[Mag]

As most of you already know I'm a multi-channel stereo advocate. Having purchased an SP2, I am even more impressed using the BDA-1 bypassing the DSP in the SP2 using just the analog section.

However I've been listening more and more in 2 channel Bypass. I would almost say I'm becoming a 2 channel convert, except some mixes still sound better in multi-channel.

Anyway, listening in 2 channel, the right channel in my 3B SST/2 is shutting down more often. I thought this was due to high volume setting from computer media player, but it's happening with my standalone player as well. This is with Paradigm Studio 100 v2 speakers, which kick out a fair amount of bass. This only seems to happen with 48k dvd recordings upsampled, not with CD recordings.

So I was wondering if going to a bigger amp would solve the shutdown. Or do I need to put my floor fan on high to keep things cool. Or should I just lower the volume?

[James Tanner]

As most of you already know I'm a multi-channel stereo advocate. Having purchased an SP2, I am even more impressed using the BDA-1 bypassing the DSP in the SP2 using just the analog section.

However I've been listening more and more in 2 channel Bypass. I would almost say I'm becoming a 2 channel convert, except some mixes still sound better in multi-channel.

Anyway, listening in 2 channel, the right channel in my 3B SST/2 is shutting down more often. I thought this was due to high volume setting from computer media player, but it's happening with my standalone player as well. This is with Paradigm Studio 100 v2 speakers, which kick out a fair amount of bass. This only seems to happen with 48k dvd recordings upsampled, not with CD recordings.

So I was wondering if going to a bigger amp would solve the shutdown. Or do I need to put my floor fan on high to keep things cool. Or should I just lower the volume?

Hi Mag

If it is shutting down due to heat then I would definitely recommend a larger amplifier.   

With Stereo you are trying to fill the same space with 2 speakers rather than 5 and to get the same acoustic watts (volume) it takes a lot more power with two speakers.

james

[BrysTony]

As most of you already know I'm a multi-channel stereo advocate. Having purchased an SP2, I am even more impressed using the BDA-1 bypassing the DSP in the SP2 using just the analog section.

However I've been listening more and more in 2 channel Bypass. I would almost say I'm becoming a 2 channel convert, except some mixes still sound better in multi-channel.

Anyway, listening in 2 channel, the right channel in my 3B SST/2 is shutting down more often. I thought this was due to high volume setting from computer media player, but it's happening with my standalone player as well. This is with Paradigm Studio 100 v2 speakers, which kick out a fair amount of bass. This only seems to happen with 48k dvd recordings upsampled, not with CD recordings.

So I was wondering if going to a bigger amp would solve the shutdown. Or do I need to put my floor fan on high to keep things cool. Or should I just lower the volume?

Mag,
It seems odd that you are having the problem with only the right channel unless the right side has more restricted air flow.  I would swap the speaker wires and see if the  left amp channel shuts down.   If it does it could be speaker related.  If it does not it is likely an amp problem.
Tony
Tony

[Phil A]

What are the impedence of the speakers and how big a room?  When I had the 14BSST, it had some issues with the right channel too in a similar manner.  Sounds like the recodings with the bigger dynamic ranges are causing an issue.

[Phil A]

The speakers seem fairly efficient and are not a difficult load per this - http://www.stereophile.com/content/paradigm-reference-studio100-v2-loudspeaker-specifications

How big a room and how loud?

[srb]

Anyway, listening in 2 channel, the right channel in my 3B SST/2 is shutting down more often. I thought this was due to high volume setting from computer media player, but it's happening with my standalone player as well.
 
This only seems to happen with 48k dvd recordings upsampled, not with CD recordings.

Both of those conditions are somewhat puzzling.  First is that you experience shutdown with the upsampled DVD recordings and not with the 16/44.1 recordings.
 
???
 
The second is that it is only the right channel.  I would first swap left and right speakers to see if the shutdown follows the speaker due to a problem with the speaker crossover (or cable?) or if it remains with the right amplifier channel.
 
If it remains with the right amplifier channel, I would swap the preamp to power amp interconnects to see if something in the right preamp channel is causing some kind of overload.
 
If both swaps still point to the right amplifier channel, I would consider having Bryston check the amp over, perhaps the right channel bias needs to be adjusted?  Are the right channel heatsinks hotter than the left in both idle state and with music playing?
 
Steve

[Mag]

Mag,
It seems odd that you are having the problem with only the right channel unless the right side has more restricted air flow.  I would swap the speaker wires and see if the  left amp channel shuts down.   If it does it could be speaker related.  If it does not it is likely an amp problem.
Tony
Tony
[/quote]

Yes, the air flow from the fan would blow directly on left side of amp and is restricted by stereo rack from right side of amp. It could be speaker related but at this time intuition indicates heat, as I'm not running the amp into clipping spl levels.

[Mag]

What are the impedence of the speakers and how big a room?  When I had the 14BSST, it had some issues with the right channel too in a similar manner.  Sounds like the recodings with the bigger dynamic ranges are causing an issue.

The speakers are rated at 8 ohms but I have read they are more like 6 ohm and may drop lower with heavy bass output. The extra resolution of 48K makes a big difference in bass vibe.

When I'm rocking out I typically listen at spl in the 95-100 db range. Also the amp has shut down on extended songs such as Xanadu by Rush, Let there be Rock by AC/DC that have heavy bass guitar. No doubt this is working the amp.

 James is right that I have to increase the volume in 2 channel stereo to level match multi-channel. So what I am going to do is use extended or extra bass in multi mode to take the load off the 3B SST/2. Intiatially when I first got the SP2 extended bass was too much, but now that I've gotten use to the extra bass, music seems flat without it.

My room is 25' x 11'x 7" on the long wall. Mains 10' apart and I sit 7' away.