[VOLKS]

Thought you all might find this interesting and or funny.

http://www.canuckaudiomart.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=16704

[jaxwired]

Seems like mostly Bryston bashing with one or two defenders. 

I decided to try Bryston because the British Hifi press loves them.  What HiFi magazine uses the 4Bsst2 for there reference system.  They can have any amp/preamp and they use Bryston.  They also have tested hundreds of amps and they pick Bryston.  HiFi Choice gave their editor's choice award to the 2bsst2 and they reserve that award for only a handful of amps.  I've also seen the Bryston gear in reference systems of American reviewers.  You know how they list their associated equipment at the end of a review.  Sometimes Bryston appears in that list.  That's high praise.

So with that recommendation, I purchased a used 2bss2 and bp6 to basically home demo.  Loved it.  Bought a 4bsst2 new to replace the 2b. 

Another thing I really like about Bryston is that they really only have 1 line of amps with different power levels.  I mean a 2bsst2 is very close in design and performance to a 4bsst2, just less power.  With some other brands, the lower end amps are completely budget amp designs that sound nothing like the more expensive offerings.  Look at Musical Fidelity or Krell.  The Krell S3300i is nothing like the high end Krells.

[vegasdave]

Why do people like to bash Bryston so severely? I don't get it.

But, to be the perennial underdog has its merits. And every dog has its day!

I agree with the rest. But, buying because of reviews can be dangerous. In my opinion, you gotta go out there and listen!

[jaxwired]

I agree with the rest. But, buying because of reviews can be dangerous. In my opinion, you gotta go out there and listen!

I agree, but reviewer owned equipment is a higher recommendation than just a positive review.  That's really what I was getting at.  Plus, now days it's easier to buy used and have a nice long home demo.  Then sell it off if it's not for you.  That's what I do.  Works pretty good.

[Wind Chaser]

Why do people like to bash Bryston so severely? I don't get it.

 

I just read the first page, I didn't see it as bashing; there just happens to be some folks with different preferences.  You have to remember, a lot people in this hobby are constantly moving on and forward.  Surely you don't think Bryston is the end all be all, do you?

[jaxwired]

You have to remember, a lot people in this hobby are constantly moving on and forward.  Surely you don't think Bryston is the end all be all, do you?

I think there's a lot of people moving sideways, not forwards.  Most of these high end amplifiers sound damn good, and differences are subtle.  Bryston products are among the best and there's little room above them to upgrade to (not talking price, just sonics).  I think there's a heck of a lot of people addicted to the high you get from new gear and they are wasting a boat load of money.  Yes, if they enjoy it, and can afford it, good for them, but many don't and can't. 

[werd]

Its a Bryston friendly thread in most part. There are not many new sst/2 amps up for sale, they are all older models. This is to be expected imo. A lot are upgrading to the to the model amps.....

[Construct]

It's a good thread.  Interesting to hear the Canadian audiophile take on the Bryston.  There is that post about "mass produced"  sentiment, albiet a good one.
I never looked at Bryston like a mass producer like adcom or Carver. 
Some of the comments are a riot.

[VOLKS]

It's a good thread.  Interesting to hear the Canadian audiophile take on the Bryston.  There is that post about "mass produced"  sentiment, albiet a good one.
I never looked at Bryston like a mass producer like adcom or Carver. 
Some of the comments are a riot.

A riot?I agree 100%........i was laughing so hard while reading about the guy comparing a modern day Harmon Kardon AVR 345 Reciever to Bryston...........man that IS funny!................Beyond mass produced asian cookie cutter Harmon Kardon Big Box store brand compared to Bryston..........oh lordy..............the sky is falling....the sky is falling!

[werd]

^^^^

  what do you expect?. He is making reference to Floyd Toole in the same post. One of the biggest con artist in hifi today. You gotta wander what Floyd Toole's real name is?   

He also suggests that since Harman owns Mark levinson there must be trickle down technology in his HK receiver....lol.

Good call thats a hilarious thread.....

[Napalm]

Why do people like to bash Bryston so severely? I don't get it.

P... envy.

Or they spent 10 times more just to find out that they didn't get anything extra for the money. And end up with profoundly hating Bryston for making available an equal or better product for a fraction of the cost of theirs.

Or this: "I found the Sim amp to have [...] definitely a darker, slightly warmer sound with smoother highs[...]"

According to my local dealer 70% of his customers prefer a warm/dark sound. It gives them the illusion of more power. Confirmed by the guy on audiomart:

"Also, although the Sim amp had a slightly lower power output rating than the Bryston it gave the impression of having more power that was delivered with less effort and more authority especially in the bass."

Nap.

[doorman]

What, in your opinion makes Dr. Toole a "con artist"?
Don

[JRace]

Hey guys, CAM is not a closed forum, nor is it only for Canucks.

Feel free to sign up and post in that thread. We are mostly a friendly bunch over there. No need to come here and talk trash.

