I want to thank everyone that responded. It looks like there is never going to be a substitute for A/B live comparisons. Especially taking into consideration all the other system components and synergy. Plus in the end two systems can sound musical and one will be preferred over the other depending on taste.
Ultimately what I am also finally able to hear is how even the same song on different cd's (original cd, remaster, mfsl gold, best of remix) TOTALLY SOUND different. It's a real mess because there are so many variables. Room acoustics and speaker placement being no small task either. Maybe I'll get a red wine and some great headphones! Just kidding.
I'm leaning towards the higher powered Bryston because that is what the music I listen to was mixed on (AC powered high wattage output amp), so my thinking is it will be closer to what the recording engineer heard. I do think for classical music the red wine would sound better (but then so would tubes), but for pop, rock, jazz based on the wide usage of the Brystons in the music industry I have to say it is the way to go.
Maybe not the greatest logic but with a twenty year warranty they have to be doing something right at Bryston. Someday, I'll have to have that shootout though with a Krell, Pass, Levinson, Bryston and Red Wine all side by side, see who comes out on top. Until then I'll have to settle with going on what I read.
Ultimately what I am also finally able to hear is how even the same song on different cd's (original cd, remaster, mfsl gold, best of remix) TOTALLY SOUND different. It's a real mess because there are so many variables. Room acoustics and speaker placement being no small task either. Maybe I'll get a red wine and some great headphones! Just kidding.
I'm leaning towards the higher powered Bryston because that is what the music I listen to was mixed on (AC powered high wattage output amp), so my thinking is it will be closer to what the recording engineer heard. I do think for classical music the red wine would sound better (but then so would tubes), but for pop, rock, jazz based on the wide usage of the Brystons in the music industry I have to say it is the way to go.
Maybe not the greatest logic but with a twenty year warranty they have to be doing something right at Bryston. Someday, I'll have to have that shootout though with a Krell, Pass, Levinson, Bryston and Red Wine all side by side, see who comes out on top. Until then I'll have to settle with going on what I read.