Ideal Pre Amp for Bryston 3B ST or 4B SST 2


I need advice, I've been told that Bryston Pre Amps are not the best and most would run a different brand Pre-Amp to a Bryston Amp. The question is what would be the best marriage for a Bryston 3B ST and Magnepan's 1.6? I want Balance Inputts and Outputts but do not want it to cost me another mortgage!

Tube or Solid State?

Current System:

Brysto BP20 Pre Amp
Bryston 3B ST (Connected in Balance)
Wadia Itransport
Camebridge Mini DAC (Connected in Balance)
Martin Logan Abyss Subwoofer (Connected in RCA)
Magnepan 1.6

Music Preference:

Classical/Jazz/Opera/Movie Soundtracks
birdiewins

Showing 1 response by rgd

IMHO there is no "ideal" preamp for Bryston amps.

Now I have had a few tube preamps (both balanced and single ended - Hovland, Rogue, Lamm) that have worked well with Bryston amps but would suggest that Audio Research products could get you what you are looking for (given your desire for balanced connections). I currently own an ARC LS-26 that does a great job with my Bryston amps.

An alternate choice would be to buy a used BP-26 with the new full size power supply and try that out. I can personally attest that I have found that to be a better preamp set-up than a BP-20 when matched up to a Bryston amp.

You might want to make the decision on the amp first as the SST2 series is quite different that the ST version and in the end could play a significant part in which preamp you ultimately end up with...