MEMO: TO All Bryston Customers
SUBJECT: Upgrades for Bryston SST² Amplifiers
..........
2. INPUT CAPACITOR CHANGE and FEEDBACK CAPACITOR CHANGE:
We also implemented the use of some very specialized capacitors in a number of key areas in the circuitry. There is a consistent improvement at high frequencies near and above 20K, and up to over 60KHz. These specialized capacitors are installed at both the input stage and the feedback loop of the amplifier circuitry. These capacitor changes affect all new SST² amplifiers.
At Bryston we are continually trying to improve the performance of our products. Please be aware that these changes are 'evolutionary' not 'revolutionary' in nature. They will provide subtle to noticeable improvements depending on your specific system and setup.
I calculated how much it would cost me to ship my 4B SST2 back to Canada, have it upgraded and then have it shipped back, and just selling it seemed the more cost effective solution. So I went ahead and ordered a new 4B SST2, a black one (because my current -now old- silver one just doesn't match the rest of my equipment).
These are my experiences with my new toy, straight out of the box. I for one don't think the changes are "just evolutionary"...
I picked up my new 4B SST2 last thursday, and after dinner removed all sources of disturbance (birds, kids, girlfriend, the cats were okay to stay) from our listening room (which sometimes also functions as the general living room for some unknown reason).
I listened to three of my personal reference cd's to have a fresh memory of what they sound like, and then made the change to the new 4B SST2. I made sure the settings on the back of the new 4B SST2 were the same as they were on the old 4B SST2, plugged everything in and played the same 3 cd's, in the same order.
Remember, this is straight out of the box, basically no warming period.
The biggest change noticable is the bass. It is not more powerful, but it comes out much easier. As far as detail in bass can be noticed, it is more. It is deeper. It is more present.
The same can be said about the highs. There definitely is more sparkle to it. A cymbal can be heard in more detail, piano has extra depth, everything sounds a bit more "natural".
It's a shame really that human memory for sound (quality) is so poor, I would have loved to do this same comparisan again in a few weeks, when my new 4B SST2 is properly played in and accustomed to the local environment (current, cables, loudspeakers etc.). But I hope to have sold my old 4B SST2 by then...
