Theta Prometheus Monoblock vs Bryston 7BSST2


I was all set to buy the Bryston 7B-SST2 amps to mate to a KEF Blade (or Blade2). However, the recent review of the Theta Prometheus on Stereophile has me intrigued. I like the benefits mentioned for the class D amps over AB or A. Less power consumption, run cool, small footprint.

I heard these amps at THE NEWPORT SHOW this year and they sounded very good but I cannot really tell in a show (unless it is really bad sound). I know how the Bryston sounds and like the fact that I would have a great RELIABLE amp if I went with Bryston. My pre-amp in the SS BAT VK-42SE. I will have a 2 channel computer based system, with the PS Audio DS DAC.

Anybody using these new Theta amps care to provide feedback on your experience. I would prefer to hide any new amps in a closed audio rack because of potential damage (spills etc..)
yyzsantabarbara
I have a dealer who loaned me these amps for a week to
use in my own system. It was rather cool to read the
Stereophile review after already having listened to these
amps. They replaced a Mark Levinson 335. By coincidence
the reviewer's amp is the ML 334. Similar voicing as the
No.335 but less power. I must say that I am in love with
the low end, the dynamics, the wide open soundstaging,
and layers of detail within that same soundstage that are
now present. The sometimes slightly dark sounding
midrange that the 3 series has on some systems is gone. I
ended up buying the amplifiers! The amps I had in
my system to listen to for several days prior to the
Prometheus were the D'Agostino Momentum monoblocks. No
way I could afford five of those! I had a good comparison
to make my decision.
Hi Statman, which dealer did you work with during your successful Prometheous quest?

Saluti, GUido
Statman, if money was no object, would you prefer the Thetas vs. the D'agostino Momentum? I have read the latter has a veil over the sound compared to the more transparent amps...

Yyzsantabarbara hi.

The Kef Blade II are hard but not too hard a load to drive at 87db and 3ohm min right across the low to mid bass. And there are no nasty - phase angles to worry about.

So a very good 4ohm capable amp would do, I myself would be looking at Pass Labs XA class of amps.

I do not think class D has come of age yet, as the switching frequency technology is not yet high enough.

Another amp worth looking at is the Parasound Halo JC1 mono-blocks in their higher Class A mode that's switchable on the back, I listened to these on a pair of Wilson Alexia's, a real evil load (.8ohm epdr), and they sounded great with this amp.

Cheers George