Bryston 28 sst's vs Spectron Musician 3 SE ?

Dev,

god point about my experience with the Ref3 - which I loved with my SF Power 3's, but I guess there must have been an impedance miss match with the Spectrons. Just to be clear, I would have no problem with the 28's as my permanent solution either - although I never had them in my system, my experience with the 7BSST's was great and interestingly, with my current set up, they might have made the cut as the power amps. Problem is, it is all about system synergy, and that is why buying used gear on the web is probably not the final solution versus demoing a complete system in your room with the back up your local dealer.

I know I have to use the web to buy gear because I don't have a local dealer in the city (Ottawa) who is capable of working with me to get the right system in place. When I lived in Toronto, I bought my gear from a retail dealer who knew more than I did!!

Steve

Hi Mribob

A few months ago, I was looking amplifier for myself. As you I have selected a few amps to test including Bryston and Spectron. I have had opportunity to audition Bryston in the dealer showroom. Very good amplifier but it did not "touch" me.

I bought slightly used Spectron upon condition that if I will not like it in my system I can return it. As a matter of fact, I fall in love with Spectron and more I listen the more I like it. A few days ago, I got another one to run in monoblock modes and I did not realize before how good, how REALISTIC sound can be. I love it.

I am not pushing you on Spectron - different people have different tastes. However, I urge you to test it. Get it (much better monoblocks if you can afford them) ONLY upon condition that if you will not like them then you can return them.

Just be careful, these amps when new are tend to sound a bit mechanical and a few hundred of hours of break-in is really ESSENTIAL.

Somebody mention that he is scared that Spectron will introduce a new version of this amp. I spoke with Simon Thacher, a few weeks ago. He is not the owner, he works in design for a few companies so he does not have particular interest in Spectron only and I, may be wrongly, trust him and I like him. Well, according to him no Mk3 is on horizon and he does not see it in near future. Take it for what its worth

All The Luck in this wonderful process of searching "paradise".

Mike

Forgot to mention, sorry. I have different, very difficult to drive speakers Watt/Puppy 8. Also, before Spectrons I drove them with tube amp - Mackintosh MC2102. Spectrons are CLEARLY better.

Mike

thanks everyone for their responses and ideas...it seems that this indeed makes for an interesting 'shoot out'; and there are people on both camps on this topic; which is good...my dealer is still breaking in his Bryston 28 sst monos; I'm hoping to borrow them for an audition in two weeks; then to hear the Spectrons...I'll post back after I get this done...
at least no one is recommending that I spend even more on the bigger MBL's; or more expensive solid state amps yet..this I think is doable for me in my system...
I'd like to hear thoughts on power cords and cable synergies as well...
Thanks again to everyone who responded...

I disagree with specific auditioning methods, comparing listening at a dealers location and then in your own home, just doesn't add up for me.

It seems that I was addressed regarding Spectron and a new model, firstly I was not "scared" that Spectron will introduce a new bla! bla! You are being very naive if you think this is the last amp and all you have to do is take a look at their past history, need I say more.

If you are going to listen to Bryston 28 SQ mono blocks I would recomend you have them plugged into Torus RM20 conditioners at least, one for each amp if you really want to hear what these can do.

In the end just make sure what ever it is that you are demoing make sure they are well broken-in, compared in your own set-up and enjoy.