[Rod_S]

Very interesting development especially seeing as Bryston will now join the rest of the modern SSP world and offer room EQ in one of their products. Quite the philosophy shift. James, why the about face on this stance? As has always been the case those customers not wanting EQ simply do not have to use it but even then Bryston refused to add the feature over the years.

As far as room EQ goes it's good to see you not going the run of the mill home theater receiver route by adding Audyssey, Dirac is a much better choice possibly only bettered with Trinnov's product.

I remain highly skeptical about "Most critically, the SP4 will be built on a 3U modular platform, enabling Bryston engineers to integrate advanced technologies and make upgrades available to consumers, extending the life of the product."

The only proven long term up-gradable platform over the years has been the Theta Casablanca and now most likely the Trinnov Altitude32 because it doesn't use the typical DSP chips but rather is based on a PC architecture.

The ideal partnership would have been with Trinnov like Harman recently did but I'll definitely be following this Bryston deal with interest.

Regarding HDMI 2.1, nothing has it yet so don't fault this product. It was just recently approved and manufacturers are now in the process of receiving all of the testing certifications so I suspect we won't see any true HDMI 2.1 hardware until at least 4th quarter 2018 and most likely widespread product introductions not until later in 2019.

[James Tanner]

Hi Rod

It was not my choice to offer room correction but I have partners and got outvoted.

What I have come to realize is that its not about what I think is best its about what the dealers, distributors and customers want. By not having room correction as an option most retailers and especially Custom Installers boycotted the SP3.

I am still opposed to room correction as I know how much it screws up the Sound Power of the loudspeaker but it seems like I am alone in the wilderness on this one.

james

[witchdoctor]

[quote author=James Tanner link=topic=150252.msg1663703#msg1663703 date=151773115

What I have come to realize is that its not about what I think is best its about what the dealers, distributors and customers want.

Please don't tell me you just made this discovery in 2017

Just because you were hard headed you allowed customers and installers to bail on the SP3? That makes 0 sense IMO.
James, PLEASE, get to Amazon and order the book "The Ultimate Question" by Fred Reichfeld. If you want the Cliff Note version just do a search on The Net Promoter score. You should implement the NPS survey with your dealers and have your dealers implement with their customers. They have a modified one you can implement with employees.

[artur9]

What I have come to realize is that its not about what I think is best

Of course it is.  If I disagree with you I"m free to buy something else. 

On the other hand, since everyone has the same dealers and customers are misinformed cattle, if you let them railroad your decision-making process the market becomes homogeneous and I no longer have options.

HST, you also do have to keep your business afloat.  Have you done your tightrope-walking practice today?

[James Tanner]

[quote author=James Tanner link=topic=150252.msg1663703#msg1663703 date=151773115

What I have come to realize is that its not about what I think is best its about what the dealers, distributors and customers want.

Please don't tell me you just made this discovery in 2017

Just because you were hard headed you allowed customers and installers to bail on the SP3? That makes 0 sense IMO.
James, PLEASE, get to Amazon and order the book "The Ultimate Question" by Fred Reichfeld. If you want the Cliff Note version just do a search on The Net Promoter score. You should implement the NPS survey with your dealers and have your dealers implement with their customers. They have a modified one you can implement with employees.

Hi

Its always has been a balance between staying in business and doing what you think is right (based on the facts as you know them) longterm for your customers.

One of the great things about owning your own business is you can generally run it the way you think is best.  When we started Bryston I felt if we were an engineering driven company first and a marketing company second we would be successful. And for a very long time that has been my Mantra.  But lately I think marketing ability has supplanted engineering skills.

But WD - yes to your question - in 2017 I am realizing that my historical approach may not be successful going forward as it appears to me that the false facts now out weigh the true facts as long as you have the marketing and financial clout to impose your will.

james

[Rod_S]

Hi Rod

It was not my choice to offer room correction but I have partners and got outvoted.

What I have come to realize is that its not about what I think is best its about what the dealers, distributors and customers want. By not having room correction as an option most retailers and especially Custom Installers boycotted the SP3.

