What @larryi said that's great advice. Also putting a good tubed preamp in front of the Bryston you have could reap some benefits.
What Power Amplifier Should I Buy?
I am looking to increase my system power. I currently am using a Bryston 2.5B cubed, which is specified at 135 Watts/CH. I am using Revel f208 speakers crossed over at 120 Hz to a 15" HSU sub. The f208 speakers have 88.5 dB sensitivity (Amir measured 88-89dB SPL at 1W into 8 ohms). I sit about 7.5 feet away from the speakers and listen up to 92 dB SPL, but mostly stay between 80-90 dB SPL at my listenin g location.
I have not had power issues. I've never seen a clipping light. I just want more oomph. I've never had a power amp with more power than the 2.5B cubed.
My budget is about $5K. I have been looking at some used 4b cubed amps.
My preamp is a vintage ML No. 38s. Digital from Bryston BDP-3/BDA-3 combo. Analog using Koetsu RS and Shelter 901 cartridges into an SUT (20x) followed by a very vintage Paragon System E used as a phono preamp (I have fully repaired this preamp, particularly the power supply).
I like the sound of the 2.5B cubed. I had a Cary 120 tube amp for some time, but grew tired of the heat and the continuous maintenance, including the insane prices for tubes. I did not experince that great "tube sound" that others rave about. I sold the Cary and went back to the 2.5B cubed.
Will the 4B cubed disappoint?
What other amps should I consifder, new or used?
Thanks for your help!
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@kevemaher Wrote:
In my experience, a second subwoofer improved transient response in the bass and the sound stage became wider, bass notes became more delineated. Depth of image slightly improved. See here and here Mike |
Wow! So many great ideas. I appreciate how these posts have recommended changes to other components, so much so that I thought I would discuss my system in a bit more detail. The Paragon System E is used as a Phono pre only. It creates a beautiful bloom in the upper bass/ lower mids. Sometimes this works, other times not too much. I have other phono preamps I switch in from time to time. I tried a Pass XP-12 preamp earlier this year. It was not a good experience. There was a lot of sibilance, no matter what I tried, even with a tube power amp. I did not enjoy the ergonomics, especially the grainy volume adjustment. I sent it back to the factory where Pass replaced the gain modules, but the sibilance remains. I sold it. I've tried some vintage preamps, such as the APt/Holman Preamps 1 and 2 and a 10 year old NAD. The lack of a remote (not the NAD), takes a bit of the fun away, although the APT preamps sound very good. I refurbished both with new caps. I use a graphic EQ (dBx). I'd rather not have to use it, but need more room mode control than the passive absorbers can provide. I've experimented with analog parametrics, but found them very difficult to adjust. I've tried the miniDSP Flex, but I was underwhelmed. I'm able to do just as well with the GEQ. And the Flex has no control in the time domain (impulse response, group delay, etc...). I need Dirac for that. The Bryston music server and D/A sound great. I'm very pleased. My crossover is a Sublime Acoustic K231. This is a modern XO. I've tried XO frequencies from 75 Hz to 200 Hz. At 120 Hz, I get some help from room modes that are more apparent than with the sub. I have run the f208s full range, but was/am concerned about clipping the amp. This is one place where I need to continue experimenting. The Revel f208 speakers are a keeper. They are the best sounding speakers I've ever had. I need to find an amp that will drive them well instead of getting more efficient speakers. My main reason for getting a more powerful amp is to provide more headroom (which is why I use a sub). Perhaps I don't need more power. This thought has occurred to me. I could spend the money on something else. To summarise, I feel very good about the sound from my system. However, I am always on the lookout for something else (better or just different?). I need to update my system pics and description. I've changed a lot of components since the last photos. I am still open to changing the preamp. I have already tried Pass, so that's out. This continues to be a very informative discussion for me. Thanks for your participation! |
I liked the PS AUDIO BK250 as well. Like it so much I bought another and now vertically biamp. It imparts of bit of tube sound, but has a solid state output stage. I find it to be a nice compromise. I have the F208s but they are not hooked up to the BHK 250. Nice speakers though. I should try it sometime with the BHK 250. I was using a benchmark and I feel like the speakers had a lot more to offer then the electronics I had paired with them could extract. |
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