Contemplating other amps

Stick with the Bryston. If you buy them right and are not truly happy with the results, you could always sell them for close to what you paid.

Sean's comments on the differences between the amps rings pretty true in my experience. Being in NZ I would be looking at the Plinius Odeon or Plinius SB300. The SB300 is a fabulous buy. It has a little more going on than the Sunfire manages. I would lean towards the Sunfire if I needed something that was both very smooth and could drive difficult speakers to loud levels. But the SB300 offers a window that is wider open. Damn close to the SA250 at a lower price and in a smaller box (just no Class A). The Odeon is ideal for multi-channel but won't give you the raw power of the SB300.

Arthur, we have discusssed a ton of amps so far. From the replies I have read, I am quite confident in the level and accuracy of information my fellow A'goners are providing.

I am curious which amps you have listened to? Instore even. I much prefer home evaluations, but nontheless an instore listening session can go a long way.

As typical I agree with Sean. With your criteria not being so demanding of the details/nuances as it is the volume. I think Sunfire and Bryston are excellent choices. Since your budget has shrunk considerably, you might consider other options as well. You mentioned Aragon in this post as well as Adcom in a previous post. Both are on sale currently at Audioadvisor.com. I apologize for possibly leading you the wrong way with my "truckload of Adcoms" statement in a previous post. I was unaware of your budget change.

Audioadvisor has a big Adcom 5 channel x 300 watts for around $2200.00 I think, and a 7 x 300 for around $2500.00. They have Aragon on a 50% off sale. I have bought a few products from them and was nothing but pleased.

I would add the PS Audio HCA-2 to your list. I have big parties at my home every month or so and have lots of European friends, and that means my 87dB full range speakers blast Techno from 1:00am to 4:00am at dance-club volumes on the make-shift dance floor that once was my listening room. The HCA-2 is the ONLY amp I've owned (among many more expensive amps, some putting out 250-300wpc) that could run at full tilt all night without even breaking a sweat. I'm sure it could handle "real music" and any movie thrown at it at the same levels. It never gets warm, never shuts down, never clips, and all the while sounds highly refined, silky smooth yet impeccabley detailed and bass performance that no amp under $6K I've heard can compete with, at least in my setup. There supposedly is a multichannel version of their digital amp coming out, but haven't been following the specifics.

How weird is this. In head to head listening tonight, with me leaving the room and my freind setting up between the Sunfire Cinema Grand Signature 2 and the Bryston 4BSST and BSST, we both preferred the Sunfire when run through the current (versus voltage) speaker outputs. This was judging on detail of highs, mids and lows, strength/power, and overall soundstage. Just goes to show you no matter what you beleive, read, or are told, your ears will show you the way. Dude, I'm gettin a Sunfire!