Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Advice from Axiom Owners Bryston 4BSST2 or similarly priced amp

Anyone using a bryston 4BSST2 amp with there M80's. I am thinking of purchasing this amp as the first step in upgrading my home theater. Just wondering if anyone had any experience in pairing this with the M80's.

Also if there are any 2 channel amps in the 5k range i should be considering. I'd like to stick with canadian made but it is not a deal breaker, I also thought about Classe but it is slightly above my price range. I am looking for an A or AB type amp so axiom amps and class D are out.

Osborne

I am not sure what the specific model options are but if you want to stick with a Canadian product then probably "Anthem" or possibly "NAD" could be possible considerations. In either case, for 2 channel usage, they would be well within your price range.

Axiom uses Bryston amps in their test room.
See thread here.
http://www.axiomaudio.com/boards/ubbthreads.php/topics/34543/2
That being said, there are many good quality amps out there for decent prices. I personally own an Anthem MCA 30 which powers our Tannoy D700s.

Osborne, i got a Krell FPB 300CX for right around 4k. It's a 2 channel amp. It's a considerably bigger amp than the 4BSST2.. I got mine used though, new it's about 10k$... i got mine from the dealer who sold it to the original owner, and took it back as trade in on new amps, as the owner wanted the new monoblocks...


Are you looking at only new, or is pre-owned an option?

If used is an option for you then you'll want to look around for used Bryston amps too. The ST models of 10-15 years ago generally come up for sale quite often. In my opinion they're excellent value as their design and sound quality is substantially the same as the current models and there should be enough of the transferable Bryston warranty left to cover any minor issues that may arise. If you're looking at a 4BSST2 then I suggest also looking at the 6B model. It's actually 1.5 4B's - in other words, 3 channels of amplification. That would drive all 3 of your front channels which is important for HT.

Another option would be used or new Parasound amps. Not Canadian but made in USA so at least from North America!

Good luck!

I would much rather buy a new product rather then used. The reason for this i mormally buy the best i can afford and keep it forever! I know there are great deals on the used market but I haven't really considered it.

As for the other amps mentioned i have looked at NAD and Anthem and have settled on the Bryston above them.

I also did look a 6BSST2 however it is out of my price range. if the 4BSST2 is good the 6B had to be better since it had the extra channel! MSRP's are the following

3BSST2 $4295 2 channel 150 watts into 8 ohm
4BSST2 $4995 2 channel 300 watts into 8 ohm
6BSST2 $7995 3 channel 300 watts into 8 ohm

So the 6B is way above my price point. I do have a good price on a 4B from a dealer so i would say by the end of the week i will be placing my order.

osborne

Check out Moon by Simaudio, a Canadian company.

They make some of the best equipment around.

Yah decent but stupid expensive.
Not that Bryston is any less so.
But Anthem is a good used buy.

Forgive my ignorance but ifthey all sound the same, provide the same end result (assuming output is equal) they why spend more then needed?

Some manufacturers have learned that it's highly profitable to never underestimate the gullibility of some audiophiles.

Chess, they are expensive, no doubt but excellent none the less.

Have you looked at Creek Audio, Emotiva and Outlaw? These should be below your budget so you can put those Benjamins to (maybe) other audio gear.

the bryston would probably be a good match for the M80s.... However, why the heck would you use 5k to drive 1.5k?!!!!

If you have a real budget start over. You can do way better speakers and amp wise for 5k from scratch. Just saying.....

Demo gear. You will be surprised.

If you are really into your M80s, set a budget of 2k or less. You can get some outstanding integrated amps for that.

Oops power amp, not integrated eh? I second the emotiva, Outlaw etc. options. If you are going internet that is.

Or else get out there and forget what anyone else has to say. Don't get caught up in internet opinion. Worth almost nothing imo (lol).

I really hate to recommend people a product that I have because it seems like that is all anybody ever does on forums, But for 5k, personally I would check into some stratos mono extreme's or even Kismet mono's (not sure on the price) from Odyssey Audio.

I do have a pair of Khartago mono's which are a smaller cheaper version which I have had for many years and last year sent back to Odyssey for upgraded boards and to repair one of the amps, They are an excellent value for the money I think. Perhaps not as polished as something from Bryston since they are all hand built and customized for each customer, The khartago's were excellent with the M80's I used to have and the PSB Goldi's I have now.

I also do agree with other comments that it is a little skewed to spend 5k on amplification for the M80's when you could spend 5k on speakers and 1.5k on amplification and get a better setup overall.

Agreed.
I haven't heard the Odyssey name in awhile but Klaus? used to get one heckuva reputation for customer service.
Built simple solid amps.



Agreed again.
For 5k you can get a larger speaker (or more speakers), maybe fancier finishes and for under 2k you can get a TON of good amp options.
A TON!!

I have a Bryston 9BSST/2 with my 80v3. The amp delivers 200 watts per channel at 4 ohm. I have yet to drive the Axiom's into clipping. What do you get with the Bryston beside's good sound a 20 year warrenty. You could by a used 10 year old Bryston and still have 5 years more warrenty than most of the amps out there. They also offer great customer service.

I also have a pair of 7BSST/2. They are a completely different beast. I also owned the 4b series st,sst,sst/2. Audition if you can and let your ears decide.

Hmm, that's a buck a pound. Good deal!

Thanks everyone.

I ended up getting the 4BSST2 about 3 weeks ago. A few more weeks of critical listening and I'll put up my thoughts of it with my M80 V2's.

As for the amp itself I am glad I spent the cash now and got the Bryston. To those that asked the question why spend nearly 6k with taxes and shipping on an amp driving 1.5k worth of speakers; it is my first upgrade in a planned series of new equipment over the next 2-3 years. Also buying Canadian was high on my list of requirements. If I will stick with the axiom M80's as my main speakers long term is up in the air but without going into details I am more then happy of the pairing of the Bryston with the M80's for now.

The amp itself is certainly a quality piece. I have not found any faults with it from a build quality perspective. Performance wise even at painful SPL's the amp runs warm but not hot and so far has not shown signs of clipping. This was important to me as my wife plays music really loud and had shut down my Denon 3808 due to thermal protection several times. And yes at the levels she was listening too above 0 dB on the dial meant there was distortion especially when she turned on 7 channel stereo or was using a multichannel source. No such problems after fitting in the 4B. Now the load of the L/R channels are taken off the 3808 and it is free to drive the other 5 channels so it does not get nearly as hot.

Like I said a few more weeks of listening and movie watching and I will give a complete update.

That is a great amp, enjoy!

psb synchrony ones in your future? Totems?

yeah Hell, that would really make a pair of Totem Ones, or Mani 2's sing nicely.....

I like the Totems. Seem to have a big sound for a little speaker.
But that stupid beak idea has got to go.

Chess,

Totem has a range of speakers, small to large. The beaks are something of a "Vince-ism" in my opinion.

Quite frankly, I have not heard but 1 or 2 speakers that sounded better than the Mani 2...at any price.