Sound shaping recommendation with Bryston 4BSST

Tvad,
Noticed the same with my Arcam 9 CDP/BP20/3BST/B&W N803 combination. I replaced the BP20 with a tube pre and was pleasntly surprised by the difference. The highs lost the "edgy-ness" and the imaging improved.

Ltkije,

Which tube pre did you go with and what others did you consider before you purchased it?

Personally, I tried the 4bST, and couldn't take it for more than 20 minutes. Way to bright to my ears. IMHO, Bryston is way too bright, and that is what is bothering you. A different pre amp may help.

If you have any silver in your interconnects or speaker cable try something else... Cardas or anything else before changing the hardware. Also put you Preamp on some sorbothane footers or vibrapods. Do the same for you CD player.

Bryston can be percieved as bright to certain ears. I've been through a few tube preamps and the best one by far for my Bryston gear, or any other amp for that matter is, Copland CTA 301 MKII with NOS Telefunken CCA tubes, blew away my Bryston BP25. Can be had on the used market for $1200us, its exactly what you are looking for. Coplands new CTA 305 is supposed to be even better, and can be had for $2300 new, but I havnt heard it yet. The Audible Illusions 3a preamp is pretty good also, but the Copland more transparent and refined. Do a discussion search on Copland
dudeaudio