From: Don Winn
Sent: Friday, November 09, 2012 5:04 PM
To: jamestanner@bryston.com
Subject: 30 year journey ending with Bryston…
James,
Almost 30 years ago, as a young university student, I visited the Audio Ark in Edmonton. Robert, the owner, spent a few hours with me in an attempt to piece together a starter audiophile system for a poor student that love music.
Robert introduced me to entry level Magnepan speakers, a Mark Levinson amplifier and an Oracle turntable. To this day, I remember hearing recorded music for the first time-it was free and present in the room. Unfortunately, I couldn't find the $3000 to buy the system. I promised myself that one day it would happen.
While doing grad studies at MIT I got to know the engineer that designed the acoustic lens at Sausalito Audio. In 2000, I bought B&O's BeoLab 5's. For me, it was a stunning amount of money. Although the system was impressive in many ways, it still left me "cold" and the music felt "edgy" and a bit 'manufactured". [I am obviously not an audiophile - I don't know half the terms used in the audio blogs - I just love music]
Over the years, it became evident to me I don't sit and listen to music in a stereotypical listening room. Alternatively, I mostly listen while working. Even so, music lost most of it's appeal. I thought I had changed and always wondered how and when that happened as music was previously so important to me.
Later, I became familiar with Peachtree Audio and bought their Grand Integrated amplifier - given I'm always at the computer, I thought perhaps computer audio was the way to go. I bought their Grand Integrated, I learned we had a Magnepan dealer in Calgary [where I live] - I matched the amplifier with Maggie 1.7s. For some reason, the music still felt thin, edgy and it was difficult to place the instruments and the performers spatially - everything seemed 'muddy' almost like audio motion sickness.
I went back to our local dealer, Absolute Audio, who also happens to sell Bryston. Embarrassingly, I didn't know Bryston was Canadian and was mostly unfamiliar with the products.
I had previously spoken with Wendell Dhiller at Magnepan who suggested the new 3.7s would have better resolution than the 1.7s. Also, given my experience, I didn't get the fuss with 1.7s. First, I auditioned the 3.7s connected to the Grand Integrated-same undesirable sonic result. Quite discouraging because I was even more convinced my enjoyment in music was gone, not to mention a lot of money trying to create the connection.
Then, James Davies of Absolute connected the 3.7s to a Bryston stack of gear which included: 14B, BP26, BDA-1, BDP-1. We were listening to Red Guitar by Cassandra Wilson. The transformation was stunning. Cassandra's voice was dead center suspended in the room. The instruments were all in their places, in between the speakers, in front of the speakers and even behind the speakers. The music came to life with energy, excitement and presence. I was transported back to that time so many years ago. Track after track the experience was the same. It was like getting reconnected and rediscovering music that was lifeless for so long.
For 30 years I mostly lost my interest in music. It felt sterilized, flat, harsh and in many ways, unfriendly. In that moment, everything changed. You can imagine, remembering my various attempts to reconnect with music, I was on the horns of a financial dilemma. It's not so much about buying this system but regrettably the cost of all previous systems.
Nevertheless, James put together a deal. I bought the 14B and BP26 store demo units and new BDA and BDP units along with a new pair of Maggie 3.7s. About a month ago, everything arrived and was installed in my home office. I took Harry Pearson's advice and used high-resolution organ music [with the door closed and me on the outside] to break-in the speakers. The system sounds amazing. The Maggies are part of a compelling disappearing act. The magician is Bryston. One day, it did happen.
Thought I would share.
Have a good weekend.
Don.
