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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
jffyg
53 posts
 
I have spent a decent amount of time with the 4Bst it is a really nice amplifier. I think it can be a little hard on top sometimes but it may just be asscoiated equipment? I recently went through about 4 amplifiers until I realized that my speakers are bright. (I never claimed intellect)
The most notable attributes of the bryston are its ability to take control of the speakers and its ability to resolve.
luke66-b6f2
1 posts
 
Hey guys!!!
stop to be insecure about your audio gear, and spend your money on buying high quality records, and spend more time to listen to music. A little story, one of my friend, who knows classical music better than 95% of mankind, had a pair of Spendor speakers,driven by Naim audio equipment, with a Pierre-Clément (turntable). Ten years ago, he bought a complete audio system including Bryston 12B and 4B. He spent 10K also on his audio room, double sheetrock tichness, frequency analyzer study, 5000k of tube traps. the room modifications, was a major upgrade,that gave much better improvements than the upgrade of the equipments. He listen between 8-10 hours of classical music, 365 days a year. He doesn't read audio gear reviews, and he doen't mind. Before choosing, its new gears that includes the Bryston setup, he took 6 months shopping and listening to all the audio shop of montreal, listening to Krell, Naim, Linn, McIntosh, etc. He finally made his choices and bought also a pair of Pierre-Etienne Leon(speakers : Integrale), and a Sony X77ES cd player. He never was more happy, and after all theses years, he still love it, as at the time of purchase.
He never complaint about graininess, treble too forward, etc.
gelmhirst
64 posts
 
Bryston = value. I have the passion but not the money to build a dream system. For now, at least Bryston let's me peek into the door of Hi Fi. My amps include a 3BNRB, 4BST, B60, and a 3BST. Always realiable, providing clean brute power. AND I must agree, the plastic shrouds around the newer binding posts are unfriendly, especially to my stiffer AQ cbl. Small complaint I suppose given the 'bigger picture'. Great bang for the buck.
arcarus-8a7e
1 posts
 
I unfortunately must also look to value in the used equipment market.

Purchased 2mth old Bryston 4b-sst. More power and removes much of the brightness and limitations of the earlier 4b-st. Measured at 330watts, vs. the 4bst's 250 - low end with much more control and precision.

At the $2K range, a great deal for an amp which retains its value quite well in the used market. Hence the warranty is deemed quite important, as I can purchase used in confidence. Not sure what else at the price point, where one can do significantly better.

Highly recommend the 4Bsst version over the 4bst.

Best regards.
mazzaglia-60af
1 posts
 
I've not heard them yet, but your debate has sparked me to go check them out! I wonder if the folks woh don't like them would change their minds if they auditioned them under optimal conditions (i.e., in their own systems at home or in a studio)?

I'll have to see if the local dealer will gimme a sample!

-joe m.
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