2. amps-preamps
  3. 1188347634

Please tell me.

OK, so I recently got my OLD Harmon Kardon back. It's a PM 655 VXI (20 years old). I currently own a Bryston 4b SST... brand new (a 300/W monster). Why does the HK sound better??? It is SO warm and the bass is sweeter. Reminds me of the Krell KSA 150 I use to own. I can't believe HOW good it sounds on my dyns. WHY????? Is this really as good as it sounds to me????? I'm having a hard time justifying that I spent $2400 on my Bryston when I like the way my OLD HK sounds better. I realize the Bryston is "accurate" and less "colored" but it does not have the sweet warm sound that the HK does... tube like. I'm freaking out on the sound of this unit. Does anyone know anything about it? Please advise.

drum75
drum75

Showing 3 responses by phd

phd
1,330 posts
 
What preamp are you using on the Bryston? If your using an inexpensive preamp with the Bryston, you will not bring out this amp's best sonics & capabilities.
phd
1,330 posts
 
Drum75, like yourself, when listening to music I don't have audiophiles sitting in my living room evaluating my system each time I fire it up, only on rare occasions. So it really comes down to pleasing yourself. I'm not positive but it seems that musicians, at least the ones I know don't care much about high end gear and are content to hear their music through gear similiar to your older HK. If I could theorize a little bit I believe that musicians are more focused on the music where as most audiophiles are defined by both their gear & the music.
phd
1,330 posts
 
Drum75, now you have really crossed the line--------- but since your a musician you are forgiven, (just a little humor here). There is a new affordable preamp offered by Halo (Parasound) that has defeatable tone controls (they are truly out of the signal path when they are defeated) so you can enjoy both audiophile sound or processed sound. It is the P3 and it retails new for $800.00 and can be purchased used for around $450.00 on Audiogon at times. Look into this quality but affordable preamp, do some research, you will be happy you did! The other alternative is to add a subwoofer to your current system for added bass response.
More to discover