[docmojo]

I am trying to decide which bryston amp to get and looking for some advice. It will be for watt puppy 8, which Are easy to drive but as I  understand can go to 2 ohms on occasion.  As such I was considering the 14 bsst originally, however would the 4bsst2 be a better choice with the dual mono design and  possibly having more available current?  Monoblocks are out of my budget at this time.  Any feedback is much appreciated! 

[vegasdave]

The new 14BSST2 is better than the 4BSST2.

[95Dyna]

Hi docmojo,

With that caiber of speaker you don't want go go below the 14B in the Bryston line and that's no slap on the outstanding 4B SST2 but a hats off to the Wilson's.  If you really want mono blocks a pair of 7B SST2's is $500.00 list price higher than the 14B and they have twice the power supply capcitance.  I've had the 7's for a year now and they are marvelous amps.

BTW, my speaks dip to .8 ohms around 28 hz and they are a walk in the park for the 7's

Bill

[vegasdave]

Are you saying the 7B is better than the 14B?

[Napalm]

Are you saying the 7B is better than the 14B?

And the 28B beats them all 

[1oldguy]

I am trying to decide which bryston amp to get and looking for some advice. It will be for watt puppy 8, which Are easy to drive but as I  understand can go to 2 ohms on occasion.  As such I was considering the 14 bsst originally, however would the 4bsst2 be a better choice with the dual mono design and  possibly having more available current?  Monoblocks are out of my budget at this time.  Any feedback is much appreciated!

If you can swing the 7B squared I have them new sealed.You can PM me if interested.

[vegasdave]

And the 28B beats them all 

Of course!

[95Dyna]

Are you saying the 7B is better than the 14B?

Now vegasdave, don't go trying to stir up trouble.  What I said was the 7's have twice the capacitance of the 14, a simple statement of fact that I learned from James on a couple of his posts on other threads. I mentioned this in response to the author's reference to the "mono blocks" being out of his budget which I interpreted as he would prefer the monos.  If the 14 is in his budget and the 7's are only $500.00 more I thought he would want to consider them and would appreciate an experienced user's input.

[rollo]

I am trying to decide which bryston amp to get and looking for some advice. It will be for watt puppy 8, which Are easy to drive but as I  understand can go to 2 ohms on occasion.  As such I was considering the 14 bsst originally, however would the 4bsst2 be a better choice with the dual mono design and  possibly having more available current?  Monoblocks are out of my budget at this time.  Any feedback is much appreciated!

  The Bryston may not be a good match for the Wilsons. They need a bit of color to perform their best. If you cannot afford the more refined Brystons 28B or 14BSST2.
  Check out the Plinius line if you desire SS amps as well. Or try a tubed preamp with the Bryston amp for the Wilsons. Have fun trying.


charles
 

[magneto]

I am a newbie to this world of high end audio so excuse me for any mistakes I make or silly questions.
I just recently purchased a used Bryston 4B amp. My previous gear was a Marantz reciever. Again I am an newbie so be gentle with me, please.
This 4b amp is way better than my Marantz reciever!
My question is what preamp should I buy to match this amp? The person I bought the 4b from let me borrow his Hafler preamp, it is a small older preamp that actually sounds pretty good, but it is on loan and I eventually have to buy my own preamp.
One of the guys I met recently told me I should get a tubed preamp. I was thinking of getting maybe a Bryston preamp to match the Bryston amp, does Bryston make tubed preamps? Do tubes make a lot of heat?
Sorry for the silly questions, I am new, I just started reading this forum after I found it from a Google search, and you guys certainly enjoy this hobby!
Any info would be appreciated.
Thanks


Pat

[etcarroll]

magneto -

No one can truly answer that w/o knowing more about your system, room and you.

I too bought an old 4B, and wanted to get a tube pre to go with it, but it hasn't happened yet. This link did have some insight;

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=77811.0

[magneto]

etcarroll,
thanks for the link I will read thru it.

I have just been recently divorced so I am starting over again. I used to be into audio when I was younger(college) I dabbled a bit in different things but never went as far as tubes, it was always solid state, besides I couldn't afford tubes then anyway. Married life brought me kids and home theatre, nothing crazy but a decent setup that I could enjoy and the wife could hate
Now I find I no longer want a home theatre system but have wandered back to two channel. I read a lot more and sit and listen a lot more now.

Cd player is an old Marantz cd 63 se, but I know digital has come along way so that will be my next upgrade after the preamp, maybe a DAC

Speakers are from my HT setup, AV123 Strata Mini's, they were great for HT so I figured I will give them a go at 2 channel.

Music is very varied, from rock, to alternative to some jazz, to classical even, but no rap, thank you

I will read thru the thread and see where it takes me.

Thanks guys!
Pat

[etcarroll]

Getting into 2 channel due to divorce - welcome to the club. I dropped off initial paperwork today.

Mini's are nice, but they seem to be getting given away lately. I bought used Reference 3s and got Skiing Ninja upgrades, they're breaking in nice, then a 30 year old 4B, then a 20 year old pre.

Have fun with it.

Gene

[vegasdave]

  The Bryston may not be a good match for the Wilsons. They need a bit of color to perform their best. If you cannot afford the more refined Brystons 28B or 14BSST2.
  Check out the Plinius line if you desire SS amps as well. Or try a tubed preamp with the Bryston amp for the Wilsons. Have fun trying.


charles
 

He should hear for himself, really. Let's not discount the Bryston. A tube preamp colors the sound.

