[dubkarma]

I have been thinking of trying a pair of 7B-SST/7B-SST2 Pro version or a 14B-SST/SST2 Pro to drive a pair of Tannoy System 215 DMT II monitors. I like the idea of the mono versions better, if only because it would allow me to use very short speaker cables. Plus, of course, moving around 2 fifty-pound amps is less trouble than one 100-pound amp. This leads to two questions:

1. Can anyone who has had experience with both the SST and SST2 versions of these amps comment on the difference, if any, they have noticed? Mentioning your preamp and speakers would be helpful. [My speakers are a relatively easy load, being around 98 dB sensitivity and having a minimum impedance of 5.5 ohms.]

2. Can anyone confirm, as I've read in an older thread on this forum, that the 7B has double the power supply filter capacitance of the 14B? If so, that would be yet another reason to prefer the 7B over the 14B.

[vegasdave]

I just wanted to say those are awesome speakers! 

[dubkarma]

vegasdave,

Yeah, I'm kinda sweet on 'em. And, coincidentally, I had them shipped up from. . .Las Vegas!

[GaryArthur]

In my current Las Vegas system I have two 7B-SST's, 14B-SST, 4B-SST, 4B-SST2 and a 6B-SST. They are all driving Martin Logan speakers with the 7's currently on the CLX mains and and the 14B on the Prodigy rears. Martin logan generously puts the sensitivity of these somewhere around 90 dB. From this combination I can give you some insight but cannot fully answer your questions. I have spent many hours a-b comparing the 4B-SST and the 4B-SST2 and IMHO the 4B squared is a very, very modest improvement over the 4B-SST. Both are great amps. My squared is the latest version but Bryston has not changed the transformer in the 4B's like they have in the 7's (above s/n 001826) and the 14's (above s/n 000677). Therefore the improvement in the new 7 and 14 squared's may be greater than observed in the 4B-SST2.

I have also spent some time a-b comparing the 7's and 14's and I could not hear any difference. My controller is a Meridian G68XXV.

Regards,
Gary

[dubkarma]

Gary,

Many thanks. Your comments are very helpful.

When you mention Bryston using the new transformers in the 7B from s/n 001826 and up, I take it you mean the 7B-SST SQ, yes?

And here's a question you may be able to answer better than most people. . .how much, and what sort of, differences do/would you notice if you drive a pair of your Martin Logans with the 4B-SST or 4B-SST2 rather than the 7B-SST? I realize my speakers are a much easier load to drive, but it's just as well to have a report on an amp from someone whose speakers really make demands on it!

I did have one of the early 4B-SST, and didn't feel it worked well with my speakers, at that time the Tannoy System 15 DMT II, the smaller brother of the System 215s for which I'm now seeking an amp. . .in fact, I was so disappointed that I barely kept it a month. Now I'm wondering if it was even broken in.

Thanks again,

Joel.

 

[vegasdave]

vegasdave,

Yeah, I'm kinda sweet on 'em. And, coincidentally, I had them shipped up from. . .Las Vegas!

Awesome. Where did you get them from may I ask?

[dubkarma]

Awesome. Where did you get them from may I ask?

Don't recall his name; it was a couple of years ago. Just a guy living in Vegas with an eBay ad (most of the DMT 215 I've seen for sale have been on eBay). He had bought them from a studio in LA and was now  going with a pair of JBL 4350s. [I also have a custom pair that the Tannoy Professional custom shop made for me: they're slightly better.]

[vegasdave]

Don't recall his name; it was a couple of years ago. Just a guy living in Vegas with an eBay ad (most of the DMT 215 I've seen for sale have been on eBay). He had bought them from a studio in LA and was now  going with a pair of JBL 4350s. [I also have a custom pair that the Tannoy Professional custom shop made for me: they're slightly better.]

Cool. No problem. Those JBLs are awesome too.

Tannoy will custom make speakers for you? I did not know that. How much did those run you?

Man, what I could do if I had the money...lol.

[GaryArthur]

Joel,

Yes the s/n 001826 and up refer to 7B-SST SQ. I have spent time a-b comparing both the 4B-SST and the 4B-SST SQ against the 7B-SST's. Most of my comparisons were with the ML's but also some comparison using the Pioneer S-1EX (don't let the Pioneer name in this speakers name discourage you. It is a fine speaker) and also compared with a couple of Kef models.

