Providing you amp has enough power, and is a decent match for your speakers (And in your case, it looks like you are OK), the preamp is the most important choice you will have to make. If you don't get the right one, you'll ruin your system. This is not something you rush into. Everyone will tell you what their favorite preamp is, but you really need to find your favorite. If you're not sure, I would recommending that you use a source with a volume control, if you have one, or buy a passive. That way you can use your system so you're not under too much pressure to buy something.
"Should I stay with bryston or look at tub preamps."
Keep in mind that preamps are not generic items. SS preamps will not all sound like a Bryston. The differences between SS brands can be huge. Same thing for tubes. They all sound different. |
I'm looking for a preamp to go along with my bryston 28bsst2 and mag's 3.7. Should I stay with bryston or look at tub preamps. Don't know your budget but have 2 friends using VAC SigMKIIa pre with their 28bsst2. Most tube pre cannot drive SS amps properly but it's not a problem with VAC. |
Thanks for the info, what type of interconnect and speaker cables does your friends use. I'm looking into the VAC. |
Some more info would be helpful. What preamp are you using now, and what aspects of sound reproduction are most important to you and what specifically are you looking to improve upon over what you have now? Until we know these things, as Zd alluded to, you'll just get people's personal preferences which likely have nothing to do with what you may be looking for. And budget would be helpful too. Basically, the more info you give us the better and more useful recommendations you'll get here. |
I had 3.6R's for years, and liked the match with Bryston very much (although I must say the Sanders Magtech was by far the best amp I ever used with Maggies, followed closely by the Cary MB500's) and when I first got those together I had a Bryston preamp.
I eventually switched to a Cary SLP98p F1, that was the hot rodded version sold through Upscale Audio. I still have the preamp, and now that I'm in a smaller room, I've traded my 3.6R's for a super MMG system (with a Bryston 4BSST2 btw).
I love the sound of Cary preamps, it's decidedly warm, and that balances, to my ear, the sound of high powered planar speakers with matching amplification.
The SLP 05 or SLP98 models will work very well for you.
I've also always loved the ARC preamps, but they are not as warm as the Cary's.
Good luck, cheers. |
I've had multiple systems of Maggies partnered with Bryston amps and tube preamps,which in my opinion is a requirement to flesh out that linear Bryston sound.What worked well for me were Audio Research products,specifically LS 15/16,Ref 3.
Audio Horizons preamps are also a seamless match. |
Take a look at the BAT VK-43SE SS preamp. I have used the Bat VK-42SE (previous model) with many Bryston amps (up to 7B-SST) and it was a great match. I love the BAT pre-amp. I used to own the Bryson BP25 but that was a very long time ago and nowhere in the class of the BAT. |
Yeah, Bryston preamps are not to the level of their amps, imo. |
Not true. Their top of the line BP26 is an overlooked and ignored gem. No treble grit or grain with a solid bass and a clean midrange. Contrary to the untrue belief that Bryston doesn't do soundstaging and depth, this will portray it beautifully if it is there in the recording. A dead silent and solidly built product. It competes with the best solid state preamps out there. It's been on the market for a long time because Bryston got it right the first time. |
I agree with Theduke, I dumped my Bryston amp and kept my BP6 which, according to folks at Bryston, is essentialy the same as BP26 and it does just what Theduke says. |
You got rid of the the 28BSST2s? That's the best amp Bryston has made to date! Why? And kept the BP6? Lol. I *have* the BP6, and it's nowhere in the league of Accuphase, McInotsh, Pass Labs, Luxman, etc. No, it's not a bad preamp-for the price-but the other preamps mentioned handily outdo it. |
I'd love to read more from 28BSST2 owners. Please tell me what you love about the amps. |
