2. amps-preamps
  3. 187527-167141

Keep my 1996 bryston 4B or get a new 4B

I have a Bryston 4B I bought new in 1996 and it still works wonderfully. I been thinking of buying a brand new Bryston 4B dose it pay to spend 8500 on one and will I gain better sound then I an currently getting. I have upgraded the rest of my system in the last 2 years from a pair of dynaudio special forty speakers a rel s510 sub a rouge rp7 preamp a pro ject tubebox ds3b phono preamp and a new cocktail audio x45 streamer along with my linn turntabel. And all new pure silver audio cabels. Would I gain anything in the sound quality by replacing my amp for a new current model or would I do better to spend the money to up grade and improve my lp12 turntabel. Thank-you Michael. 

mal11963
audioman58's avatar
audioman58
3,913 posts
 

For sure buy a new one ,the capacitors are old and at their end the new design is better in every way.

curiousjim's avatar
curiousjim
4,236 posts
 

Plus 1 for sending it back to Bryston for a look see.  I’m sure replacing the bits that should be replaced will be a lot less than $8500 and your sound should be improved.  Maybe there’s an update/upgrade they can do as well?

All the best.

bigkidz
3,328 posts
 

Don't waste your time sending it back for the same old, same old.  Send it to me for an upgrade.  Better power supply capacitors, better resistors, etc.  It will become a reference level sounding amp.  Bryston won't be soldering in those parts that's for sure!.

bslon's avatar
bslon
2,068 posts
 

I bought a 4BST new in 2000 and had it for 19 trouble free years. In 2019 I traded it in on a 4B3 which sounds noticeably better. I’m not sure how much you’d have to spend on your turntable upgrades to equal that. Or how much to update your 4B, but it will still be a 4B. My 2¢, I think you should go with a new 4B3.

wturkey's avatar
wturkey
737 posts
 

It’s cheaper to keep her. As suggested, do the Bryson refurb thing. If cost be no object, buy the latest and greatest 4B3. When 2050 rolls around, upgrade again to the 4B9 or whatever. A 4 time a century amp upgrade appears to be cheap overall…..

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