[Tezza009]

First of all let me add my voice to the chorus of happy Bryston users. My BDP-1 / BDA-1 combination is so good that it has relegated my (high quality) CD player to life as a backup device. I also find the advice and support on this forum very helpful - so thanks to both James and the community.

I am now looking at upgrading my existing equipment by purchasing a BP26 and either the 4B or a pair of 7Bs. I have had my mind set on Wilson Sophia 3's for some time but I have to say the reviews of the Model Ts have given me cause to think more carefully about this.

So I would appreciate comments and suggestions about these options and potential combinations. Do the 7Bs provide a worthwhile sound improvement over the 4B? Does anyone have experience with the Sophias?

Whilst cost is always an issue I want this upgrade to last me 20 years + so I am prepared to spend a bit more if it is justified.

Thanks

[James Tanner]

Hi Tezza

Given where you are going with your audio system I would recommend the 7B's.  Being a Mono amplifier the 7B has a number of advantages over the 4B.

1. You can place the amplifier close to each speaker and run short speaker cables  (a huge advantage) and long interconnects from your preamp (preferably balanced).

2. The 7B has double the capacitance storage in its power supply so transient power delivery is improved.

3. The 7B can drive more difficult loads with greater ease.

4. The 7B is a 'fully balanced' design from input to output.

james

[95Dyna]

Hi Tezza,

I bought a pair of 7BSST2's a couple years ago and they turned my 24 year old Infinity 9 Kappas into a new pair of speakers.  The Kappas are notorious amp killers dipping to .8 ohms at 32 hz and again at 340 hz accompanied by some nasty phase angles.  The 7's don't break a sweat driving them.

I have been auditioning speakers for two or three years now.  Among them was the Focal 1038 BE which I really liked but just came up shy of my bass requirements.   I mention this because a well respected reviewer compared the 1038's to the Sophia 3 and liked the Focals better.  He recommended buying them and using the difference to upgrade other things.  I have also auditioned the Model T's and found them noticeably superior to the 1038's overall.

I have auditioned many other speakers in the $10K-$20K range but none of them provides a better cost/performance ratio and only one (The Revel Salon2 @ $22K) is overall superior to the Model T.   I'm thinking of getting the T's and with the difference upgrading my phono pre to the BP 1.5, getting the BHA-1 with Audeze LCD 3's and some premium cables to connect them all.

My advice would be to go for the T's over the Sophia 3 and spend the extra on the 7B's, BP26/MPS 2.

[Rod_S]

I suppose he could always skip the Sophia's and get a pair of Sasha v2's. The Salon 2's are a very well respected speaker indeed. Due to their fairly flat frequency response some don't like that as it comes across as sounding dry or lifeless. Wilson is actually releasing a new tower speaker, the Sabrina which I believe will be released next year and be positioned I think below the Sophia so that's something to keep in mind if you always wanted to own a Wilson but were thinking the Sophia might be a bit much. It's another option at least.

[RDavidson]

I like Wilson speakers quite a bit, but as you're building an all Bryston system, for the money, I honestly think you'd be better off with Bryston speakers too. I mean, the speakers were built and voiced with Bryston gear, so YOU KNOW it's an absolutely perfect match. Synergy is paramount. With an all Bryston system, this often elusive matching game of finding synergy, is already done for you.

With the money saved, invest in room treatments.

[redbook]

Hi Tezza

Given where you are going with your audio system I would recommend the 7B's.  Being a Mono amplifier the 7B has a number of advantages over the 4B.

1. You can place the amplifier close to each speaker and run short speaker cables  (a huge advantage) and long interconnects from your preamp (preferably balanced).

2. The 7B has double the capacitance storage in its power supply so transient power delivery is improved.   So the 4b isn't really a balanced amp?

3. The 7B can drive more difficult loads with greater ease.

4. The 7B is a 'fully balanced' design from input to output.

james

[redbook]

  So the 4B isn't really a balanced design ??   oh no

[Tezza009]

Thanks everyone. As always some good advice. I think I will go for the BP26 / 7Bs now and worry about the speaker upgrade down the track.

