[Monsoon]

I just wonder if there are any new significant tricks the amp builders are using that would make it worth spending the extra dollars for new gear.
If they're similar, then I would just go ahead and get a clean used amp.

[Mag]

  If you are referring to Bryston amps I would say that the SST/2 and Cube amps are much more linear and perhaps more bass vibe. Linear amps help in that a speaker tends to disappear (not as easy to point to speaker location).

That said I have used the older amps particularly for a Center channel and they do have nice tone to them. Bryston amps tend to have a house sound if you want to call it that, you know the same sonic signature, but the amps are neutral. It's your other gear that'll influence whether it sounds neutral or not.

Anyway if you can live without a disappearing act from your speakers an older Bryston amp is still a good amp and can drive difficult speakers, that I have found your typical av/receiver can't.

[vonnie123]

Bryston stuff is built like a tank.  Obviously, the digital gear tends to have better specs and feature improvements, but the older gear still performs well..

[bunkertoy]

I'm not an expert on this subject, but I noticed a great difference from 1986 Bryston 3B to a Bryston 3B cubed. The older 3B served me well. I can't see myself ever upgrading from the 3B cubed. As technology might improve, I will wait another 15 yrs before I think about an upgrade. Since I'm 58 yrs old, probably have this amp buried with me.

Cheers