When I did the comparisons using the ML CLX speakers I felt that the 7's were a clear winner. A real clear winner over both the 4B-SST and the 4B-SST2. I was so taken with the improved performance with the 7's over the 4's that I ordered a new pair of 28B-SST2's which are shipping out of Canada this week. In other words if the 7's show solid improvement maybe I can get even more from the very well reviewed 28's. Then I'll put the 7's on the S-1EX's. The sensitivity of the S-1EX is listed as 89.5.

Now having said that, none of the speakers that I currently use are what I would call "efficient" and thus the extra power probably plays a substantial role in my tests. As you know speaker output doubles with every 3 dB of increased sensitivity. That means your speakers at 98 dB are nearly 8 times more efficient than mine. Yikes! My new 1000 watt 28's would look more like 8000 watts to you vs. me. If you would like more details on my listening just ask I took a lot of notes but I'm currently in LA and the notes are in Vegas.

Regards,
Gary

[vegasdave]

You probably have the best stereo here in Vegas!

[GaryArthur]

You probably have the best stereo here in Vegas!

Thanks for the vote of confidence. The electrician that helped me with the power also worked on set-ups for Andre Agassi and Janet Jackson so I know I am at best in third place and probably much further down the line. Next week the Meridian G68 gets moved out and a new Meridian 861 v6 replaces it.

[vegasdave]

You're welcome. My system looks like a toy compared to yours, haha. Cool. Yeah, but do they have BRYSTON? haha.   

What's the Meridian 861 v6?

[GaryArthur]

The Meridian 861 v6 is Meridians flagship multichannel digital controller. If you look at a number of reviewers like Michael Fremer from Stereophile you will often see the 861 v6 in their reference system. The v6 was introduced at the 2010 CES. By the way Fremer was very unkind to the 7's in a review about a year ago. Sometimes the reviewers agree with me and sometimes they don't.

[GaryArthur]

Joel,

Let me give you a couple of specific observations from my system. The CLX's are a great speaker that ML calls a "Full Range ESL" and then they give the stat 56-23,000 Hz plus or minus 3dB. Most of us would call that "bass challenged". Of course there are a number of things I do to enhance the bass such as the use of 4 subs (two ML descents and two Velodyne DD-18's), bass traps etc. At any rate I was looking to see what kind of bass extension I would get from each amp speaker combo.

1. From Christian McBride's album "gettin' to it" 1995 Polygram Records Inc. There is a wonderful version of the classic "Night Train" on the CD. In this piece the Stand-Up Bass is plucked, sliced and thumped. Hey what can I say - I love it. There is certainly a lot of material below 56 Hz here. What difference do I hear between each amp for example as McBride slides the final note to the lowest frequency that he can reach on a single string during the final few seconds?  The sonorus resonance of the bowed bass generally gives me goose bumps but with the CLX and no subs both amps just give me a resonable warm fuzzy finale. Don't get me wrong if I bring in the subs (just the Descents) push up the volume and close my eyes, when the piece ends I feel like giving a standing ovation.  Here I remember that my notes say "7B noticeably more resonant than 4B".

I love the open sound of the ML CLX's in the midrange. I have, for example, 22 different versions of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" which demonstate why the CLX's are a world class speaker.

2. Jeff Buckly's "Live at Sin-e"  disk 2 song 16 we have "Hallelujah". The hum of Buckley's amp is very clear as the piece begins. At first, the hum feels obnoxious but as the number progresses it feels alive. Both amps bring Buckley's voice in front and center and his guitar seems to fill the room. Buckley's treatment of the word hallelujah makes me feel like I'm back in Music appreciation 101 studying theme and variation, but the music breaks me free of critical thought. Here again I give a slight nod to the 7's with sujective words like the  7's texture, timbre and tone felt more alive. I have never been to "Sin-e" but with the 7's and a little imagination I was almost there.

Anyway there is a portion of my biased opinion. And don't worry I'm not looking to become a critic or reviewer anytime soon.

Gary
 

[vegasdave]

The Meridian 861 v6 is Meridians flagship multichannel digital controller. If you look at a number of reviewers like Michael Fremer from Stereophile you will often see the 861 v6 in their reference system. The v6 was introduced at the 2010 CES. By the way Fremer was very unkind to the 7's in a review about a year ago. Sometimes the reviewers agree with me and sometimes they don't.

Ok, cool, sounds interesting. Oh we know about that review. It was discussed very thoroughly around here a year ago.

We're still waiting for the follow-up review...