[werd]

Redbook, Bryston confuses the issue by saying the 14b is basically two 7b's under one hood.  However, only one power supply? Thusly, not true monoblocks.

Jim

dual mono which means two transformers. Same as the 4b but twice as powerful.

[medium jim]

Werd

Still not true mono as there is only one power supply.  Go to the tech sheet for the 14b and see if it shows total separation.  True mono is 100% separation, anything less...

To be clear, I'm not talking about channel separation in terms of decibels as the 14b is said to have channel separation of 110db, which is very good, but not true mono.

Jim

[James Tanner]

Hi Folks

The 14B (as with all Bryston Amps) have totally separate power supplies and circuitry per channel. The only thing common is the power cord 

James

[medium jim]

James:

I stand corrected, nevertheless, I would still go with two 7B's!

Jim

[redbook]

  So is it the same for the 4B as well regarding power supplies.?

[electricbear]

Thanks everyone for your input. I'm now up to speed on the differences.

[James Tanner]

  So is it the same for the 4B as well regarding power supplies.?

Hi,

Correct - all Bryston amps other than the Zone amps.

james

[tim92gts]

Hi Folks

The 14B (as with all Bryston Amps) have totally separate power supplies and circuitry per channel. The only thing common is the power cord 

James

Just being pedantic but does that now mean we have the same power supply capacitance per channel in the 14BSST2 as in the 7BSST2?
Any other reason why you thought the 7 a bit better (whatever that might mean!) than the 14?
Thanks
Tim

[James Tanner]

Just being pedantic but does that now mean we have the same power supply capacitance per channel in the 14BSST2 as in the 7BSST2?
Any other reason why you thought the 7 a bit better (whatever that might mean!) than the 14?
Thanks
Tim

Hi Tiim,

The 7B still has almost twice the capacitance per channel of a 14B.  The more difficult the load the more the 7B SST2 makes sense over the 14B. Placing an amplifier close to the speaker is also an advantage.

With normal loads and normal listening levels the 14B is all you would ever need in most setups.  That is why I usually say that the choice is more one of Application rather than Performance. 

james

[95Dyna]

Hi Tiim,

The 7B still has almost twice the capacitance per channel of a 14B.  The more difficult the load the more the 7B SST2 makes sense over the 14B. Placing an amplifier close to the speaker is also an advantage.

With normal loads and normal listening levels the 14B is all you would ever need in most setups.  That is why I usually say that the choice is more one of Application rather than Performance. 

james

Hi Tim,

What James has just said is one of the two reasons I went with 7's over the 14.  My speakers are a nasty load in spots dipping to .8 ohms at around 32 Hz and again in the mid 300 hz range both accompanied by difficult phase angles.  I just thought for the extra $500 or $600 it would be good to have a little edge.

[David C]

As a new owner of the 14Bsst2 I can say that if I were too choose I would go for the 7bs. I could not due to a) WAF of amps on the floor and b) space on my built in book case. That said the 14B is an unbelieveable amp. I am enjoying it so much. I dont see a downside to it at all and I am very very pleased with my purchase. I use it to drive PMC PB1is and it is a great match with PMC speakers. you can't go wrong with either. By the way the 14B is a monster to get into place, very heavy.

The headroom is great and there is no strain or silibance at all. Very low if any noise and great bass. I replaced Nuforce 9V3ses and there is no comparision.

Even my wife says it sounds much much better

[larevoj]

Sometime back I did the same comparisons in the showroom with PMC speakers (cannot remember which model but relatively big) and I can hear a difference. As you move up the scale to even 28 the differences is really in your face albeit still has the same signature. 

I would go for 7 if you have the space...having a dedicated power cord tap to a dedicated wall supply makes a difference too.

[tim92gts]

Hi Tiim,

The 7B still has almost twice the capacitance per channel of a 14B.  The more difficult the load the more the 7B SST2 makes sense over the 14B. Placing an amplifier close to the speaker is also an advantage.

With normal loads and normal listening levels the 14B is all you would ever need in most setups.  That is why I usually say that the choice is more one of Application rather than Performance. 

james

Hi James,
thanks for that confirmation, i guess if i'd known at the time i would have gone for four 7s instead of the two 14s.
In reality the the 14s sound so good right up to full power into the BB5is that i'm not going to lose any sleep.
95Dyna,
i don't think i'm presented with that nasty a load, 0.8 Ohms is a tad extreme. Nominal 4 to 5 Ohms but in biamp mode (crossover in the preamp)
 maybe a bit higher esp on the treble / mid.
Had Tortoise / TNT on last night and the system renders it so well.
Not too worried about the weight of the 14Bs; it took four of us to lift the speakers onto the stands though!
Have a good weekend
Tim

[sfraser]

Hi James,
thanks for that confirmation, i guess if i'd known at the time i would have gone for four 7s instead of the two 14s.
In reality the the 14s sound so good right up to full power into the BB5is that i'm not going to lose any sleep.
95Dyna,
i don't think i'm presented with that nasty a load, 0.8 Ohms is a tad extreme. Nominal 4 to 5 Ohms but in biamp mode (crossover in the preamp)
 maybe a bit higher esp on the treble / mid.
Had Tortoise / TNT on last night and the system renders it so well.
Not too worried about the weight of the 14Bs; it took four of us to lift the speakers onto the stands though!
Have a good weekend
Tim

Wow! running a 14b full power, pushing BB5's? I can't imagine anyone getting any sleep in the same county!  That combination of gain and transducers must sound wicked.

Cheers,

[tim92gts]

Wow! running a 14b full power, pushing BB5's? I can't imagine anyone getting any sleep in the same county!  That combination of gain and transducers must sound wicked.

Cheers,

Certainly does, i feel incredibly lucky.
We use that system every day we're here, just wish i could have afforded it 20 years ago.
Tim

[Eric]

  No disrespect but aren't mono blocks supposed to be on separate chassis? 

It is what is called a dual mono

[spinner]

 My idea of a true monoblock is to keep the transformers apart to fully cancel magnetic interactions . Separate chassis guarantee that. Two amps on one base, although very good, is still a compromise.

[James Tanner]

My idea of a true monoblock is to keep the transformers apart to fully cancel magnetic interactions . Separate chassis guarantee that. Two amps on one base, although very good, is still a compromise.

The advantage of Toroid Transformers (which we use in all out products) is their magnetic field is very concentrated around the code so shielding is not as much of an issue.

james

[spinner]

 Thanks James..... I'm still thinking 1960's stuff.   LOL

[OgOgilby]

We love our 14B, but a pair of 7B's would have been nice if we had a dedicated 2 channel room. 

The reasons I went with the 14B over a pair 7B's:

1 - WAF - the 14B fit in our equipment rack replacing a Parasound A-21 (7B's wouldn't) and my wife wasn't thrilled with the idea of having amps near the speakers.

2 - We didn't need to replace any cables. Switching to 7B's would have meant new shorter speaker cables (not a must, but shorter would be better), longer IC's and at least one new power cable (the stock cables won't reach the outlet).

BTW, moving the 14B around with the 19" faceplate is relatively easy because of the excellent handles.

-Greg