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Review: Bryston 4B-ST Amplifier

Category: Amplifiers

Why do so many people, including dealers, dismiss Bryston? I have had this unit for two years now and it has done nothing but performed remarkably well and, as my habits require, with all kinds of recordings. Sure, some amps might sound better with small ensembles or female vocals, but if one listens to everything from Beethoven's Eroica to Sebadoh, you need equipment that brings you a full tonal spectrum, and I haven't found a whole lot lacking in the Bryston, particularly since I added the Richard Gray and a PS Audio Lab Cable II to the mix. But let me be more precise.
The Bryston provides consistent, quiet power, and is responsive to dynamic recordings, meaning, it leaps when I (or the CD player) say "leap." The Eroica, Hogwood version, starts out fast and furious. Likewise, Maogwai's slow, ascending jams ascend, and they burst when the lads kick it in, distortion and all. At first I thought it sounded a wee bit bright, e.g. with muted trumpets, solo violin, say, Pearlman's Bach recordings, or Dolphy's flute on Coltrane's "Ole," but that's all but disappeared now that I've paired it with the Musical Fidelity Pre and cleaned up the power with cords, a line conditioner, and PS Audio's fancy, shiny, plug. I imagine I might find a sweeter amp, but will it have the dynamic range and power of the Bryston? I don't know, and I'm unconvinced but what I've *read* (yes, I know-- no local dealers) that Classe or Nelson Pass gear will do the trick. And then there is the bass. Some folk think Maggies lack bass. WIth my power in order, my IIIA's have all the attack and richeness I want from the low end. (I hate boomy bass -- it blunts music and highlights what is often the least interesting aspect of a recording IMHO.) Take Acetone's *York Blvd.* All of the texture and richness of the erstwhile Richie's bass sings. And the two basses, one bowed, the other plucked, from Colktrane's *Ole* are articulate. Yes, articulate bass. It's a pleasure and the Bryston delivers it. Questions: At times I wonder if the sound stage could be bigger. I doubt it could be deeper, though. Dimensionality is great in my system. Also, I've heard folk complain of grain, but I'm not sure what they're talking about. If someone could help me with a concrete musical reference, I'd appreciate it until I discovered it and ended up wanting a new amp. Gripe: As many note, the binding posts area pain in the keester. Not a crucial issue in my view. Bonus: Twenty year transferable warranty. That makes this one very sound buy, new or used, but particularly used.

Associated gear
Magnepan IIIA
MFidelity A3cr Pre-amp
Arcam Alpha 9 CD
Yamaha CT7000 Tuner
Tara Labs RSC Prime 5000 Sp. Cable
Analysis Plus Silver Oval IC's
PS Audio Power Cord
R Gray Line Conditioner

Similar products
Musical Fidelity A3cr
jlysaker

Showing 3 responses by spotless

spotless
4 posts
 
Been away from any and all audio gear for several decades, and a recent walk into the high-end store left me a total stranger. Through the internet, I found that I could crawl back to a time and place where I could find a firm footing, and try to back-track up to the present.
Fat chance. At least I can read through the mountains of reviews and get a feel for what's hot, and what's not.
To Business......
An old dream speaker of mine was the Dahlquist DQ-10, and I just recently aquired a pair, in rather good shape.
Realizing I would need fresh gear to drive these baby's-alas, my pride and joy from the 70's has been a combination of door-stop and closet clutter for quite a while, and will be the topic of another review-
so after asking around, and throwing out names that I can remember-SAE, Phase Linear, GAS, Audio Research-(these were serious power amps, sometimes twichie, often finicky, but always awesome). "Yes, those will do nicely, if you stay at or above 200watt/per channel, but for about the same money--have you heard of Bryston? I'm thinking of the 4B, and it's varients...."
So here I am. Various reviewers on these pages, (of other amps that were name-dropped in my lap, names I had also considered for purchase), projected less than rave reviews concerning quality and craftsmanship.
Maybe a tube pre-amp, if budget allows, (later,later), but for now, what additional imput/recomendations can I get on the 4B?
spotless
4 posts
 
Oops!! I'm bad! What I ment to imply, (while trying to be cute), was that various reviews of OTHER (contemporary) amps had left a bad taste in my mouth---the last thing I want to get across is a misconseption that I have heard something negative about this product.
I address this forum because all of your comments ARE genuine and totally unsolicited. If there is science on the table, good. If the topic is a purely subjective one, better!
I origionally put the "which amp?" question to some old time buddies who have dabbled since we used to have hair, and they in turn put me on to some serious bigshot engineer/tech's who maintain their stuff.
When I relayed my budget, (I'm broke), and my extensive amplifer research, (I'm lost), combined with the recent purchase of the DQ-10's, (I'm REAL lucky),
ALL of these ol' geezers, to the man, recomended the 4B. Mind you, they also recomended old analog stuff- so I wouldn't feel TOO stupid- but when they said the name Bryston, it just rolled off their tongue like a favorite nephew.
My dear old dad would remind me that talks cheap-
but here, it's golden.
And in good faith I truely feel fortunate to be able to sift through years of use and abuse, and to see what stunk, sunk, and what sailed off into the sunset. (I want that one!)
So Tvad, and to anyone else I may have offended, accept my apology, please.
(I will take note of the wizzard of Empirical Audio, but untill I test the water, I will start out with a minimum of letters after the "B", and hold off on any mods. untill I understand a lot more about has happened in the last 20 years).
Only then will we see what I can smuggle past my wife.
Untill then, can anybody relate to hungry speakers, and impart how the 4B will adapt?
spotless
4 posts
 
I do appreciate that Tvad, and let me assure you that I have no desire to re-experence the anatomic face-lift I received at my one-and-only Greatful Dead Concert. I fully enjoy listening to, (at modest levels), jazz- bop and new age, the torch singers and crooners, classical and chamber music, hell, I'm listening to Blue Grass now that I've heard Allison Krouse------but then that's the real secret to our meeting here. (REALLY hearing).
Of course you realize that I'll have to wander about the net, and do some research into your selected speakers, in that I've never heard of them. (Or 2/3 of everything I read about in these reviews).
But then, I'm here to learn, and I'm in good company.

My first serious system was a combination of new and used gear, a pair of Heresy decorator models, an AR-XA table combined with a feeble, yet modestly successful attempt to graft an SME 3009 type II arm, The Marantz Model 8 power amp, and a Dynaco PAT-5 preamp kit.
(A buddy and I split up a Model 7 preamp and the 8, he got a couple of Dyna mono amp kits, and the other same new gear).
Yes, the 8 was used and already 15 years old, but some new Mullard's cleaned it up and unleashed a sweetness and warmth that took the edge of the horns, and even raised some eyebrows from the audiophiles who helped us assemble our "budget starter systems".
(I still have the gear, and thru the net, have been piecing it back together).
It was in the home of one of those audiophiles, so generous with their time and patience, that I first heard the DQ-10's. Upon later visits, I noticed that all the gear kept changing, all except those 10's. And of course, what I didn't see was the parade of components that finally hypnotized me into lusting after those speakers. (I wish I had paid more attention to what the system evolved into).
So here, at this point, based on the Dahlquist's and a Bryston 4B, I should think a tube preamp may be the best bang for the buck.
Any thoughts on that subject? Any experence with one design over another? Or maybe an outstanding trans. design? How about a CD player? It's your ball game.
And thanks for keeping in touch. Mac
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