[James Tanner]

Unfortunate the tank couldn't come sooner rather than later as there is a whole generation of audio enthusiasts missing out on amazing gear simply because the pricing has gotten so out of control.

I'm sure it's a combination of a lot of factors, supply and demand being one of them, manufacturers are willingly charging high prices knowing they will still see sales, then cost of materials to a degree factors in and goes up over time however there in undoubtedly some level of simple greed, charge more to make more build the empire mentality which is sad.

I can not speak for others but believe me nobody at Bryston is getting rich.

james

[bacmsl]

Anybody who thinks Bryston is making money hand over fist needs to take a business coarse in manufacturing. The global price of raw material over the last year or so has almost doubled. Then it refined and it costs ever more. The cost of labour, and keeping good employees and government expenses and taxes go up yearly that has to be factored into products. The R&D in bringing a product to market is huge, and look at what happens when the product flops or a non seller. Where do those costs go that are never made up in that product, it bleeds into the rest of the product lines. If Bryston is making a boatload of money, then good for them. It means that they will be around for warranty and bring another great product to market. This industry is littered with companies that have gone the way of the dodo bird.

[Nidri17]

Hi James,
as stated by a few people already, consider that something might need to replace the B60.

From the fact that it was discontinued, the assumption is that it wasn't selling particularly well?
If so, I would venture that it probably wasn't as competitive in the marketplace as the rest of the range.

So my suggestion would be to do a more affordable, back-to-basics, low-power entry-level integrated.
Basic casework. Possibly even half-width-sized. Known, trusted analogue circuits. No remote, microprocessors, etc.
Just 30-50wpc of good, clean power to use with more sensitive loudspeakers.
Perhaps a headphone circuit could be the one 'feature' to offer.

Competitive with e.g. a Naim Nait 5Si, Belles Aria, etc.

Why? To lower the point of entry to the brand. To get new people interested in Bryston.
People outside of the usual audiophile circles.

Just a thought.
2c

[GrooveControl]

I agree with Nidri17. The current entry point into a bryston system is B135, and at $7k CAD, its a none starter for most people. Not because they can't afford it, but because they can't justify it.  Audio fanatics are few and far between, and becoming fewer with each generation. 

Some things I would give consideration to is...
- go back to an 90s style dress panel.  The new dress panels are nice, but come at a hefty cost and not necessary. 
- everyone else uses 1 transformer. why not go with that approach for integrated amps?  Leave dual power supplies for the 2B,3B, 4B (etc) power amps of course. 
- explore the option of buying pre-assembled amp boards. You would still test and assemble the units, but have the boards pre-assembled, maybe in  Japan. 

Maybe do all this with the introduction of another product line.  Leave the B line for those who want and can afford the absolute best, but introduce an A line (Accessible, Affordable, whatever).  An A60, with one transformer, thinner dress panel, full remote control, and priced around 3-4k could be a big hit. Leave digital out of it, users can start with a D10s, but tape monitor has to stay for anyone wanting to add tone control of any sort.  This kind of offering will let many more people start a basic Bryston based system and upgrade it later if they choose. 

 

[alexone]

...good point here! and talking about the B60 - the reason why it went out of production is NOT a sound issue...it's a feature issue, if you ask me. imagine that this integrated was around 5300 Euros (!!!) list. everybody knows that Bryston gear are quality products but more than 5k for a B60 (without remote) where the only options are phono and a 96/24 dac is way out of style for so many people, i guess. too many reasons why it took the way of the Dodo. (btw: i had the chance to buy a 6 year old B60 RP for 1.5k and i just couldn't resist!)
a new designed (entry level) integrated might fill the gap and probably lead other customers to the Bryston road. in any way - if it should become reality it certainly needs one thing: features!

al. proud B60 owner.

[GrooveControl]

Owning both a B60 and a B60R, in my opinion the only thing these units are missing is the full remote control capabilities. These days,  you absolutely must have them. 

Bryston needs a "Mac Mini" in their line.  Something attainable (there I go with the A line again) that is fully functional and whose performance is good enough.  Just like people bring their own $59 monitor and $19 keyboard to the Mac mini, people can bring their own phono stage, DAC or eq tools to the B60. 

[spinner]

  So , guess there's no hope of a new BOT unit ?

[James Tanner]

  So , guess there's no hope of a new BOT unit ?

Hi

No sorry -it never really sold that well and most people just use their computer to do CD rips.

james

[veloceleste]

Maybe a “loss leader” or close to cost type of entry level product that has a time frame trade up value attached to it may get aspiring Bryston customers into the fold.

[GrooveControl]

It's unlikely that I will buy another integrated amp, but if I do, I'd like it to look like this.   

[spinner]

Hi

No sorry -it never really sold that well and most people just use their computer to do CD rips.

james.... I.m a bit confused as to how I would play cd if I go for the BDP and BDA as opposed to the  all in one  BCD3...any solution please...thanks

[gene9p]

It's unlikely that I will buy another integrated amp, but if I do, I'd like it to look like this.   

Hell I would pay for James just to make one for me that looks like that....

[mav52]

James, whatever you decide to do, just don't price out of reach of most of us on here.

[Rod_S]

Bryston could try dipping their toes at both ends of the market. New more affordable products but also, there is an uber high-end segment that exists so I'm not sure what Bryston could possibly come up with for an amp more expensive than the 28's, more power wouldn't be needed but for other audio components they could try introducing multi component items, like a super high-end pre-amp/digital audio unit without power supply, digital clock and and DAC built in, so a matching high-end external power supply, matching external clock and matching external DAC, offering both stereo DAC options and mono DAC options. A number of companies take this approach, Esoteric and dCS come to mind.

[Rod_S]

message deleted, I accidently quoted myself

[GrooveControl]

Buttons would work too.

BTW: bought a pencil for the iPad thinking I might take up drawing. What a disaster. Will stick with circles and rectangles.

[redbook]

...yes , that's what I was wondering as well....

[James Tanner]

Hi

Yes it would play CD's but the drive was slow and very noisy and was really designed more as a ripper vs a CD player.

james

[redbook]

James , I hope you and the gang will continue to produce a stand alone player like your very fine BCD3. I have one and love the refinement you have achieved in this new improved player.... I'm old fashioned and prefer to play records instead streaming . Please keep up the great work...

[sfraser]

I have not read through all the pages, so I apologise if this has already been mentioned. How about a anniversary model of the 4B with the original 4B sequence of LED's?  I believe the really early models had multiple gain LEDs?