Tube pre-amp for Bryston 4BST?

...(nt)

Don't know how that screwed up... Rogue 66 "Magnum version" and while it is now mated with a 4B-SST it worked great with my recently departed 4B-ST.

Turbopay, I was asking the same question a short while ago. I was using a ss preamp with the 4bst and I felt something was missing. The replies to my question were coming back "GO WITH TUBES". Quite a few prefered the Conrad Johnson and Cary over Audio Research.Some like the sound of a 6SN7 tube over the 6922 tube. Not having the cash on hand for a Cary, I looked at AES ( Audio Electronic Supply)which is owned by Cary. I bought the AE-3 used for $400 and this little charm sings. It has point to point wiring so you can tinker with its inerts for the sound you desire. I never imagined that my system could sound so great with a tube preamp.
Kek

Hello,

I was using The VAC Standard Preamplifier and also the Audio Research Reference 1 Preamplifier. The Reference 1 did a nicer job but I changed the Bryston amp to the Audio Research Vt 100 MK II. That made the nicest difference. The Bryston has some harshness especially to the vocals and no matter which preamp was being used the vocals did not sound smooth. The Bryston has more than enough power but I am very happy with the 100 watt VT 100 instead.

I've tried a few preamps with my Bryston 3bst..........Bryston BP25, Bryston SP1, Sim P3, Sim P5, a Marantz pre, some EAD stuff, some Krell stuff, and some other cheap stuff, but the COPLAND 301 MKII blew everything away. More soundstaging and far more detail,presented in a smooth liquid way. So many of my unlistenable CD's are now listenable. The Copland is very synergistic with Bryston gear......more so then...ahem.... Brystons own preamps, which seem to enhance digital glare. The Copland can be bought used on Audiogon for about $1000 used, and is competative with amps costing upwards of $7000us......no kidding! The bonus is you can tube swap and the Copland has a marvelous MM board built in if you want to get into vinnyl.
dudeaudio