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Bryston, McIntosh, Krell or Mark Levinson

Greetings Audiogoners, 
I know that these speakers have been discussed ad nauseam here.  But I'm overwhelmed with information.  I'm searching for a used amp for my Thiel CS2.3.  The following are my top choices:  Bryston 7B SST, Mark Levinson No. 331, and McIntosh MC352.  Which one would you recommend?  Is the Bryston too powerful for my speakers?  Secondly, I'm considering a Bryston 4B for my Thiel SCS 3 center channel speaker.  Is the 4B too powerful for it? Finally, I found some Sonics brand amps, which are said to be Brystons in disguise.  Do you advise purchasing them?  

I don't like to listen at loud volume, but I do sometimes.  For the most part, I like good, clean, detailed music.  Please advise on the above, and I welcome any suggestions.   

Thanks. 
w-j
oldhvymec
5,101 posts
 
fuzztone, I thought that until I herd a stack of Emotiva amps powering a set of VERY rare Strathearn speakers. I’ve NEVER herd anything sound that bad, when I knew it could sound so good. :-)

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I’m with E, Parasound for the money and the SQ.

It’s not that I’m not a fan of Bryston, I’m just not that familiar with it.

Mac SS is by the unit, there is no house sound with Mac SS power amps.

Add the wrong preamp, syrup comes to mind. Get the right preamp it’s a great amp.

ML, been there done that.. They always left me with more questions than answers. They could make a large panel sound so good and yet a small planar system you want to claw your own eyes and ears out.. Weird!

Regards
ejr1953
917 posts
 
It's been a while since I auditioned Thiel speakers and the one's I listened to may not have been the exact model you are looking to pair with an amplifier, but I remember how the highs produced by the one's I listened to were very detailed and with some of the amps at the showroom I did the audition at, to me they sounded a bit too bright.  With the list of amps in your posting, I'd say the McIntosh is the one with the smoothest high end.
As for amplifier power output, I agree with what has been stated here, you can't have too much, but you certainly can have not enough.
arcticdeth's avatar
arcticdeth
1,572 posts
 
Bryston monos’ and don’t look back!
those are top tier amplifiers, and will last you longer than those other brands!

  Bryston!

end of thread!
fiesta75
1,378 posts
 
+1 fuzztone - Never too much only to little.
+1 for Bryston, you need to compare.
thosb's avatar
thosb
204 posts
 
I have the same speakers, and on my list of amps to consider are Ayre, Parasound A21 or 21+, and Benchmark (if I recall Tom Thiel uses these as a reference for his Thiel hot rodding projects).  Currently I run a Krell 350il coupled with a tube preamp and it sounds pretty darn good for the price, more musically immersive is a BAT VK55 so do consider tubes as well!  BTW I hate it when posters add to the list of options rather than help narrow it down, so my apologies for doing this to you!
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