Bryston Amps with Wilson Speakers

James Tanner · « **on:** 27 Jan 2011, 07:03 pm »

Hi James,

I was just reading some postings on the ‘Audio Circle’ sight and came across a discussion about Bryston amps being paired with similarly priced speakers etc. This is such a myth that I can’t imagine any well heeled audiophile would even conceive it let alone discuss it.

I have listened to Wilson Speakers in combination with massively expensive and fabulous sounding amplifiers. Having made relentless comparisons I have stuck with, and continue to be thrilled with, my Bryston + Wilson combination. I have never ceased being amazed at the sound emanating from the speakers driven by my 28Bs’. I can state with utmost certainty that Michael Framers’’ ‘clink in the chain’ was definitely not the Brystons. Unfortunately, I am so tied down that I can’t post this article on this sight and would appreciate if you would -along with the pictures-. The reason is that I am unable to post consistently. Any Wilson Speaker owner would be foolish to disregard listening to them with Bryston amplifiers irrespective of price. Thank you once again to the entire Bryston team.

Warm regards,

Dilshad Feroze

werd · « **Reply #1 on:** 27 Jan 2011, 07:18 pm »

I mentioned this way back when this was all going down. Those wilson's speakers MF was using are better suited with an amp array strategy and not just a pair of 7B monoblocks. Just because MF found an amp strategy that encorporated a pair of mono's with those Wilson speakers it didn't mean that those speakers will do well with all mono's.

The pic above is a good example of two 28's driving lows and a single 28 driving highs. (i am assuming thats whats going on)

werd · « **Reply #2 on:** 27 Jan 2011, 07:26 pm »

hold on that can't be right. How does he have those wilson's setup. There would have to be a pair of 28's running the top? Must be a third channel somewhere?

JBLMVBC · « **Reply #3 on:** 27 Jan 2011, 07:55 pm »

Unless it's a 14B for the top...

BrysTony · « **Reply #4 on:** 27 Jan 2011, 08:13 pm »

That is an awesome looking setup. I also like the pic of Marilyn Monroe on the wall.

Tony

KJ · « **Reply #5 on:** 27 Jan 2011, 08:22 pm »

Wilson speakers aren't designed for biamping (Alexandria might be the one exception). I would assume he is powering another channel.

mclsound · « **Reply #6 on:** 27 Jan 2011, 08:23 pm »

And if you are refering to me James,I still stand by my words that the 7bsst2's are not a pair of Wilson max owners first choice at all....28's are a whole different story,for sure(and more sensible)

werd · « **Reply #7 on:** 27 Jan 2011, 08:44 pm »

Quote from: KJ on 27 Jan 2011, 08:22 pm

Wilson speakers aren't designed for biamping (Alexandria might be the one exception). I would assume he is powering another channel.

Their xovers looks leet. Built for Monos

KJ · « **Reply #8 on:** 27 Jan 2011, 09:17 pm »

Quote from: werd

Their xovers looks leet. Built for Monos

Hefty monos at that.

vegasdave · « **Reply #9 on:** 28 Jan 2011, 02:42 am »

Pretty cool system there. Thanks for enlightening us once again, James.

budt · « **Reply #10 on:** 28 Jan 2011, 04:02 am »

I am driving my B&W 800 diamonds with a pair of Bryston 7b sst2 and they sound simply fabulous. Fremer's review didn't deter me in the least. I KNOW from experience Bryston makes a very good neutral sounding product which is built like the proverbial brick shit house.There are a lot of good amps out there. There are also a lot of coloured sounding amps out there. Fremer once stated in a review that amplifier XXX was the best currently available( you can look it up). It turns out it MEASURED very very poorly.In fact after he found out how poorly it measured he asked for another sample because he couldn't understand how it sounded so good( I really think he was embarrassed). SO it is obvious to me he likes a coloured sound. Many audiophiles prefer a coloured sound. I prefer reality.

vegasdave · « **Reply #11 on:** 28 Jan 2011, 04:05 am »

Quote from: budt on 28 Jan 2011, 04:02 am

I am driving my B&W 800 diamonds with a pair of Bryston 7b sst2 and they sound simply fabulous. Fremer's review didn't deter me in the least. I KNOW from experience Bryston makes a very good neutral sounding product which is built like the proverbial brick shit house.There are a lot of good amps out there. There are also a lot of coloured sounding amps out there. Fremer once stated in a review that amplifier XXX was the best currently available( you can look it up). It turns out it MEASURED very very poorly.In fact after he found out how poorly it measured he asked for another sample because he couldn't understand how it sounded so good( I really think he was embarrassed). SO it is obvious to me he likes a coloured sound. Many audiophiles prefer a coloured sound. I prefer reality.

