Bryston or Classe

IMHO, Classe. I feel Classe should be compared with the top brands. I would class Bryston with the Acurus, Aragon, Sunfire and McCormick products. I have a full line of Classe products and feel they spare no expense when it comes to audiophile quality manufacturing. Their sound to me is rich and lifelike. Their "real world" pricing puts them in a class by themselves too. Depending on what you listen to, I can tell you that you will find their products warm but with a dead quiet background. My friend has a Krell intergrated amp with a CD player (Krell). He came over to my house with a CD by Lalo Schifrin . We both have the same pair of speakers, but he noticed he could hear more detail. The odd cough from the audiance, finger tips playing the claranet and there was more depth from my Classe units. How could that be from a company that makes warm tube like products? Great engineering. I know you are comparing the Classe to Bryston, also I have never heard the Bryston products, but I can tell you this...You won't be dissapointed if you go with the Classe. Not endorsing them and don't work for them.
Bob.

I own a Bryston BP-25, and it is an excellent product. Sonically, it is very smooth, yet detailed, with absolute silent operation. Lots of air around instruments, wide soundstage, nice imaging. It is solidly built with useful features. 25 year warranty is certainly a plus, but you'll probably never need it. If you do, service is excellent. I broke one of the balanced output jacks (don't ask--it was dumb), and they had the repaired unit back to me in one week, total time.

I was looking at the new Bryston pre-amps (I used to own an old 0.5b) and the Classe, but in the end I went with the Musical Fidelity A3cr pre-amp. It's only $1500 or so new, but it compares really favaorably with any of these other units. It offers amazing quiet, phenomenal detail and imaging, and a beautiful warmth. You should check out the Wes Philips review on Soundstage.com. I was actually not very happy with the Classe units I heard. From everyone I have spoken to they are love 'em or hate 'em units, so if you go that way make sure you hear one first. The Bryston BP-25 is excellent, but a little colder than the A3cr and no quieter or more detailed. If you need home theatre though, the SP-1 is a very fine unit.

Bryston has a punchier house sound. Classe's is more delicate. You seem to like hearing the details, which would suggest the Classe. However, a Bryston preamp might provide some synergistic benefits paired with your 4Bst. Also, you may lose much of a Classe preamp's delicacy after passing through the 4Bst. Recommend borrowing both and trying through your system.

For 2ch listening just upgrade the receiver to the Bryston SP-1. It is great for 2ch listening and functions as a home theater processor. It is upgradable and has their same 20 year warranty. I don't agree with placing the Bryston in the same class as Acurus. I own an Acurus amp also, and the Bryston blows it away.