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In home A/B testing is really the only true way to compare any audio gear.
Yes.
Good luck with your PS Audio.
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Sandrock@ Just curious, what preamp did you use?
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Hello Xinon, in answer to your question, the Preamp I am using is the companion piece to the PS Audio S300 amp and it is the PS Audio Stellar Gain Cell DAC. This new line of affordable products became available for sale earlier this year and from what I can glean from PS Audio is that the items are doing quite well.
The Preamp retails for $1699.00 and the S300 Amp retails for $1499.00.
Should you require more info then by all means visit PS Audio's website.
I am attaching a picture of my setup for your viewing pleasure.....
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=166558)
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Hello Xinon, in answer to your question, the Preamp I am using is the companion piece to the PS Audio S300 amp and it is the PS Audio Stellar Gain Cell DAC. This new line of affordable products became available for sale earlier this year and from what I can glean from PS Audio is that the items are doing quite well.
The Preamp retails for $1699.00 and the S300 Amp retails for $1499.00.
Should you require more info then by all means visit PS Audio's website.
I am attaching a picture of my setup for your viewing pleasure.....
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=166558)
Thanx Sandrock.
My experience from having Bryston in my system for several years and trying a number of preamps costing up to twice as much than the Bp26, is that a preamp makes or breakd the system synergy. Synergy is alfa omega when putting together a hifi. Im pretty sure that the synergy between your PS Audio pre and power is spot on because they are developed as a system. Im not saying that Bp26 and 2,5B3 would sound better than your PS pre power, thats a matter of taste, but Im pretty confident the 2,5B3 would perform better with Bp26 than with the Ps Audio pre. Congrats with your system, it looks good, Im sure it sounds great :)
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Im not saying that Bp26 and 2,5B3 would sound better than your PS pre power
Yes I think so but that will cost him way over 6000$.
Sometimes you have to go with your wallet.
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Interesting comment Xinon, and not one that I would totally disagree with!
I agree that "synergy" is very important whether it be Hi Fi or any other multi-chained product.
Up until this moment I had not given it a lot of deep thought other then to reason that manufactures would want to produce a complete line of sonically comparable items. Call it their 'signature' line or style.
I was of the general mind that each component should be designed to stand on its own merits AND also complement its kin all at the same time.
What I did was to only compare the amp sections of both Bryston and PS Audio.
My findings to my ear were that my system sounded subjectively better with the PS Amp over the Bryston.
However, I am intrigued with doing a more balanced test as you suggested, by using both preamps along with the corresponding amps.
PierreB has also thrown in to the equation a very 'ugly and evil' side note to the discussion, and that is the evil and necessary word "money."
Given the fact that the Bryston 'cost' comes in at I suspect double the pricing of the PSA equipment, does raise its ugly head and I guess needs to be factored into the overall picture for the end user.
If money were no object then everything in life would be so very different then what we have in today's world. So without actually testing both units in their complete form we are left to ponder the question.
However, when the financial numbers invade any discussion things get side-ways real fast.
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Sandrock, Ther law of diminishing returns always kicks in.
Enjoy your system, it looks great. :thumb:
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How very right you are CanadianMaestro.
The pyramid only gets smaller in every way the higher you climb.
I wish it wasn't so, but those are laws of physics.
Its the same when anyone wants to make their car go faster, the only question that they need to answer is "how much money do you have?"
Any hobby or interest that one has and wants to go faster or produce better sound etc, :duh: the only thing stopping them is the money involved.
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Gbaby, thanks for your enthusiastic recommendation on the Briston amps.
So I can gather that you are very pleased with the sonic characteristics of the Bryston amps?
Yes.
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Can someone please post here how many output transistors do Cubed amplifiers use per channel?
Cheers!
Antun
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Can someone please post here how many output transistors do Cubed amplifiers use per channel?
Cheers!
Antun
It should depend on the size of the amp, i dont think that the 4B has the same amount as say the 28B.
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I believe that the smallest amp in the 'cubed-series' "2.5B3" has just one output transistor per side.
I was surprised given the size of the heatsinks. But one is all there is per side.
I can't speak for the others but for the 2.5B3 I can....
Cheers
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Can someone please post here how many output transistors do Cubed amplifiers use per channel?
Cheers!
Antun
2.5 - 2 output devices per channel
3B - 4
4B - 8
6B - 8
7B - 16
9B - 4
14B - 16
28B - 32
James
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Thanks James!
I stand corrected.
I guess what I noticed was only half of the pair in the 2.5B3 amp.