[Elizabeth]

The manual explains the setting (for switches on back of 4B-SST²) with the 23dB setting is for balanced input and the setting of 29dB is for single ended.

Well I tried a single ended RCA (fooling around) and after I stuck my XLR back i left one side on '29dB' accidentally.
After wondering why everything sounded funny... Anyway, while having one side at 23dB and the other at 29dB I noted the 29dB sounded 'less muffled' (besides being louder)

So my question is: can I leave the Bryston 4B-SST² with the switch set to 29dB even though I am using balanced cables in?
I mean I never play the system louder than in the 80dB (from seated position C weighted with a Radio Shack meter) and typically no louder than 65dB-70dB.
So is any problem using the amp with 29dB switch and balanced cables? (PS my speakers are magnepan 3.6 and thus 4 ohms..)

I have to listen for awhile to decide which is better sounding to me.. I just wondered if the 29dB setting was 'bad' for any reason if used with balanced cables.
Thanks.

Added: after listening to the 29dB setting for awhile, I shut the amp down and went back to 23dB. Difference is slightly warmer sound, but also with a slight veil over the presentation compared to the 29dB setting.. It is not a big deal difference. very small, but anyway, the question of is it OK to run the amp balanced with switches set to 29dB still is question for you james. Thanks.

[turnovertherecord]

I have run 4bsst2 and 3bsst both ways

You can use either setting balanced

My speakers never go below 10 ohms FS-788

Only difference I found is how far I turn my BP-25MC volume controll

[James Tanner]

The manual explains the setting (for switches on back of 4B-SST²) with the 23dB setting is for balanced input and the setting of 29dB is for single ended.

Well I tried a single ended RCA (fooling around) and after I stuck my XLR back i left one side on '29dB' accidentally.
After wondering why everything sounded funny... Anyway, while having one side at 23dB and the other at 29dB I noted the 29dB sounded 'less muffled' (besides being louder)

So my question is: can I leave the Bryston 4B-SST² with the switch set to 29dB even though I am using balanced cables in?
I mean I never play the system louder than in the 80dB (from seated position C weighted with a Radio Shack meter) and typically no louder than 65dB-70dB.
So is any problem using the amp with 29dB switch and balanced cables? (PS my speakers are magnepan 3.6 and thus 4 ohms..)

I have to listen for awhile to decide which is better sounding to me.. I just wondered if the 29dB setting was 'bad' for any reason if used with balanced cables.
Thanks.

Added: after listening to the 29dB setting for awhile, I shut the amp down and went back to 23dB. Difference is slightly warmer sound, but also with a slight veil over the presentation compared to the 29dB setting.. It is not a big deal difference. very small, but anyway, the question of is it OK to run the amp balanced with switches set to 29dB still is question for you james. Thanks.

Hi Liz

Yes you can use either setting - the only thing that changes is the higher gain settings have a slight increase in residual noise floor.

james

[Elizabeth]

Thanks James.. After doing some comparisons, the sound in my setup with my options etc is best with the switch set to the 29dB setting.
Better clarity and a great snap, the immediacy of response.
It is not a bigdifference, but each tiny bit helps.

One other thing is the new Cardas Parsec cables i have aquired. they just are dynomite with my Bryston gear. A whole new level of beauty and refinement, and the Bryston are perfectly capable of passing and amplifying the signal.
I am so pleased with the fact I NEVER have to say I wonder if the Bryston is a bottleneck. Never is.. They always have more to give.

[James Tanner]

Thanks James.. After doing some comparisons, the sound in my setup with my options etc is best with the switch set to the 29dB setting.
Better clarity and a great snap, the immediacy of response.
It is not a bigdifference, but each tiny bit helps.

One other thing is the new Cardas Parsec cables i have aquired. they just are dynomite with my Bryston gear. A whole new level of beauty and refinement, and the Bryston are perfectly capable of passing and amplifying the signal.
I am so pleased with the fact I NEVER have to say I wonder if the Bryston is a bottleneck. Never is.. They always have more to give.

GREAT - ENJOY!!!!

james

[Hear Clifford Brown]

Elizabeth can you tell us which cables you were using prior to the Cardas Parsec?  And do you have the Cardas between preamp and the 4B-SST²?

Thanks,
Jeff

[Elizabeth]

Hi Jeff,
Prior to switching to all Cardas Parsec (including  the seven meters between my Bryston preamp and amp)  i was using a Kimber hero seven meter XLR pair from preamp to amp. and a mix of other Kimber IC in my system.
I had a few Kimber KCAG, some homemade wires with bits of KCAG wire, a Hero IC, and a few old handmade IC using Mark Levinson wire I bought back in the 1980s.

I have sold, or am selling the old wires except the Mark Levinson.. Which at this point are still interesting and very rare. (so far I have raised $1350 selling off my old wires)

If i had to use any wires other than the Parsec I would be sticking to the Kimber Hero. It is a little more lean than Parsec, but a very good wire I highly recommend.

My one beef with the parsec is the RCA are really not fitting the unusally small female RCA jacks on Bryston gear.
I am going to ask Cardas to switch the RCA ends on my Parsec cables to the SRCA spring loaded type of RCA which DO make a tight fit to the Bryston. So for those interested in Parsec and have Bryston gear.. I really suggest requesting the SRCA Cardas RCA ends on the Parsec. It may cost more for a custom cable. But worth the removal of one hassle.
(I am going to  ask Cardas to change my Parsec to have the Cardas SRCA ends. It may cost money, but would be  a total solution to loose RCA and the Bryston stuff.)
The Pre to amp Parsec is XLR so for that wire i do not have to loose fitment issue.