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Best Value in Used Bryston Amps and Monoblocks

As a long time fan of Magnepan's, I have always wanted to try Bryston amps, especially their monoblocks which are rumoured to be a very good match for my speakers, and have also been recommended by Magneplanar over the years, albeit off the record.

What I can't figure out, however, is the logic to the Bryston product line, where there is value in the used market, or which version or vintage I might buy for a reasonable price.

I can't tell which ones are monoblocks vs single chassis stereo amps, I don't care about "THX" designations or multi channel and I don't know what "SST" means.

From time to time, I will see a SINGLE monoblock for sale, which I keep in mind for my next mono system, or perhaps when I want a mismatched, high powered center channel.

I find weird ads which supposedly have brand new, never opened, but 5 years old "NOS" (new old stock) which I suppose were obtained through a time machine or recovered from a sunken ship in perfect shape.

Then I find ads for what look like basically new ones, which are suprisingly expensive, or battle scarred old amps with faceplates so scratched they look like they were traded in a drug deal and ended up in a pawn shop.

I read good things about Bryston's customer service, but every time I have reached out to them to try and better understand this, I get more than a whiff of we really don't care if you buy our products or not attitude, despite the fact that there is no dealer in my area.

So in summary, can someone please explain the history of these amps, which ones sound best, and what vintage might represent the best value in today's market?

I don't have a set budget, but thinking I would sell my Levinson 23.5 for $2-2500, so < $3K would be great.

Thank you,

cwlondon
cwlondon
raquel
841 posts
 
Putting together a system with the equipment choices used by the manufacturer of a key component in a system (here, the speakers) certainly makes sense - I do it myself - but there is a lot to a manufacturer's choice, and in many cases, they choose moderately priced ancillaries in order to make their gear seem more accessible. It would be upending the order of the universe if Bryston turned out to be the absolute best performance choice for Maggies (or any other system).

I stand by my other point, namely, that high-powered solid-state amps which use feedback (the vast majority of high-powered SS amps do) are to be avoided where possible.
blindjim
3,092 posts
 
A good while back, it seemed in vogue to use BAT SS for panels. Maggies included. I heard from more than a few owners they loved that Combination.

so perhaps Bryston isn't the only answer... or even the optimum one, given the subjectivity of various amp & speaker configurations.

The only true given fact for panels is that they can eat up some power.
macdadtexas
1,794 posts
 
Jim is right in that there is not one answer for this or any question (with the notable exception of course that after the first level of upgrade power cables have zero effect on sound, ahhh, but I digress), I love Bryston amps with Maggies, but I don't own them anymore.

I like my Cary CAD 500 MB's better than the Brytson 7 Bsst that I had. I actually like the Innersound ESL better than the Bryston as well.

But they all sounded pretty darn good is the point, as did the Parasound JC-1's, lots of good amps out there. I wouldn't say one was the best, but you can have a favorite.

BTW, I heard some 3.6r's at our local dealer recently, and he had them hooked up to some Krell's, and man, that was some GREAT sound, very deep bass from Maggies, sans sub. But, he has optimal placement and room treatment, so that helps.

Anyway, good luck with the amps, you can't go wrong with Brystons, or about 10 others that I can think of for Maggies, great speakers, I'm a big fan!
sthomas12321
408 posts
 
I would like to have tried the original 4b amp on the magnepan 1.6's I had. Would have been interesting.

My favorite Bryston amps, were the sst and then originals, which were a different animal(punchy).
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