I am still opposed to room correction as I know how much it screws up the Sound Power of the loudspeaker but it seems like I am alone in the wilderness on this one.

james

Thanks for the reply and background.

[gbaby]

I am still opposed to room correction as I know how much it screws up the Sound Power of the loudspeaker but it seems like I am alone in the wilderness on this one.

james

No you are not. I am with you. In the '70s, every equalizer I put in my system affected the sound in a negative way and screwed up the imaging. For what its worth, I sold high end audio for five years from 1974 to about 1979.

[witchdoctor]

Hi

Its always has been a balance between staying in business and doing what you think is right (based on the facts as you know them) longterm for your customers.

One of the great things about owning your own business is you can generally run it the way you think is best.  When we started Bryston I felt if we were an engineering driven company first and a marketing company second we would be successful. And for a very long time that has been my Mantra.  But lately I think marketing ability has supplanted engineering skills.

But WD - yes to your question - in 2017 I am realizing that my historical approach may not be successful going forward as it appears to me that the false facts now out weigh the true facts as long as you have the marketing and financial clout to impose your will.

james

I understand, your brand was built on values that you wanted to stay true to. I think your 20 year guarantee is another testament to your values. I cannot recommend The Ultimate Question book enough. You will see how you won't have to compromise your values as they discuss "good profits" vs. "bad profits".

[witchdoctor]

PS- While we are waiting for SP4 I hope you are "immersing" yourself in the pleasure of Auro3D music upmixing with a Storm Audio processor either at home or in your lab.:

http://www.avsforum.com/auro-3d-music-upmix-demo-stormaudio-isp-3d-16-elite-prepro-ces-2017/

[James Tanner]

I thought it might me interesting to discuss the differences between the setup and applications of Auro vs Dolby.

As I understand it Auro requires side speakers as opposed to Dolby overhead speakers?

Dolby surround is Object based whereas Auro is Channel based?

james

[witchdoctor]

Auro 3D setup is typically 9.1 or 10.1. In a 9.1 system you add additional height channels above your from L-R speakers and above your surround channels. You can mount them to the wall or use high stands. Auro recommends using speakers of the same type or at least the same brand.
Some users may choose to add an additional top surround channel (Voice of God), right above the main listening position. This setup provides 3 levels of surround envelopment compared to Dolby's two (bed channels and ceiling channels). In my setup I cannot localize the speakers at all. You are literally immersed in sound and just enjoy it. Auro is channel based and I don't know that object based would make a difference in a typical listening room. Auro's achille heel is BRD conttent and here Dolby remains the leader. Many movies mastered in Auro 3D don't have the Auro mix when it comes to BRD as that is a decision made by the studio. Howver the Auro upmixer (Auromatic) does such a good job I doubt most listeners could tell the difference between Auro native content vs. upmixed content in a blind listening test. Auro does not use the upfiring speakers you can use in Atmos. Here is a link that goes into more detail on the setup:

https://www.stormaudio.com/media/auro3d_home_theater_setup_guidelines_v8_20170531__049790400_1458_13062017.pdf

[witchdoctor]

I use very heavy active speakers which also require power cords and interconnects as height channels. I sacrificed WAF for performance and have no regrets. That is why I use these high stands. I think Bryston TOW speakers would provide a highly immersive experience along with high WAF. Here are pics of my setup. Notice the VOG channel above the sofa pointing straight down:

[witchdoctor]

I think if you are a movie buff Atmos would be a fine choice. The speaker  placement is a hassle but that is why they have custom installers. However Atmos content plays just fine through my Auro setup but Auro content or upmixed content would probably not work very well via an Atmos setup.

[witchdoctor]

One more thing, almost every post I have seen agrees that Auro is MUCH better for music that any of the other formats available,

They use an Auro speaker layout at Abbey Road for doing the Pink Floyd immersive mixes, not Atmos:

[Grit]

Makes sense... Atmos was designed for movie theaters.

[James Tanner]

New HDMI board on SP-3 as well as SP-4



james