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Improve Bryston B100-SST and Totem Model 1 Sig

Hi,

I need advises to improve my 6 months old system: Bryston B100-SST, Totem Model One signature, Shanling CDS-100MkII, Kimber cable 8TC, Audioquest King cobra.

The sound is good but only with good recording Cds (Diana Krall, Patricia Barber or recent Steely Dan) but most of times dry and cold with bad CDs (70s).

Should I:

1. Change my Bryston for something warmer and more emotional, if so, which are your recommendations.(Plinius, Unico…)
2. Change my CD player for a let’s say Rega Appolo for a warmer sound.
3. 1 and 2.

I’ve listened a combo at my friend’s home: CJ CAV50, Totem Model One signature, Rega Planet. It’s incredible, hard to believe a 45wpc can make the Totems sings like heaven, unfortunally, the CAV50 are discontinued and I can’t afford higher CJ models.

My budget for a new amp: 2500$ US

I’ve tried Moon I-3 and Totem Arro (my old speakers) at store in Montreal and feel the sound a bit bright, salesman said because the Arro were not broken. Also have tried Totem Model one signature with Rega Cursa/Maia and Marantz CDP (don’t remember the model) at another store; the sound is very, very good, wonder if the combo Rega Cursa/Maia can beat my B100-SST ?

My room: 18X16
Music listened: Pop, Rock, Jazz , Blues, no classic.

Thanks
Ricki
ricki
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foster_9
1,638 posts
 
This is my opinion: While Plinius is great and warmer,before you replace the B100ST which is a highly acclaimed integrated, I would look at the source to try and warm things. You might also contact several Bryston dealers to see if they can suggest how to improve upon the dry unemotional presentation. From what I've read Bryston tends to be dry, but you may be able to tailor that sound with your source. You may be able to use cables as tone controls too.
ricki OP
5 posts
 
Bob,

Actually the bass of Totem sig's is acceptable by me, I wonder if changing the cables will help the brightness of my system, maybe the neutral and transparent sound of the Bryston is not suit to me that why I'm wondering if another amp would warm up the sound.

Foster,

Do you have any suggestions regarding alternative sources, I spoke to a salesman (James Tanner was there) at the 2006 Montreal HIFI show and he told me than Bryston B100-sst is actually one of the best integrated on the market today.

I never use the upsampling mode of the amp because while it opens up the sound but it adds the brightness to the sound, I wonder if a (costly) Bryston optional DAC route is a solution. Shanling CDS-100MkII is a highly acclaimed CD player, tight bass, good soundstage and very neutral timbre in vocals.

Regards
Ricki
foster_9
1,638 posts
 
My only experience with warmer sounding sources is the Jolida JD 100 which I have in addition to the Modwright Sony 999ES. I like the Jolida; it's on the warmer side-but has some shortcomings in the detail deparment. I don't know anything about Totems but that may be where your problem lies if they are bright with the Bryston. Amp speaker- synergy is the key to system performance imho. If the Bryston is a poor match with Totems which is causing this brightness then you may need speakers. I can tell you after trial and error and many dollars spent, if I could start over again in audio I would have let a dealer I trust guide me in system matching my components- synergy is everything, without it, you just have a group of components.
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