Which Amp Would You Buy

than either of those and money in your pocket for something else.

I have to agree with Acuujim on Bel Canto Evo 200.2, seems to give best price/performance for solid state in this price range. May see some good deals on used ones soon since
new BC eVo2 amp is now being sold.

I would suggest cj mf2250 used.

I have done EXTENSIVE listening to both of the amps you are considering, and chose the Bryston 4B-ST. (A friend owns the Aragon 8008, and I auditioned it in my system for over a month with a Bryston 4B-ST.) With my speakers (Vandersteen 3A Signatures with a pair of Vandy 2Wq subs), the Bryston is cleaner, more transparent and extended in the higher frequencies, and a bit more dynamic on transients than the Aragon. It also has prodigious bass-handling capability. (Note that nowhere in this comment have I said the Bryston is bright -- it is NOT. The 4B-ST is just barely on the warm side of neutral, with the 8008 a touch warmer yet.) Combine all this with a 20-year, unconditional, transferrable warranty and arguably the best service support in the industry, and Bryston is a tough act to beat.

With a different speaker combination, and in a different room than mine, I could certainly understand that someone might prefer the Aragon to the Bryston. If at all possible, you should audition both of these amps in your home so you can get an idea of how they work in YOUR system and listening environment.

I had Bryston 4B-st, but I did not like its misty, almost mechanical sound-especially the bass which lacks definition, albeit powerful (one note bass). I also found it to be quite two dimensional sounding lacking dynamics and speed in the midrange. I also tried the Bel Canto Evo and felt it even to be more mechanical and less dimensional than the Bryston (like the soul of the music had been sucked out).

I have not heard the Aragon so I cannot comment on it.

I ended up keeping a Marsh A-400 to drive my Magnepan 1.6s, which is more transparent, has more finesse, and better bass definition than the Bryston. If you do not need a lot of power the Rogue 120 would be the best overall choice, even better than the Marsh, more dynamics, dimensionality, purity and transparency.