jayant
Many Thanks for the recount of your visit with Michael Burns, and of your impression of the Bryston 4Bc amplifier. It correlates with the views of other individuals whom I trust in the music reproduction arena. I don't have unlimited resources, so springing for the 4Bc is not a trivial expense. I've been living with my 4BSST2 for some years, and I guess that familiarity might have influenced my "hearing"concepts. I guess I'm ready to take the plunge and retire the 4BSST2 for a new 4Bc.
I listen to classical music almost exclusively - - symphonies, chorales, concertos, operas, string trios/quartets and organ. I'm not a bass addict, but want it reproduced in context of what's in the score and has been recorded.
I was able to get a BP-26 and power supply, as I'm putting together a system for my son. So, Ive had the opportunity to directly compare the 26 and the 17c for about a month. I've listened to both preamps in my system and, all things considered, now prefer the 17c over the 26. IMO, the 17 doesn't have the somewhat pronounced mid-bass of the 26, and it has a much clearer and smoother treble - - especially with tenor, alto and soprano voices. It's also is less "dense" in the mid and lower ranges. The sources of the music for this evaluation were my CDs, played on a Bryston BCD-3 spinner, through my 2.7 speakers, driven by the 4BST2. Also,I've listened to both preamps with my STAX Lambda Pro headphones.
I'm certainly not in a position to judge the noise floors on each, so I'll depend on the knowledge of others, especially if phono preamps are in the system.
Hope you'll be able to find a CD/SACD spinner that will be what you desire. In the long run, I believe CDs and SACDs will complement streaming as a medium. For simplicity and choice, if for no other reasons.
BTW: My family came from Savanna and Charleston, but migrated to Thomasville. So, now living in Northern Virginia, I'm jealous of your nice Atlanta area weather!
Many Thanks for the recount of your visit with Michael Burns, and of your impression of the Bryston 4Bc amplifier. It correlates with the views of other individuals whom I trust in the music reproduction arena. I don't have unlimited resources, so springing for the 4Bc is not a trivial expense. I've been living with my 4BSST2 for some years, and I guess that familiarity might have influenced my "hearing"concepts. I guess I'm ready to take the plunge and retire the 4BSST2 for a new 4Bc.
I listen to classical music almost exclusively - - symphonies, chorales, concertos, operas, string trios/quartets and organ. I'm not a bass addict, but want it reproduced in context of what's in the score and has been recorded.
I was able to get a BP-26 and power supply, as I'm putting together a system for my son. So, Ive had the opportunity to directly compare the 26 and the 17c for about a month. I've listened to both preamps in my system and, all things considered, now prefer the 17c over the 26. IMO, the 17 doesn't have the somewhat pronounced mid-bass of the 26, and it has a much clearer and smoother treble - - especially with tenor, alto and soprano voices. It's also is less "dense" in the mid and lower ranges. The sources of the music for this evaluation were my CDs, played on a Bryston BCD-3 spinner, through my 2.7 speakers, driven by the 4BST2. Also,I've listened to both preamps with my STAX Lambda Pro headphones.
I'm certainly not in a position to judge the noise floors on each, so I'll depend on the knowledge of others, especially if phono preamps are in the system.
Hope you'll be able to find a CD/SACD spinner that will be what you desire. In the long run, I believe CDs and SACDs will complement streaming as a medium. For simplicity and choice, if for no other reasons.
BTW: My family came from Savanna and Charleston, but migrated to Thomasville. So, now living in Northern Virginia, I'm jealous of your nice Atlanta area weather!