Please tell me.

I definately appreciate all your feedback. I was introduced to high end by people who preached accuracy only. They kind of brainwashed me to think that was what defined "high end". I have accepted that I don't necassarily prefer a "neutral" or "accurate" system. It's boring to me. I too like warmth and coloration. This Bryston definately doesn't have that. It's obviously a wonderful amp but not for me. I'm really curious to try out a tube or hybrid integrated amp. Something in the $2000 range. It has to have plenty of slam and warm bass W/control. I LOVE the Krell KSA 150 (limitless power and bass) on my Dyn's if that gives you an idea. Any suggestions?

You really summed it up nice Sugarbrie. I am a lifelong drummer and a touring roadie so I live with live music. Little bookshelf speakers on stands in a "neutral" system don't do it for me. To me that does not come close to reproducing live instruments. No system does for that matter. When a cymbal is struck the sound reflects in all directions using the room as a speaker. It not just L/R directional information for your ears. This applies to almost all instruments. What is accuracy???? It seems to me the only REAL accuracy is standing in the room when the instrument is played. Other than that, why try to "accurately" reproduce it? I don't consider instruments coming out of ANY stereo accurate. I just try to get as close as I can and having a "neutral" system doesn't achieve this for me. Just my opinion.

Yeah, I grew up on old school "consumer" level hi fi. I use to have Cerwin Vega AT-15's running off my HK... 20 years ago. So you could say I still like BIG sound with LOTS of low end. I hadn't been exposed to "real" hi fi until I was older so I will always have my roots. I have just come to accept that. I felt like I just didn't know how to apperciate "real" hi fi. I now know that real hi fi is in the eye of the beholder. It's easy to get caught up in all these variables to the point where you loose sight of the main objective... hearing the music the way YOU want to hear it. Not being told the way you're "suppose" to hear it. I'm enjoying my system more than ever now that I've given into this idea. Getting past mental quirks is hard... but once you do you find what it is you really desire.

OK, I'll take it a step further and admit I'm loving having tone controls back in my life. It's been a long time. I like the option of adding a little bottom end to a recording that needs it by just turning up the bass. I had convinced myself that this was sacrelig!! Is there even such a thing(besides sunfire) as a pre amp with tone controls anymore? I realize if I go to Circuit City I could probably find one but there has to be a quality pre amp that caters to someone like myself.

Yeah, I figured I crossed the line with that one. I'm usually more careful with what I say on hear but I was just in a mood and let loose... lol. I'm happy to hear people on here can appreciate a musicians approach. I have been enjoying messing with my old HK. It's cool to hear it on my Dyn's with all high end componants. It's kind of a reference to all the $$$amps that have passed through my system. I checked into the Halo pre amp and it sounds interesting. It has mixed reviews but definately looks like a nicely built piece for the money. I'm probably gonna buy one to check it out. I've heard a lot about Rel subs but I usually only use a sub for HT. For music I would need one that was real fast and punchy... but musical. Any suggestions?