Exactly! Fremer was exposed. And that's true, a lot of audiophiles prefer a colored sound and this is why they detest Bryston and other brands that strive for neutrality.

Stu Pitt · « **Reply #12 on:** 28 Jan 2011, 11:32 am »

The Fremmer thing has been done to death. Can't we just move on?

I never cared for Wilsons. Impeccible at reproducing sounds and very minute details. Completely incapable of reproducing a musical message to my ears. That in no way means I like a smoothed over, removed from reality presentation. But if the music doesn't flow, it's worthless IMO.

KJ · « **Reply #13 on:** 28 Jan 2011, 12:57 pm »

Quote from: Stu Pitt

I never cared for Wilsons. Impeccible at reproducing sounds and very minute details. Completely incapable of reproducing a musical message to my ears. That in no way means I like a smoothed over, removed from reality presentation. But if the music doesn't flow, it's worthless IMO.

Does that mean Wilson should drop their advertising with you?

Zero · « **Reply #14 on:** 28 Jan 2011, 02:16 pm »

Being an owner of Wilson's (and having heard a number of various models in peoples homes and dealer showrooms)... I'll say that its easy to make a Wilson sound exactly as Stu described. Appreciable in a technical sense, but sometimes lackluster when it comes to reproducing tone and emotion. You know.. the important stuff.

Now for the sake of honesty, I'll admit that I damn near drop kicked these speakers outta my abode. (Ok not really, do u know how heavy they are!? Drop kicking them would break a shin!)... anyway.. After a bit of patience, I was able to find both the right placement and the right combination of gear that made my own Wilson's sing. And sing they do! My experience with Wilson has taught me that these speakers can be just as musical as anything else on the market. It just takes a bit of work to get them there.

KJ · « **Reply #15 on:** 28 Jan 2011, 02:53 pm »

Quote from: Zero

My experience with Wilson has taught me that these speakers can be just as musical as anything else on the market.

I find it intriguing that others are so quick to judge the speakers without taking the rest of the system into consideration. Most speakers can be made to sound clinical or musical based on synergy or lack thereof with the downstream components. The room is also a huge factor, if not one of the most important.

I can attest that had I only listened to my speakers in one particular setting, I probably never would have bought them. Listening to them in a multitude of setups and talking to others with similar components as mine made all the difference. I can change my system's flavor with a few tube rolls and a swap of some cables which I think is simply great.

As a former owner of Bryston and a recent owner of Wilson speakers, I think they could make a nice combo. Hardly fair to use a broad brush stroke to paint a picture of either.

Ozi · « **Reply #16 on:** 28 Jan 2011, 08:14 pm »

Wilson hype and marketing type are very clear about the type of customers they are aiming for. They are very good in what they do and they are doing that very very good, which don't necessary means that their speakers sound good.

yyz · « **Reply #17 on:** 28 Jan 2011, 08:41 pm »

Quote from: Zero on 28 Jan 2011, 02:16 pm

After a bit of patience, I was able to find both the right placement and the right combination of gear that made my own Wilson's sing. And sing they do! My experience with Wilson has taught me that these speakers can be just as musical as anything else on the market. It just takes a bit of work to get them there.

Do you mind sharing what your combination of gear that you used to make yor Wilson's sing.

KJ · « **Reply #18 on:** 28 Jan 2011, 11:40 pm »

Quote from: Ozi

Wilson hype and marketing type are very clear about the type of customers they are aiming for. They are very good in what they do and they are doing that very very good, which don't necessary means that their speakers sound good.

You're right. I'm sure you know exactly my "type." We should just listen to you instead since your omnipotence knows no bounds.

Freo-1 · « **Reply #19 on:** 28 Jan 2011, 11:58 pm »

From the Stereophile Review:

Quote

Some of the benefits of David Wilson's design philosophy, such as the MAXX2's undoubtedly low distortion and its high maximum loudness capability, go unremarked in my suite of measurements. However, the speaker's impressively extended and powerful low frequencies were evident, as was its relatively smooth in-room response—with the exception of the elevated upper mid-range, which concerned me. But I must say that, measured performance aside, I was very impressed by what I heard in Mikey's listening room.—John Atkinson

Notice the statement about measured performance. It's a bit odd that a speaker of this price class would have these measurement anomalies. So ,the argument that a ultra high dollar amp is required for these is nonsense (IMHO). The Bryston should be more than sufficient to drive the speakers. The room interaction would in all likelihood be more of an issue with the speaker than the choice of amp, assuming the amp is as high of quality as a Bryston, Pass Labs, etc.