[turnovertherecord]

I have replace my 4bsst2 with 3bsst

After a few days no difference to me other than a little higher volume control

Now I do not need help to move amp going forward and more cash for vinyl

[alexone]

hi, turnover!

no audible difference in bass performance? what speakers are you using?

al.

[brucek]

no audible difference in bass performance? what speakers are you using?

al.

Unless he was listening at ridiculous levels and had extremely inefficient speakers, I can't imagine that anyone would notice any difference in the sound between these two amplifiers.

Why should they? The specifications that matter are identical.

4BSST2
IMD or THD + noise: < 0.005% 20Hz to 20kHz at 300 watts into 8 W
                               < 0.007% 20Hz to 20kHz at 500 watts into 4 W
Noise: Measured with input shorted, 20 Hz to 20K Hz.
                               >110dB below rated output 29dB gain (- 75 dBu)
                               >113dB below rated output 23dB gain (- 78 dBu)

3BSST
IMD or THD + noise    < 0.005% 20Hz to 20kHz at 150 watts into 8 W
                                 < 0.007% 20Hz to 20kHz at 250 watts into 4 W
Noise: Measured with input shorted - 20Hz to 20kHz.
                                 >110dB below rated output 29dB gain (- 75dBu)
                                 >113dB below rated output 23dB gain (- 78dBu)

brucek

[alexone]

Brucek,

i have the 3B SST² and the 4B SST and i want to say that the 4B has a touch better bass performance than the 3B. on the other hand it is the 3B's smootheness regarding the highs & mids that makes it the more preferable amp for my ears...

knowing that they have the same specs leads to the question that some things are sometimes just imagination...???

al.

[brucek]

Brucek,

i have the 3B SST² and the 4B SST and i want to say that the 4B has a touch better bass performance than the 3B. on the other hand it is the 3B's smootheness regarding the highs & mids that makes it the more preferable amp for my ears...

knowing that they have the same specs leads to the question that some things are sometimes just imagination...???

al.

Well, anyone in engineering will tell you that specifications reveal the whole story. With THD and noise specs such as listed above, it says that both these amplifiers are equivalent in their sound as they will not change the spectral characteristics of the signal fed to them. THD+N is the golden rule for amplifiers, and a spec such as THD+N of 0.005% 20Hz to 20kHz at 300 watts into 8 W is so far beyond what the human ear can perceive that it's easy to predict no one could tell the difference.

Audiophiles will argue.

brucek

[turnovertherecord]

hi, turnover!

no audible difference in bass performance? what speakers are you using?

al.

I am using Focus audio FS-788

I have had speakers for a long time,room is 16x18x8

was told that the 3BSST had better base than the 3BSST2, something about power supply and larger caps

[Mag]

Well there is a difference!

The SST/2 has bass vibe and the high frequencies are more linear.

Perhaps you need a speaker like my Paradigm Studio 100 v2 to hear the bass vibe. I recall, (my memory is not as good as it use to be,) when I swapped my SST on center channel duty for the SST/2 for awhile. I could not live without the bass vibe that I've grown a custom to with the SST/2.

[Wim J]

I also chose the 3BSST² because in my opinion it has the most musical playback of all Bryston amps. Even at high (in-room) listeninglevels, it has correct bass-level and mids and highs are more 'fluid' and have more 'air' to them than with any other Bryston poweramp. So I found the 3BSST² the most musical and neutral performer of the bryston-pack.
And this makes also sense, because compared to the 4BSST² the power supply is (according to the online schematics) fairly identical, but more importantly the 3BSST² is only having 1set of output transitors (push-pull) and the 4BSST² has 2 sets in parallel. More transistors in parallel have more power (of course) but tend to be less accurate than a single transitor.

[redbook]

  I was told that a few years back when I bought my 4b ST that the 3B could be a bit more refined due to less parts . I loved the great bass majesty of the 4B so I went for that instead of the 3. I'm still wondering ,if I go to the new models would I try the  3 rather than the 4

[PRELUDE]

  I was told that a few years back when I bought my 4b ST that the 3B could be a bit more refined due to less parts . I loved the great bass majesty of the 4B so I went for that instead of the 3. I'm still wondering ,if I go to the new models would I try the  3 rather than the 4

If I were you, I would not do that because of the very small difference in the pricing between this two amps for sure the 4 would be a better buy not better amp.
They share the same design pre much but again and again this all would be depends on what speakers are you going to use.   

[sfraser]

I would imagine you might hear some differences with high volume  large transients @ low freq. if your speakers had some impedance dips between 20-1khz. The 3B may "run out of gas".

All great amps, just a matter of how much gain you want!

[turnovertherecord]

Would the preamp also supply the gain of 16 db plus 23 from 3BSST balanced at 2 volts

[spinner]

  So if the 3B is a less is more device where does that put the 28B in the musicality scale? Here we have  many more transistors at work but users of the 28 profess it's still the best of the bunch

[alexone]

  So if the 3B is a less is more device where does that put the 28B in the musicality scale? Here we have  many more transistors at work but users of the 28 profess it's still the best of the bunch

...smart input, Spinner

al.

[planet10]

The specifications that matter are identical.

IMD or THD + noise:

Noise is important, but the remaining spec is meaningless.

dave

[brucek]

You're in luck. Bryston gratiously lets everyone know how their amplifiers will sound by providing the specifications on line regardless of the number of transistors the signal passes through. The specs tell you how a signal is affected as it passes through the amplifier.

No suprise, the 3BSST will sound exactly the same as the 28SST2 at reasonable listening levels. The 28B shines when extreme high levels of volume are required. You could probably supply decent sound for a stadium rock concert with the power it offers. In the home - meh.

Note the specs are identical.

3BSST
THD + Noise    < 0.005% 20Hz to 20kHz at 150 watts into 8Ω
                           < 0.007% 20Hz to 20kHz at 250 watts into 4Ω
Noise: Measured with input shorted = 20Hz to 20kHz.
                                 >110dB below rated output 29dB gain (- 75dBu)
                                 >113dB below rated output 23dB gain (- 78dBu)



28BSST2
THD + Noise     < .005 % 20Hz to 20KHz at 600 Watts into 8Ω
                            <.007 % 20Hz to 20KHz at 900 Watts into 4Ω
Noise: Measured with input shorted = 20Hz to 20kHz. 
                               >110dB below rated output 29dB gain (- 75dBu)
                               >113dB below rated output 23dB gain (- 78dBu)

brucek

[srb]

So if the 3B is a less is more device where does that put the 28B in the musicality scale? Here we have  many more transistors at work but users of the 28 profess it's still the best of the bunch

If they don't have speakers that need or can take advantage of the enormous extra power, then it could have something to do with the extra watts that are available in Class A bias.

Steve

[BrystonNut]

I have heard many fellow Audiophiles suggest that the B60 is Bryston's best sounding amp...musically satisfying. 


Same idea that less is more.