[VOLKS]

Hey guys, CAM is not a closed forum, nor is it only for Canucks.

Feel free to sign up and post in that thread. We are mostly a friendly bunch over there. No need to come here and talk trash.

LOL i did........my post is in that thread.............a very happy Bryston owner .............

[vegasdave]

 

I just read the first page, I didn't see it as bashing; there just happens to be some folks with different preferences.  You have to remember, a lot people in this hobby are constantly moving on and forward.  Surely you don't think Bryston is the end all be all, do you?

Look, there's one thing I know, and that there is no best. No hi-fi is 100 percent perfect. I used to own exotic equipment (FM Acoustics) and lemme tell ya, the Bryston is not that much worse. Matter of fact, I can't tell the difference.

[werd]

What, in your opinion makes Dr. Toole a "con artist"?
Don

Hey!! if you want to read his articles and then go out and buy a cheap Harmon Kardon receiver.. fine. I happen to like cheaper receivers, Denon and Pioneer are nice receivers.  They sound pretty good at one or two volume settings and they have a whole host of fun settings, all for under a grand. I get the interest and enjoyment from owning HT theater receivers.

But being told what and how to buy audio gear is a major selling scheme by many audio manufacturers. Floyd Toole's whole approach is to make them believe their cheap audio gear is a musical as any higher priced boutique style gear. He cleverly disguises his hack science in dbt and bt tests as genuine in order  to direct your Ht budget to his backing sponsors. He reminds me of those lab scientist (backed by the tobacco industry)that for years tried to convince the public that smoking didn't cause cancer.

[Construct]

A riot?I agree 100%........i was laughing so hard while reading about the guy comparing a modern day Harmon Kardon AVR 345 Reciever to Bryston...........man that IS funny!................Beyond mass produced asian cookie cutter Harmon Kardon Big Box store brand compared to Bryston..........oh lordy..............the sky is falling....the sky is falling!

oooh... we are eye to eye on this.  I have an HK receiver, and you get what you pay for.  The a/v version (hdmi port)  IMO are rubbish, and have poor reliability.  The 2-channel stereo models are well worth the money ($299 for my 120 wpc bedroom avr).  Stop there.  As I said- you get what you paid for.  Compared to outlaw (let alone bryston)  they are murky and veiled.  They have a warm-ish tilt that makes them ok for a casual, mid-fi system. They are made in SE Asia (Indonesia  IIRC)  and to compare them in any way to Bryston is like comparing a 1976 volare to a 2010 Lexus.

[sfraser]

Werd, I have to ask as well regarding Dr. Toole? Ihave not read  any of his recent articles, but the ones I have read in the past were well written and articulate. I also know his grants/studies at the Canadian National Research Center in acoustics and speaker design produced data that is generally accepted as being largely responsible for many Canadian loudspeaker manufacturers Propelling to world class status in the 90's. JBL must have been impressed because they hired him on as VP of r&d shortly after. Later after the  HKI purchase of JBL he was promoted. I am interested in what you have read that turned you off so much? I always respected the man.     

[Construct]

Werd, I have to ask as well regarding Dr. Toole? Ihave not read  any of his recent articles, but the ones I have read in the past were well written and articulate. I also know his grants/studies at the Canadian National Research Center in acoustics and speaker design produced data that is generally accepted as being largely responsible for Canadian loudspeaker manf.

All tested AFAIK at a consolidated (Canadian gov't subsidized)  test facility.  Paradigm, Mirage, Totem, PSB, Energy and so on.  All of them bear the marks of R&D, not gimmicks.

[Napalm]

Or this: "I found the Sim amp to have [...] definitely a darker, slightly warmer sound with smoother highs[...]"

According to my local dealer 70% of his customers prefer a warm/dark sound. It gives them the illusion of more power. Confirmed by the guy on audiomart:

"Also, although the Sim amp had a slightly lower power output rating than the Bryston it gave the impression of having more power that was delivered with less effort and more authority especially in the bass."

Nap.

Here's something to support my thesis on the American public preferring "warm" sound.

Stereophile just published the results of their poll on warmness/brightness. Here it is on short:

Do you think most high-end audio equipment is too bright-sounding?
Brighter than the sun:  4%
Generally too bright:  20%
Often too bright:  45%
Mostly just about right:  21%
Not bright enough:  4%
Most is downright dull:  4%

As you can notice, 69% of Stereophile public (which I assume is north-american) complain about "brightness" and would want even warmer setups than those currently available.

(Good old Napalm is in the 4% that answered "most is downright dull").

Is the equipment at fault or the public's taste? This comment answers it nicely:

"[...]live amplified is always too bright for me."

It basically says that the average american "audiophile" wants in his stereo system a neutered sound that's warm and mellow compared to the real thing.

Bryston doesn't do that so you will find those 69% dissing it.

And my dealer proved to be very accurate in his assessment. He said 70% prefer warm sound which is so close to the 69% result of the poll.

Nap.