[rachelpatricia]

I am putting together a home theatre in a dedicated room. However, I would still like to have the option of 2 channel listening. Here is the gear I am going to use:

Left & Right - B&W 802D powered by Bryston 4B
Centre - B&W HTM4S powered by Bryston 9B SST
Middle & Rears - B&W 805S powered by Bryston 9B SST
Sub 1 - B&W ASW855
Preamp/processor Bryston SP2.

The feedback I'm looking for is:

Will the 4B make me happy for 2 channel listening? I have been listening to a pair of B&W801 with 500w mono power configuration for years.

Will the system seem balanced for Home Theatre use, giving seemless spacial and tonal information for movies?

What would you do differently?

Thanks.

[Mag]

  I would be using an SST amp for Fronts and centre channel. The SST is much better in the highs. But perhaps you are not noticing the difference. For me I get airy highs which when I first  fired up my SST was foreign to me because I never had an amp of this quality before. But I only get these highs when I have my av receiver in multi-stereo configuration with speakers set to small. Any other combination and it's gone. It's lively and perhaps bright sounding and may not appeal to you.
 Personally I would try to optimize your system for multi-stereo listening. IMO it beats 2 channel by a county mile, but that's me. When swithing over to movies it should sound just as good.

[Phil A]

I'd agree with using the SST series for the left and right.  I currently use a 14BSST for the left and right and a 6BSST for the center and rears.  I have a rear center that does not get used all that much (so few movies in DTS-ES or DD EX) and the room is good for 6.1 but not 7.1.  I used to have an expensive amp on the rear center and I just use a Marantz monoblock.  For the once or twice a year it gets used, it's fine.  So I guess it boils down to your priorities for 2-channel (music) listening vs. multi-channel (music) listening vs. movie surround sound.  For me, I prefer 2-channel but get great multi-channel music having the SST series all the way around.  Same for 5.1 movies.  I can live w/o the need for a top notch amp on the rear center in my system.

[Strother]

Your 4B will probably show its age when compared to a more current amp.  Suggest that you have the necessary equipment to see how much of a change it will make for you...just connect the 9B-SST your 802's and listen to 2 channel for a few days, comparing the two amps at levels where the power difference will not be a factor.

FYI, I have the SP-1.7 / 9B-SST combo w/ PMC-OB1 front channel speakers and listen to a lot of 2 channel through a BP-1.5 Phono pre.  The 9B-SST replaced a 4B-ST, but honestly I cannot identify any noticeable difference I would attribute to the power amp.  Your 4B is two generations before my ST and is a significantly different amp, so my comparison will not hold for you.
Best regards,
Strother

[perose]

Will the 4B make me happy for 2 channel listening? I have been listening to a pair of B&W801 with 500w mono power configuration for years.

I've heard one 4B and thought that it was very good, but wasn't able to compare to any other amp. I use 7B-STs for my N802s and really appreciate the control that the amps give expecially in the bass. Is your 500w mono power from you B&W801 available for the 802Ds? That might be the ticket to great 2-channel.

Will the system seem balanced for Home Theatre use, giving seemless spacial and tonal information for movies?

I don't believe that you will have any issues with achieving your goals with the system you are assembling. My system is N802s, HTM1, N804s with the 7B-STs in front and an ATI AT-1505 for center (bi-amped) and surrounds. It sounds great to me!!