2. amps-preamps
  3. 137352-20132

Bryston 4b3 or BHK 250- how woudl you compare them?

I have posted a couple of times as I am looking for new amplification to replace my Mcintosh MA7000 integrated but that I am running only as am amp with a Prima Luna premium pre-amp (this already was a big improvement).

The system sounds v good but I know I am missing some detail and I would like to get more depth to the sound stage in order to have a sense that I can "look into" the performance.

I have heard the 7B3 monoblocks and was very impressed- that said I was going fback and forth between these and Mcintosh 275 VI and I did find the Mcintosh more involving but just slightly less revealing.   You can see the write up I posted a while back.  Ultimately, if I were to chose I would go for the Macs- but alas both these and the Brystons are more than I'd like to spend.

So I started thinking about the Bryston 4B3 and BHK 250- they are at the same price point so I am curious if anyone can give me sense of the differences and their preferences, if any.

I would be using the Prima Luna as preamp and I am running Magico S1 Mk1- as i said I am hoping to get more depth and detail.  And I heard these speakers do that beautifully but I do not remember the setting and ancillaries- it was while back.   In the current set up I am almost there on detail and airiness (inserting the Prima Luna was a big upgrade) but the soundstage could use more depth in placing the performers in a 3 dimensional space separated from the speakers.  Lateral imaging is v good.

There is also Pass Labs 150.8 for sale and I am intrigued by that as well- power should be adequate but probably not much more than that as Magico's do tend require a good amount of power to be driven appropriately.

Your advice would be greatly appreciated- thanks as always!
pgastone
dweller's avatar
dweller
3,781 posts
 
I'm a first-time Bryston 4B3 owner (about six months) and recommend it without reservation.
ddafoe
243 posts
 
The Pass 150.8 is a nice match and is likely 'adequate' power wise as you say, depending on your room size and volume tastes.   I used a 250.8 with S1 Mk1s for ~ 3 years and thought the pair worked well together.   I never got the needle on the 250.8 front dial to move playing the Magicos in the mid 80dBC range (in my 12x17 room).  The Pass's slightly warm character was a benefit with the S1s.
jafant's avatar
jafant
19,602 posts
 
dweller
I am considering the 4B3 as well. What other gear is in your system?
Happy Listening!
caphill
674 posts
 
The PS Audio BHK 250, Pass 150.8, Bryston 4B3 are all great amps and received very good reviews.
They will have different sonic characters and are of course system dependents.
You will have to try them out in your setup and system using your own speakers, preamp, front end source components, cables, etc to see which you will like best.

And there are other countless options out there as well. I would also look at Mark Levinson, Constellation, CH Precision, Soulution, Audionet, MBL, Tidal, Chords, Burmester, T&A, Boulder, Vitus Audio, Berkeley Audio Design, Gryphon. 
CH Precision usually pair well with Magico but not sure its synergy with your Primaluna preamp. It will probably sound awesome.

Vitus Audio makes very natural organic or analog sounding gears and I highly recommend them to you.

T&A makes phenomenal gears and I would highly recommend them to you to give them a listen in your own setup and system and see how it will sound on your setup and system.

I forgot the Classe Delta CAM 300 or CAM 600 monoblock amps as well as the CA-2300 stereo amp. These amps are class AB and were discontinued last year and can be had at discounts if you can find a used one. The Classe Omega amps, which are class A design, are even better but older and been discontinued a while ago and if you can find a used one. They make great sounding amps and might pair well in your setup and system.

Dan D’Agostino Progression amps, which is his lower end series amps, are spectacular too If you can’t afford the Momentum series amps, which cost quite a bit more than the Progression series amps but better.

Audio Research will also pair well with your Magico speakers and Primaluna preamp. I highly recommend Audio Research especially their Reference series line if you can afford it.
I have the ARC Reference 10 phonostage preamp in my setup and is phenomenal. I also had the ARC Reference 10 linestage preamp until I've upgraded to the Naim Statement linestage preamp and monoblock amps recently. I was using the ARC Ref 10 linestage with 2 pairs of D'Agostino Momentum M400 monoblock amps previously. But the Naim Statement gears (preamp + monoblock amps) are quite a bit better but cost lot more.
My speakers are Magico M6.

More to discover