2. amps-preamps
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PRE and AMPS same brand ? or different brand?

Is it better to buy let's say a Bryston pre amp and Bryston's amps than to mix companies like using a Classe pre and a bryston amp ?
I've heard few people in here talking about special synergy going in between same company products... i can easily think that a certain company designs all their products to be used together and work well together so this could in fact enhanced the sound reproduction quality of the equipment if they are all matched..

isn't that what people call a balanced system ?
what some are really trying to achieve, to have a system that works all well together ?
so it would be just simpler to listen, choose a company from wich u like the sound, and then buy the products line ?

i would like to have comments on that please..

thank you :)

Jin
jinmtvt
sugarbrie
3,854 posts
 
I think it is a good place to start for the reasons stated. My system started out that way as far as the preamp and power amp, but now is different. The amp was changed. After the change I found it interesting that I discovered others have the same brand preamp and power amp combination.
I had a Conrad Johnson preamp with one of their solid state power amps. Now I have a Blue Circle solid state power amp. Better combination for my system. It should be noted that Blue Circle's preamps are also tube that go with the solid state amps.
mgottlieb
334 posts
 
Even at the very top of the market, it seems that manufacturers, while they always claim to be shooting for "neutrality"-- and may in fact be doing so-- nevertheless design to perfect their "house sound." The result can frequently be too much of a good thing, and it always seems that after I have fallen in love with one company's components, and have a full suite of them, substituting one of someone else's line somehow contributes something that was missing, if it is a comparable product. If nothing else, it keeps the high end in funds.
jinmtvt OP
58 posts
 
So i should do as i wanted to and start with all bryston components then ..

the only problem i have there is the $$$
used bryston amplifiers are ok on the price factor..
but i wanted to setup a small home theater system..and they only offer one pre/processor that is really out of my price range for this kind of components ( SP1 wich seem to be a really nice product combinning bp25 annalog and new dts circuitry )

should i get 2* bryston 2B briged in mono ( 200 W @8ohms)
or get a bryston 3B ( 125W * 2 i think ) ??

i would like to get a nice 4B ST but this is also out of price for me even in used sales..

thanks for the inputs neway :)
bob_bundus
1,834 posts
 
Jin just get started with whatever you can reasonably afford, & experiment with synergy later on as the budget allows. I've seen this work both ways so you never know, but if you wait & wait until it's completely affordable then the stuff may even be obsoleted by then? Regarding bridging, I suggest against doing that simply because damping factor degrades by half when you bridge an amp, so degraded control of the speaker by the amp is inevietable.
One approach that many of us take in order to balance out a system is to tune it with cabling & tweaks. This includes interconnects, speaker cables, upgrade AC cords, vibration control & isolation products, tube rolling (if tubes are in the picture), AC power conditioning, even your listening room itself.
perfectimage
406 posts
 
First of all I would say if you had to decide over a nice amp or preamp to start I would go with the nice preamp. Especially if it is for home theater. The preamp is the heart of your system and it actualy amplifies the signal (percentage wise) more then your amplifier.

Amplifiers are also much more adaptable to upgrades. You can start with one and then later add a second one and bridge them or bi amp them. You can also move them around. Get a better amp down the road and put the old one on the rear channel.

Dont get overwelmed by synergy and enjoy the learning and tweeking of components. Audio Nirvana is an endless journey and its the journey itself that is the fun.
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