Bryston 7Bcubed vs Mark Levinson

The Bryston ST lineup is a little hard and can be fatiguing, though with a tube preamp you should be good. I have owned the 3B-ST, 4B-ST,  PowerPac 300, and 7B-SST,

The following upgrade program is something to consider even if the 7B-ST is a backup in the future.

(11) Here's how BRYSTON makes OLD amplifiers NEW again! - YouTube

The ML amps I have heard sounded pretty good, not fatiguing, but not the clearest sounding (a bit dark for me). At one time I was thinking of getting the ML585 integrated. Today, I prefer Benchmark AHB2, CODA #8 and #16, and the new KRELL XD amps. I am saving up for a new XD amp (sold 2 lower powered ones).. 

BTW - USAM has 2 KRELL Duo 300XD amps for a very good price. Not sure if it would pair well with the ARC preamp, but I am certain is it better than the ML436 (to my ears).

okay thanks for the response, i'm trying to figure out what direction to go I did learn about the Bryston re-new program. i'm leaning towards the 436's giving them a try the  amps are in really good shape  with the latest updates from mark Levinson. if anyone else has experience with these ML-436 please let me know....thanks Aaron

@yyzsantabarbara, are you talking the ST series only, or have you also heard the Cubed series?   I purchased a 4B3 a couple years ago to try against my Pass X250.8 and thought it to be just as refined and smooth as the more expensive Pass amp.  I owned a 4B many years ago and agree the older models can sound fatiguing (and maybe a little dry too), but I thought the 4B3 was excellent and certainly not fatiguing.   YMMV...

@ddafoe I was only talking about the ST series that the OP owns. I have heard the 4B3 and it is much different on top. There are some folks who still like the older ST and SST line for bass. I have not compared too much to have an opinion, but I was surprised to read that.

The best bass I had was when I had my Bryston 7B-SST monos with my Revel Salon 1. I could play that as loud as I wanted and at any time of the day. I did not know better back then and used the Bryston BP20 peamp with the 7B-SST, a bad choice in retrospect. I should have used a tube preamp like the OP.