March 14, 2008
Hi All,
Please see below report from a potential Bryston customer in the UK.
“James
I had a dem of the SP1.7 (the dealer didn't have an SP2) together with the Naim AV2. The Naim product is considered as primarily a purist 2 channel company in this country, so I was expecting it to give the Bryston a run for it's money with 2 channel and perhaps struggle to keep with 5.1 movies.
Initially the setup was to listen to the two processors in 2 channel bypass modes then to move on to movies. However after listening to literally two tracks with the Naim, having already listened to the Bryston first, the Naim was switched off and the rest of the 3 hour dem was purely Bryston This was the easiest dem I have ever had !
The word awesome is far too frequently used in my opinion (particularly in the US but increasing so in the UK). However this is how I would have to describe the overall sound ! Nice product !
I'm sure you've heard plenty of descriptions of the sound - transparent, dynamic etc etc - and it was all that, but what I liked most was the control and detail. I have ATC active 10 front speakers - these speakers are very dynamic and very revealing but they are a little 'bass light'. I augment their bass in 2 channel mode with a Velodyne sub, so being able to replicate that with the Sp1.7/2 was imperative for me. We managed to run the system with the sub in 2 channel bypass (the dealer didn't know how to do this but fortunately I came across your Audiocircle forum during the week and found the IR codes). Anyway having got it working I found the bass was too much, simply running with the main speakers was perfect (may be that the room acoustics are different to mine). Anyway you'll be pleased to know that the bass was fast and tight and completely blew the Naim away - that's why it was ditched so quickly. With 5,1 the sound was again extremely punchy and dynamic with excellent steering. The major crash bangs, shootings, explosions etc were carried effortlessly and (I guess) realistically, but what really impressed me was the extra detail heard in the quieter scenes and the all around ambience created. I currently have a Lexicon processor and whilst this is not too far off with the 'crash bangs' it gets nowhere near with the detail and ambience.
Anyway I won't say any more. Suffice to say I loved it and you'll have another sale. I may even look into getting a new power amp for my passive rears....not too difficult to guess where from !!
So you see the problems you've caused me....to think a couple of weeks ago I was happy with my setup !!
Thanks for your help.
Chris Dent”
