Bryston VS Musical Fidelity

I don't know what slow means. If it means instrument get fuzzy and blurred and blend into each other, then I did not hear this in my system when using the 4B SST or 14B SST. I know my 14B SST imaged like crazy and threw an expansive soundstage. When the dog barks behind my right ear, and the telephone rings behind me during Roger Waters' "Amused to Death", I know the amp is doing something right. The VAC throws an expansive soundstage in the zero global feedback mode, but it loses bass and sounds unbalanced toward the highs. The VAC regains the balance and bass when run with global feedback, but it loses its soundstaging width. The VAC has no serrated knife edge in the highs like I occasionally experienced with the Bryston.

But, this is not a Bryston vs. VAC thread. Greg_lett, is asking for comparisons between the 4B SST and A5. While I have never heard the A5, I have heard two Bryston SST series amps, and I have absolutely no reservations suggesting buying a used 4B SST and trying it in one's own system. The re-sale is rock solid, and you just can't get hurt in the wallet, making the experiment completely worthwhile, IMO.

As an alternative to the Bryston, you might seriously look into the $1600/pair NuForce Reference 8 mono amplifiers.

Hey Greg - Do you have a chance to go to any shop that has both of these, or alternately, two shops that have the same speakers. Where are you?
So far we've got bright, slow, neutral, lacking in detail and detailed.
May I suggest you start another thread - B&W CDM7SE - what amps are you using. Maybe some others have already been where you've been.

I am going to be auditioning a pair of the nuforce in mid may. I am hoping they will do well in my system

Snofun,

I've heard the Bryston 3BSST and 4BSST with Paradugn S4 speakers. The 3B was not very good with the speaker
it just did not make the speaker come alive. To me the
3B, sounded alot like the Rotel RB-1080. The 4B was much
better it made the speaker come alive.

The dealers in my area NYC don't have both, so I have not
been able to compare. I've heard the 4B with Paradigm as
mentioned above, and I've heard MF with Audio Physic speakers. I've only been able to audition Rotel and B&W.

The Rotel B&W combination is good. I actually had the
new RB-1080 amp and the Paradigm S2. I sold them to buy the RB-1090 and B&W N804 but something came up, so I borrowed my cousins two old 120W rotels and purchased the CDM7SE used.
Using the two Rotels in a Bi-amp configuratio is wta got me
interested into looking at the Bryston and MF. There is more
debth to the music when I bi-amp. My next speaker will be
the N804 (used) or a Paradigm Studio 100. I have to stay
within the 2K range (baby formula and pampers dictate that).

I was even thinking over the last few days, to just forget
about Bryston, and MF and get two RB-1080 Rotels and call
it a day. The price of the Rotels is great. I can get them
for $900 each. What do you think?

I think if you're considering spending $1800 you should watch the classifieds for a used Brytson 4B SST, which you should be able to buy around $2000, or you should try a pair of NuForce Reference 8B monos ($1600/pair). The NuForce go loud without distortion. Don't let the 100wpc power rating fool you.

Why do I suggest these options? Because with the Bryston, you will be able to re-sell it for what you paid. I did, and you can do the same. You'll have had the opportunity to hear it in your personal system vs. a dealer's showroom. Concerning the NuForce, the same theory applies, except with the NuForce you'll be able to return them within 30 days for a refund (minus shipping...6 pounds...big deal). I can think of no better way of trying two amps in your own system with less risk.

You will not be able to buy Rotal amps and re-sell them down the road at the same price. So, if you buy Rotel...and you certainly should if they provide the sound you want...plan to keep them, or be willing to accept the price depreciation.