Bryston 28 sst's vs Spectron Musician 3 SE ?

Hi Mribob

A few months ago, I was looking amplifier for myself. As you I have selected a few amps to test including Bryston and Spectron. I have had opportunity to audition Bryston in the dealer showroom. Very good amplifier but it did not "touch" me.

I bought slightly used Spectron upon condition that if I will not like it in my system I can return it. As a matter of fact, I fall in love with Spectron and more I listen the more I like it. A few days ago, I got another one to run in monoblock modes and I did not realize before how good, how REALISTIC sound can be. I love it.

I am not pushing you on Spectron - different people have different tastes. However, I urge you to test it. Get it (much better monoblocks if you can afford them) ONLY upon condition that if you will not like them then you can return them.

Just be careful, these amps when new are tend to sound a bit mechanical and a few hundred of hours of break-in is really ESSENTIAL.

Somebody mention that he is scared that Spectron will introduce a new version of this amp. I spoke with Simon Thacher, a few weeks ago. He is not the owner, he works in design for a few companies so he does not have particular interest in Spectron only and I, may be wrongly, trust him and I like him. Well, according to him no Mk3 is on horizon and he does not see it in near future. Take it for what its worth

All The Luck in this wonderful process of searching "paradise".

Mike

Forgot to mention, sorry. I have different, very difficult to drive speakers Watt/Puppy 8. Also, before Spectrons I drove them with tube amp - Mackintosh MC2102. Spectrons are CLEARLY better.

Mike

Hello Dev,

I did not say that I auditioned Bryston at LOCAL(!) dealer and on this basis I decided to compare them with Spectron. Its rather arrogant assumption and degrading statement.

Moreover, I was surprised with your bad mouthing Spectron:

"You are being very naive if you think this is the last amp and all you have to do is take a look at their past history, need I say more"

So, I looked. Firstly, a minute ago, I called Simon Thacher - yes, he can be called 7 days a week and I like it in the hi-fi cothe company can be called 7 days per week. According to him:

1 Musician III was introduced in late Summer of 2004
2 Musician III Signature was introduced in December of 2006
3 Musician III Mk2 was introduced in Spring of 2008

Secondly, each subsequent generation of Musician was done not to rectify some gross error but to improve sound and he suggested to see reviews comparing old and new versions.

Thirdly, each owner could continue to enjoy his amplifier or upgrade it to the latest. According to their web site, upgrade from Signature to Mk2 is $600+ For substantial sound improvement - reasonable, on my opinion

Fourthly, as per their web site even owners of old Musician II (10 years old???) can upgrade their $3k amp to about 85% of Musician III Mk2 performance for about $1.3k.

This constant upgradeability - for me at least, shows that Spectron is taken care of my financial investment in their product - it will not be obsolete even 10 years down the road and I LOVE this idea.

Mike

Hello Dev,

I am in Colorado and I have visited New York about three months ago and I checked there a few hi-end stores (in Manhattan only). I believe that I auditioned Bryston 28 sst at Alto and I could hear clearly some euthonic coloration (artificial warmth) in midrange and touch of "steel" in highs. May be they were not broken-in, I don't know. I did not like them. Sorry.

Mike