Bryston or Aragon

It's apples and oranges. With those components, he will enjoy either one as long as the amp doesn't have issues in the near future. Most people just getting into audio have a low threshold for fixing gear.

If you have the money, for fun and a learning opportunity for both of you, buy both. Try them out and sell off the one you don't love.

A while back, I did something like that with two amps. One had lower power and no power protection circuit, but sounded sweeter than the more powerful amp. I went with the more powerful amp thinking that's what I needed. It may have been better to keep the sweeter sounding amp. It was a little more lively in presentation.

Don't get your son to bogged down in comparison's like this. At the very least, buy the amp that is in better condition, and he'll be happy.

Focusing on specs is like only looking at a person's resume. You could easily miss hiring the wrong person. That's my wisdom of the week ...

I've never been a big fan of Bryston amps and I have tried a few. They lack ultimate transparency coupled with a slightly truncated sound-stage. Just my observations when making comparisons to other amps. I do like the Aragon amps, (getting most right) even though they sound a bit sterile (can be off-set) with a warmer sounding tube preamp.

After reading your post to go for the Bryston I have to say that it is a better choice then the Aragon 8008 which I did not like when compared with the earlier models the 2004 MK II and the 4004 MKII.