2. amps-preamps
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Bryston VS Cambridge Audio

I know, it sounds like an odd topic. Hear me out. I current use a Bryston 3BST of unknown history and a similarly unknown Musical Design SP-2 preamp (upgraded to -2B status). Both units are in terrific shape, and I have no reason to believe they are operating at less than optimal performance. I have a Marantz SA8004 CD player, and listen through either Von Schweikert VR-1 monitors with a Martin Logan Abyss subwoofer or Eminent Technology LFT-8B hybrid planar loudspeakers. Everything sounds great.

However, I am a bit of a bargain hunter, and I'm also dealing with a situation in which my listening room is also our media room, so my 2-channel rig has to pull double duty as an HT system. Rest assured, I make no sonic compromise for the latter. Still, I have become intrigued by the Cambridge Audio 840 (or V2) integrated amp, which would allow a high degree of component integration and system flexibility. I am a big fan of the brand, too. I could have both speaker sets hooked up along with the subwoofer, and maybe even move to the (non SACD) Cambridge Audio 840C CD player with its balanced outputs.

So, am I a fool for considering this? Do any of you have any thoughts about the power amp section of the 840A versus the Bryston, or even the preamp section versus the Musical Design unit? Thanks for all thoughts (and mild mockery, if deserved).
ja2austintx

Showing 1 response by dhl93449

dhl93449
455 posts
 
I don't have direct experience with Bryston power amps, but I have compared the analog outputs of a Bryston BDA-1 (connected digitally to a CA 840C) with the analog outputs of the CA 840C on the same CD. Both the digital outputs and the analog outputs are active in the CA 840, so you can listen to an A/D connected to the 840 at the same time you monitor analog out. Both were running into my Parasound JC2 line amp/JC1 monoblocks.

The differences were extremely small, a surprise to me considering that the Bryston is Class A discrete vs the CA 840C using IC opamps. The advantage went to Bryston, with slightly better bass articulation and a smidge better high end space and definition.

So I would not be so fast in discounting the CA product, unless you can A/B them directly.

I also have a CA 840E preamp which I used before the JC2. Very, very good sounding product. Gave the JC2 a good run for the money. I was told by sales folks at Audio Advisor the JC2 would blow the CA out of the water, but it's not true. There are differences, and they are subtle, but at a 2x difference in price, the CA is a great value.
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