[havon]

Straight and to the point…which amp and why (using stock Song Towers with ow2 tweets).

Back ground info; source is/will be, apple loss-less streaming from iMac to apple tv. From the apple tv, digital out to external dac. Pimary purpose is 2ch music only. Additional source will be a squeezebox into te dac. My music tastes vary…jam bands, rock n roll, jazz, blue grass, indie, folk…no classical though. Room size is to be determined....currently searching for a new home.

Additionally, I am not that interested in other amps at this time. I have narrowed down my choices to either one of the afore mentioned amps. I will (hopefully) purchase either amp used…expecting to spend about $1000 on either amp. With that, it would be nice to keep on topic by discussing these two amps…I don't want this thread to turn into everybody posting 1001 different amp recommendations…I hope to keep the discussion mainly about the Naim -vs- the Bryston in regards to which one is better suited to drive the ST's.

[havon]

Nobody??

[R Swerdlow]

I've not heard either of those amps in action, but I have heard SongTowers driven by a wide variety of amps, from 35 wpc (AVA Ultravalve) to over 200 wpc (B&K EX4420 solid state).  None of them sounded bad to me.

Jim Salk and Dennis Murphy both say the SongTower (a 4 ohm speaker) can be easily driven by any amp rated at an honest 50 wpc with an 8 ohm load.

Both amps you mentioned are on the small side, the Naim at 50 wpc and the Bryston at 60 wpc, but are probably adequate to drive STs.  Bryston did say on their web page that the B60R is also rated at 100 wpc at 4 ohms.  Naim didn't mention a rating at 4 ohms.  Bryston also said the B60R can be used as a preamp with an external amp.  So if prices are similar, I'd lean toward the Bryston.

[johzel]

I owned the Naim 5i and had it paired with LSA monitors and a small sub.  That combination was terrific.  I sold it for more power when I bought my Gallo 3.5's.  I'm no audio expert but can only say I felt the Naim deserved every award and accolade that it's received.  Were I looking to build a system around a 50 wpc integrated I'd buy the Naim in an instant. Guessing the Bryston folks would say the same thing about the B60R.  I'd ask the Salk folks if they feel one of these amps might be a better match than the other for the Song Towers . . . you seem to be in a win/win situation however.  One good thing I found with the Naim - if you purchase a used one and decide you want a different amp you will likely be able to sell it for what you paid for it - I actually bought mine used and made $50 on the deal when I sold it .  They don't last long on the used market.

[havon]

I've not heard either of those amps in action, but I have heard SongTowers driven by a wide variety of amps, from 35 wpc (AVA Ultravalve) to over 200 wpc (B&K EX4420 solid state).  None of them sounded bad to me.

Jim Salk and Dennis Murphy both say the SongTower (a 4 ohm speaker) can be easily driven by any amp rated at an honest 50 wpc with an 8 ohm load.

Both amps you mentioned are on the small side, the Naim at 50 wpc and the Bryston at 60 wpc, but are probably adequate to drive STs.  Bryston did say on their web page that the B60R is also rated at 100 wpc at 4 ohms.  Naim didn't mention a rating at 4 ohms.  Bryston also said the B60R can be used as a preamp with an external amp.  So if prices are similar, I'd lean toward the Bryston.

FWIW, an email from the US Naim Tech Rep confirms the 5i will drive a 4ohm load to 90W (...and that the 5i and Unity share the same power section). 

[R Swerdlow]

FWIW, an email from the US Naim Tech Rep confirms the 5i will drive a 4ohm load to 90W (...and that the 5i and Unity share the same power section).

It seems that both amps are stable at 4 ohms.  If you're buying used, its always better if you have more than one item you'd want.  Enjoy those SongTowers and have fun shopping.

I know you said you were only interested in those two amps, and no others, but I can't resist mentioning this.  I heard SongTowers driven by an Outlaw RR2150 stereo receiver and it was real fine at a decent price.  http://www.outlawaudio.com/products/rr2150.html

You said you're in Anchorage.  I spent two years there some 35 years ago.  Loved it there.