Bryston 28 sst's vs Spectron Musician 3 SE ?

Hi Dob,

your post is confusing to me so can you clarify? you wrote "his audition was not at the local dealer"

I believe the word "not" used by you should not be in there but I'm sure you will correct me.

Secondly you said "What is not clear to you????"

Well Dob he said in his thread which everyone can read above dated 07-25-09

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.

and then said in a following thread,

Hello Dev,

I did not say that I auditioned Bryston at LOCAL(!) dealer

This is why I questioned his auditioning methods which I disagreed with.

In the end it does not matter to me which amp he goes with or likes but such statements are misleading to others and you know this is not the way to make proper comparisons.

I could have been asked to clarify my words when I wrote "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"

As far as I'm concerned this is not bad mouthing but factual, I could get into it but why that’s not what this thread is about.

Pretty hard to believe the dealer (local) would not allow a demo of 28 SQ $16k monos in his own place either, humm.

I have nothing against Mike or Spectron and suggesting I'm doing personal attacks or bad mouthing is improper, I'm only informing others and in the end they can do what ever.

As I mentioned prior I would still like to hear Spectron but as per info. gathered from Radicalsteve he tried it with his REF3 which I have and said there was a mismatch.

Hello Dev,

I am in Colorado and I have visited New York about three months ago and I checked there a few hi-end stores (in Manhattan only). I believe that I auditioned Bryston 28 sst at Alto and I could hear clearly some euthonic coloration (artificial warmth) in midrange and touch of "steel" in highs. May be they were not broken-in, I don't know. I did not like them. Sorry.

Mike

Hello,
I do own both Bryston 28B SST Squared and Spectrons MIII MKII with both Bybees and V-Caps upgrades. I operate 2 sets of speaker, Analysis Audio Amphitryons and JM Labs Novas.
Both amps are fantastic sounding on these speakers and if one can measure the sound electronicly the results will be very close to each other.
Bryston physical structure is more stiffer than Spectron.
The only great difference I can hear between these two pcs is that the Spectrons generate a more convincing life like presentation over the Brystons.
I can live with both amps but I will longer with my Spectrons.
One thing I can say for a fact about my system is that the higher power SS amps forces me to relax and play music for many more hours.
Terry

Terry;
Thanks for your comments. I spoke with Simon at Spectron; and he's been very helpful. Also spoke with Bryston; and they are being helpful. I should have my auditions of both started next week; and we'll see how I like them; it sounds from everyone's comments that they are both wonderful pieces; more positive comments on the 'Gon from the Spectron camp; but not sure if that many people own the Bryston's yet. It may be like comparing BMW and Mercedes; both great cars; similiar price points; but different people feel passionatley different about them. In the end; its how they create an emotional and visceral response about the music in my system; with its own peculiar issues of system synergy and make up. I'm looking forward to this process and will post my listening impressions....
Terry; you are the only one who responded who has actually done an in-depth compare/contrast on both of these amps; I'm a bit jeolous; your two systems both seem fantastic; and to be able to own two pair of great amps...good for you; and thanks for sharing your thoughts...

Hi Mribob,

What Terry refers to as " Spectrons generate a more convincing life like presentation over the Brystons." is the feeling you have when you use ultra high class tube amplifier. Not warm, euthonic a la old Conrad Jonston "maple syrop" but very high quality single ended triode amp.

It is not "tube-like" sound many solid state amp producers try to re-create by increasing 2nd harmonic distortion - thinking that we all never attended live music concerts.

As per Simon explanation - their job was in removing all sources of amp contamination and letting muisic to flow "as is".

The reason why I am posting now is to warn you that Spectron amps must be well broken (really about 1000 hours) and since they do not have their own signature (as per Simon) then if your preamp will send something wrong - it will be AMPLIFIED and NOT MASKED. Keep it in mind. You place additional demands on yourt front end components - some people love it, some people hate it.

All The Best in Your Search of Paradise!

Rafael