Bryston Vs Theta

Thanks for the input so far. Distortion: stop drooling and and go and get a pair of these speakers before the price goes up because of the weak USD (I paid HKD40,000 = USD5,200 for my rosewood pair, there's been a price rise here since then). There're a couple of good reviews at audioreview.com. Bought them unheard after listening to a mates S3.4's (trying to get an audition of anything at most Hong Kong dealers is like pulling teeth, and a home trial is simply unheard of). Even after only a few hours with my Denon AVC-A1-SE (hence the amp upgrade) they are a huge improvement on my KEF's, with beautiful imaging (they disapear!) and very detailed top end from the Esotar 2 tweeter. Hoping a new amp will get a bit better handle on the bass.
The biggest problem with the Dreadnaught is it's size! I'd have to re-arrange my whole room to fit it in. I haven't seen Plinius for sale here, and the Krells, Levinsons etc sound/look very nice, but are just so much more expensive than the Theta or Bryston (the 5x225W Theta is USD6,500 here, with the Bryston a few $$ less).
Vettemanbc: I'd love to have access to buy/sell used gear like Audiogon (there's almost no market for used here, I'm still wondering what to do with my KEF's) but shipping to/from the Far East would be prohibitive. I'm still trying to clarify the warranty situation with the Bryston agent in H.K., but dealers tell me the local warranty is only one year, with the twenty year one requiring a return to Canada, which is the other side of the world from here.

G'day Mick

Good guess.

Grand Rich AV in Fa Yuen St, Mongkok. Took a lot of hard bargaining for that price and as I said earlier I think there's been a price rise due to the weak US$ and our linked currency.

I've ended up with the Dreadnaught 2 amp (450W/ch into 4 Ohms) and it drives the 5.4's beautifully (more "presence" than the 3.4's), even using my old Denon as a pre-amp until I can afford something better. Definitely no harshness in the highs and the bass is now so good (defined) that I disconnect my US$2000 Velodyne HGS-12 Sub when listening to two channel material. Diana Krall "live" sounds sublime on them.
Keep in mind the 3.4's have an Esotec tweeter where the 5.4's have an Esotar 2 from the Confidence series. Have you looked at the Special 25's (Esotar 2 tweeter as well, I think)which can be had for about HKD25,000?
And yes, the 5.4's do look pretty big in the lounge room of my 1500 sq ft flat. I may have to move to a bigger place to give them a bit more breathing space!

Cheers

Hi Mick

You've heard both tweeters yourself in the S3.4 and S25. If you don't have a large room with space to move the speakers away from the walls don't buy the S5.4's, as they produce a prodigous amount of bass and need plenty of room to breathe. They also look big in my 20x15x9' room (I'm hopefuly moving to a larger place soon, but that's primarily to get a balcony to fire up my barbie on: another story).
I was quoted HKD33,000 (USD1=HKD7.78) for the 3.4's a while ago, but that was before a rumoured recent price rise. Some serious haggling may knock 5-10% off any initial price (I've found having the cash actually in your pocket always helps in Hong Kong).
As I said earlier I bought the 5.4's for my large (by Hong Kong standards!) room after hearing the 3.4's and I'm very happy with what I've got. I continue to be amazed by all the extra details I'm hearing on CD's that I've listened to many times on my old KEF Ref 3's. Yes, you'll hear more faults on some onpoorly recorded material (not all at the higher end of the scale either), but this is more than made up for when listening to good recordings. By losing the sub (for stereo) I'm now hearing lower end details and layers that I previously wasn't even aware were on the CD (this no doubt is also in part due to my new Dreadnaught).
There's a good review on this site by Mfish comparing the S25 and the S3.4.

Cheers