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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
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.
joemazzaglia
19 posts
 
With the proper test equipment, you could look at the sound generated by the amp as compared with others discussed here. Though frequency plots and distortion measurements don't allow for a human element (subjective/objective listening), they can easily reveal any serious peaks, dips, or distortions throughout the whole freq. spectrum.
ehoehn
169 posts
 
I won the SST version of this amp. It is alot smoother than the ST (I did a side by side) and still retains the detail and bass control
ryno
1 posts
 
I've had a Bryston 3B-ST for 4 yrs. now and still cannot find a flaw with it. It has exceeded all my expectations in sonic clarity, both low and high freq. Up until today, I drove a set of Klipsch Forte II's with this amp and thought it amazing. Today I purchased a new pair of Paradigm Reference 60 V3's. The 3B-ST grabs these speakers by the throat and shakes the listeners roots, driving them effortlessly. I can by no means afford $100k for the 'finest' in audio gear, and nor would I want to. I've demo'ed many amps over the years, Bryston, Krell, Mark Levinson, Classe, Anthem... and while ALL are amazing in their own right, my Bryston quietly (and cheaply) puts them back to bed. If you are looking for an entry level amplifier with rock-solid performance (I, like Fzxguy's posts, do not even consider the warranty) then you'd be hard pressed to do better IMHO. Everyone has their tastes for what sounds good and bad. My recommendation would be to find what sounds good to you, then buy it, and more importantly...enjoy it.
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