2. amps-preamps
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Replacing Bryston 4BST for Aerial 10Ts

I've been happy with my system but the amp is dead. I'm running a PS Audio PerfectWave  DAC with Bridge 2, Audio Research SP16 tube pre, and a Bryston 4BST into Aerial 10T mkii speakers. The Bryston failed recently, blowing 2 fuses in the right channel. It's 3 years out of the 20-year warranty. In my conversation with Bryston, they mentioned an option for trade-in credit toward the 4B3 or other product and I'm waiting for those details. My local dealer (Rochester NY) loaned me an Atoll IN100, which (in bypass mode) is underpowered relative to the speakers but which gives me a sense of the Atoll sound. He suggested the Atoll AM300 (https://www.atoll-electronique.com/en/products/power-amplifiers/am300/). The 4BST gave 400 watts per channel into these 4-ohm speakers. The Atoll offers 280 watts per channel into 4 ohms. I'm interested in power to resolve detail. Typical listening is chamber music, orchestral, piano, acoustic world music, and some electronic composers. The 4B3 offers 500 watts per 4-ohm channel. I'm waiting to hear from Bryston on the trade-in credit and lean that way because the 4BST was magnificent. Any thoughts on Atoll, on Rogue (also on offer from my local dealer), on the 4B3, or something else with the power to make these big speakers sing?

 

rwroberts

Showing 1 response by decooney

decooney
2,337 posts
 

"@rwroberts Thanks everyone, I’ll consider these suggestions. I think calling Bryston about repair/update work to is a good place to start."

Good suggestions here about contacting Bryston and ask for more in-depth advisory and options for your consideration since they do rebuild older amps.

Reading the Bryston support forum there was a thread about one owner wanting to upgrade from 4BST to 4BSST and notable differences back in 2014, ten years ago.

If I were in your shoes, for $800 you could ask if its just [same] parts replacement only -or- any form of a platform upgrade to newer gen amp design in any way?

If its a parallel repair move at best A) you could ask what other new or used amp they have around [trade-in] to see if money might be spent on one of the newer generations amps instead. or B) could they re-use your chassis and transformer  and put the newer generation guts in your chassis somehow for say $1500 w/warranty - worth asking. I’d be curious to see what they could do for you. Best of luck.

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