What pre to use with Vons and Bryston 2B-SST?

I feel the BAT and the Bryston have incredible synergy, the Bryston really came in to its own with that pre. I couldnt be happier...period.

thank you all for the suggestions. My dealer sells BAT products so i might end up going that route. The Rogue stuff looks like fun as well. I should of stated that it must have a remote control option. What can i say im lazy.
justin

Thanks Drew,

I am actually going to demo a BAT Vk300xSE soon. Im going to try it as a pre with the Bryston to see how it sounds with a tube pre. As well as listen to it as a whole. i agree with you on the uninvolving aspect of what im hearing. I would say my gear sounds good and neutral but it just dosent grab and pull me into the music. I couldnt determine if it was the bryston or if it was the PS Audio PCA-2 pre amp i am using. With the BAT in my system it should definately clear some things up. I will let you know what i find out. thanks

12inchwoofer-

do you have any recommendations? i bought the bryston from my dealer, i like his ear and his recommendations have been very good. I think the problem is the PS Audio pre but i wont know till i put the BAT in and determine what really is the piece that needs to go.i should note that he didnt recommend the PS pre, he is jsut letting me use it. I am embarrased about the room i have my gear in but that will change in a few months. i know that sitting in the nearfield is definetly brightening things up but i have no other choice. any advice is appreciated.

Well i cant comment on either of those pres but when i was using the PS Audio PCA2 pre the sound was like you described. Dry and uninvolving were words i used often to describe what i was hearing. Im totally in love with my BAT right now, it just fits my preferences so well. my bass response is definelty lacking the punch of the solid state pre but its worth the tradeoff for the rest of the spectrum. Maybe a BAT will work for him?

i have tried a few things that you had mentioned. my speakers are now more toed in then in the pics. my audio room is doubling as a bedroom so there is no room to play with. i have everything set up as good as it can get. I have a decent selection of interconnects that i have been switching (MIT and Transparent) but im trying to make the "recipe" better with spices when its the ingredients that need changing i.e. amp or pre. As i said before will be moving farely soon so im not going to worry too much about treatments until im in the new place. then i will get my dealer to set up my speakers. and tweak everything with room treatments. i think that will be money well spent. I definetly know my ear and waht i want in terms of sound so its just finding what works. the power in this place is terrible so my upc200hb isnt going anywhere. thanks for the advice and i will let you know what i find out after i try the BAT.

12inchwoofer and Drew_w

I am demoing the BAT currently and it has shown me that the Bryston needs to go. Its just to neutral for me. After hearing the BAT i believe i will be going with a tube integrated amp. Maybe a Pathos or a Cary or somthing else. Any suggestions? I tried the BAT as a pre hooked up to the Bryston and it was worlds better than the PS. I attribute that to the tube linestage. The BAT is very good sounding but still not warm enough for me, plus it carries a hefty price tag(for me anyway). Thanks for the input everybody, Justin

Cford- I will add that to the list of considerations

12inchwoofer-Im sure i could find a tube pre that would add the warmth i want but i can recoup some money with the sale of a pair of interconnects if i go with an int. Plus i dont have to find the all important synergy between components. i wouldnt call the BAT a warm piece of gear either just that its not bright and that it was warmer than the PS/Bryston combo. i was intially really impressed with the Bryston, the power from that little amp was amazing. My low end from the vons went from so-so to wow. Just the more i listend the more i realized how much i like a colored sound. i will keep you posted on my quest. thanks

I really enjoy my e30. She needs some TLC but still puts a smile on my face in the twisties. Did you go with a newer bimmer? im postive i will find "my" sound, im enjoying the hunt so i really have no complaints. justin

thats too bad, any bimmer in the future?

Well i listened to some preamps yesterday, Musical Fidelity, Linn and a Rogue 99. I am certain that i need a tube pre. The solid state pres just lacked the sweetness i love. The more i think about integrated amps the more im torn, with seperates i leave myself room for upgrading. so i think that the Bryston might stay after all but we will see.

thanks Tvad for your suggestions.

Well i decided on a stand alone pre amp after all. I went with the BAT Vk-3iX w/ remote and couldnt be happier. The addition of this piece has brought my music to another level. This piece has been the most and i dont use this term loosesely here the most enjoyable addition. Everytime i listen im getting that sh*t eating grin on my face. So thanks to all that posted for your recommendations, thoughts and opinions.

I havent had the chance to listen to a BAT amp yet but will hopefully soon. Im sure that once i hear one i will be drooling. Im really impressed with BATs sonics. As of now though i am beyond satisified with what i hear, plus adding a BAT amp would require a couple more thousand dollars out of my pocket which could be better spent in other areas of my system i.e. analog. Now your partner, is he using a tube amp or a SS one? and is this person on the 'gon? i havent heard a SET system but ive read its magical. thanks for the post