[RonCH]

Thanks everyone. As always some good advice. I think I will go for the BP26 / 7Bs now and worry about the speaker upgrade down the track.

Why are you going for the BP26?  Have you compared it to other preamps? Did you also listen to the BP17? 

A few years ago I was also looking to upgrade, but my preamp has to have HT bypass, so I ended up buying a BP16 ( with 7BSSTs).

[Tezza009]

My assumption was that the BP26 was the top of the line - is this correct? I would be keen to hear views on this.

[RonCH]

My assumption was that the BP26 was the top of the line - is this correct? I would be keen to hear views on this.

Yes, the BP26 is Bryston's flagship 2 channel preamp, but it lacks some of the features of the BP17.  I've not heard these amps side by side and I'd be interested to hear how much better, if at all the BP26 sounds. 

[James Tanner]

Hi Folks,

There is no better/best approach with Bryston.  All the preamps have the same fully discrete proprietary amplification circuits. Your choice is one of features required.

james

[SHV]

My assumption was that the BP26 was the top of the line - is this correct? I would be keen to hear views on this.

You also have to buy the MPS-2 for an additional $1700.00 USD.

Steve

[95Dyna]

For those of you challenging Tezza on the BP26, maybe he isn't interested in home theater bypass or the other features offered by other pre amps.  As far as needing to buy the MPS 2 and positioning that as a negative, The BP 26 is the top of the line analog 2 channel preamp in the Bryston line BECAUSE of the MPS 2.  The BP 26 is a $5-6K+ preamp that competes very favorably with anything else in that price range.  I have one with my 7B SST2's and being a straight 2 channel stereo enthusiast I can't think of a reason why I'd part with it before my warranty expires 15 years from 

[Mag]

I have one with my 7B SST2's and being a straight 2 channel stereo enthusiast I can't think of a reason why I'd part with it before my warranty expires 15 years from 

I can being a multi-channel SP2 guy!

I think Stereo sounds better processed from the BDA-1 to SP2 processor than BDA-1 to 2 channel by-pass, but that's just me.

[BrysTony]

I can being a multi-channel SP2 guy!

I think Stereo sounds better processed from the BDA-1 to SP2 processor than BDA-1 to 2 channel by-pass, but that's just me.

The bypass would not be used with the BDA-1.  The bypass takes the preamp circuit out of the path so that you can use your 2 channel stereo speakers and amps with a processor.  In other words you are able to use your main speakers for stereo and for multi channel (using the bypass) without having to rewire the speakers.

Tony

[srb]

The bypass would not be used with the BDA-1.  The bypass takes the preamp circuit out of the path so that you can use your 2 channel stereo speakers and amps with a processor.

Mag is referring to the 2-channel stereo bypass mode of the SP2 which is an analog signal path that bypasses any internal digital signal processing.  You are referring to HT Bypass inputs, which the SP2 doesn't have because it is an HT Processor.

Steve

[BrysTony]

OK, I understand.  I was thinking about the earlier posts that talked about the two channel preamps. The fact that there is no bypass on the BP-26 is the primary reason I sold my BP-26 and went with another Preamp.  As you move up the Bryston line in price features are added but features are also deleted, e.g. bypass.

Tony

[srb]

As you move up the Bryston line in price features are added but features are also deleted, e.g. bypass.

I don't think the features were deleted from the BP-26, just that those features weren't as popular when it was designed and introduced ~ 9 years ago.

Bryston hasn't felt the need to redesign it yet, but if they did I would assume that along with the high end concept of balanced inputs and outputs and separate power supply they would also include some additional features including HT Bypass inputs to recoup some sales that may have been lost to ARC and others due to lack of those features.

Steve

[Tezza009]

At this stage I don't need the additional features of the BP 26 and have less than 3 sources. So after further research I will go with the BHA-1 as both headphone amp and pre amp into the 7Bs. This will be a lower cost and fully balanced solution. Not having a remote is an issue but I can live with it.

Once again thanks for all of the responses.