Classe or Bryston?

I disagree with the Pro Classe choice. Bryston 7B's will blow away the Classe M700's in every respect. Thats right every respect. If you seriously listen to both and choose the Classe M700's over the Bryston 7B's you should get your ears checked or simply save your money and buy a transistor radio.

Us agressors need to stick together on here. There's far too much politeness going around! I don't have an HT setup, but Krell makes better amps than anybody outside the US, except maybe Burmester. DEFINITELY BETTER THAN ANY COMPANY FROM CANADA!!!

The answer here becomes an issue of what you are looking for. If your objective is for optimum home theater performance the Bryston will wow you and your friends-it is impressive in its ability to create a large enveloping soundstage-but it cannot match the pure musicality of the Classe. I'm using two Classe 151's with Aeriel 6's (cj preamp). Emotionally involving in a way the Bryston cannot reach. I auditioned the Aeriels-cj with the 7BST's in the same room. If you want music- go Classe, if you want great sound effects while watching Hollywood's latest trash- go Bryston.

I'M not into home theater anymore just plain stereo. But I still know it's lame to mix and match channel power and speakers. Don't people know that the most optimal sound quality and refined sound will come from matching everything. every speaker should be the same, all the wires should be the same, and all the amp channels. that way all the the sound comeing from each speaker will be matched and blend harmoniously together. I don't care if the amp is from the same company. If it's not the exact same amp it's going to have different sonics. and maybe the speakers have the same tweeter and woofer but if the enclosure is different than guess what? the overall sound will be different. I'm sure the sytems sound great but they could be so much better. I'm tired of hearing about the great gear people have then finding out how chinnsy they set it up.

And I don't have an HT setup either. Glad to hear that you know how to set up your system. I agree, most 'philes out there don't have anything close to a "correct" setup.