[vegasdave]

I am a newbie to this world of high end audio so excuse me for any mistakes I make or silly questions.
I just recently purchased a used Bryston 4B amp. My previous gear was a Marantz reciever. Again I am an newbie so be gentle with me, please.
This 4b amp is way better than my Marantz reciever!
My question is what preamp should I buy to match this amp? The person I bought the 4b from let me borrow his Hafler preamp, it is a small older preamp that actually sounds pretty good, but it is on loan and I eventually have to buy my own preamp.
One of the guys I met recently told me I should get a tubed preamp. I was thinking of getting maybe a Bryston preamp to match the Bryston amp, does Bryston make tubed preamps? Do tubes make a lot of heat?
Sorry for the silly questions, I am new, I just started reading this forum after I found it from a Google search, and you guys certainly enjoy this hobby!
Any info would be appreciated.
Thanks


Pat

Get the Bryston preamp. It's great match for the amp. Try the BP6. It the least expensive and the most bang for the buck, imo.

[vegasdave]

Now vegasdave, don't go trying to stir up trouble.  What I said was the 7's have twice the capacitance of the 14, a simple statement of fact that I learned from James on a couple of his posts on other threads. I mentioned this in response to the author's reference to the "mono blocks" being out of his budget which I interpreted as he would prefer the monos.  If the 14 is in his budget and the 7's are only $500.00 more I thought he would want to consider them and would appreciate an experienced user's input.

Ok, no problem. I bet they're about equal as far as sound is concerned.

[magneto]

Hey guys,
A friend of a friend is going to let me borrow a BP -16 preamp, it is a piece of gear he no longer uses and wanted to keep but is now thinking of selling it as he upgraded his preamp.

He is going to let me borrow it for a while to play with the option to buy.
Any idea what would be a fair price?
Also is the 20 year warantee transferable.?

I should take possession next week and compare it to my(borrowed) Hafler preamp, which I am sure it will blow away.

Pat

[vegasdave]

Hey guys,
A friend of a friend is going to let me borrow a BP -16 preamp, it is a piece of gear he no longer uses and wanted to keep but is now thinking of selling it as he upgraded his preamp.

He is going to let me borrow it for a while to play with the option to buy.
Any idea what would be a fair price?
Also is the 20 year warantee transferable.?

I should take possession next week and compare it to my(borrowed) Hafler preamp, which I am sure it will blow away.

Pat

Great preamp! I'd say around $2000 especially if it has phono and/or DAC. I believe the warranty is transferable, yes. Good luck!

[magneto]

Guys,
i just got the bp 16 preamp to borrow from a friend.
First off i must say it is very open and wide sounding, I like it
It is different than my Hafler preamp, maybe a little cleaner and quieter.
The Hafler has alittle better tone but the bryston has a bigger soundstage.
When I picked up the Bryston pre from my friend, he had a friend over listening to music.
His friend is a very nice guy who ffered to sell me his Audible Ilussion? pre amp.
A tubed preamp, a nice guy, he wants $900 for his preamp which sounds like a good deal.
I have a few weeks with the Bryston pre, it is for sale as well.
He offered to let me borrow the audible illusion pre amp to see if I like it.
You guys in audio are a real class act!

Right now i am enjoying the Bryston, next week I will compare the hafler , the Bryston and the audible illusion preamps.
Right now my 4b likes the Bryston preamp, later i will go back to the Hafler and later try the Audible Illusion. My friends Bryston will be the most expensive.
He wants $2200, the hafler can be had for $100!!  but it is old and cheapie looking, the Audible Illusion is right in the middle at $900, but I have not seen it yet just pictures online, and of course i have not heard it yet!

So far so good. Amazing how generous some people can be!

Thanks guys

pat

[BrysTony]

Guys,
i just got the bp 16 preamp to borrow from a friend.
First off i must say it is very open and wide sounding, I like it
It is different than my Hafler preamp, maybe a little cleaner and quieter.
The Hafler has alittle better tone but the bryston has a bigger soundstage.
When I picked up the Bryston pre from my friend, he had a friend over listening to music.
His friend is a very nice guy who ffered to sell me his Audible Ilussion? pre amp.
A tubed preamp, a nice guy, he wants $900 for his preamp which sounds like a good deal.
I have a few weeks with the Bryston pre, it is for sale as well.
He offered to let me borrow the audible illusion pre amp to see if I like it.
You guys in audio are a real class act!

Right now i am enjoying the Bryston, next week I will compare the hafler , the Bryston and the audible illusion preamps.
Right now my 4b likes the Bryston preamp, later i will go back to the Hafler and later try the Audible Illusion. My friends Bryston will be the most expensive.
He wants $2200, the hafler can be had for $100!!  but it is old and cheapie looking, the Audible Illusion is right in the middle at $900, but I have not seen it yet just pictures online, and of course i have not heard it yet!

So far so good. Amazing how generous some people can be!

Thanks guys

pat

Just as a data point of reference for you the average price of a used BP-16 sold on Audiogon is $1770.  Based on that your friend's price sounds a little high.  Bryston does make excellent preamps -- I highly recommend them.
Tony