Rega Brio R vs Wyred or Bel Canto

smart man. i think the surest path to audio bliss is to assemble a system you like well enough and then never look at an audio magazine or forum again. my only real problem with the vandersteens is that they occupy the living room like twin monoliths and are so good that they warrant better amplification/sources/cables. and that is when i start to go down the rabbit hole. they sounded superb with my doge/hibachi combo, but my need to simplify without shortchanging the vandersteens has me looking at a $2200 integrated. right now, i'm pretty attracted to the idea of selling everything, replacing it with an all rega system. i used to have the brio3/apollo and was contemplating going all rega when i got sidetracked into separates. i miss the simplicity and system synergy goes a long way. i'll be setting up the rega system audition around the same time as the rogue/vandersteen audition. by the end of january, a decison will be reached, this will be a dead topic, and i will be off the upgrade path until my income increases. enjoy your harbeths and your music!

Thanks for this post!

I have been going back and forth between these three amps and I am have a hard time deciding. I keep coming back to the Brio though.

The only other one I am considering is the Underwood HiFi modded Music Hall 15.2.

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?intatran&1330130782&/Music-Hall-A15.2-L-1

I like the fact that the Music Hall has pre outs and a bit more power. I want to buy one amp that will work for me for a long time and the Music Hall has a few more options. No reviews on this amp though.

The Brio gets great reviews though and I like the small size.

while they can be extremely helpful, reviews aren't everything. especially since you're considering a modified product. i suppose there's no way to audition the modded music hall, so it might help if you posted a thread asking for feedback on that particular amplifier. someone who has owned it is bound to respond with an opinion, positive or negative, based on their experience with the product. like reviews, their opinions aren't everything, but it'll give you a frame of reference before making the investment.

if no one responds, you might think twice before purchasing. just be sure to provide some context when you post your question, like speakers and source components to be used, room dimensions, listening position, etc.

i've never heard the music hall, so can't say one way or another, but i can tell you that i really loved my brio 3, and would have kept it longer had i not bought speakers that demanded more power to fill the space they were in.

I auditioned the vandersteens a few years back against the Gallo and Quad (small floorstanders forget the model #) and loved the vandersteens but they just wouldnt fit in the room. still regret that i couldnt make that purchase. I would concentrate on amplifaicationif u like those speakers . u would need to spend alot more to significantly improve on those.

Anonymoustao - I'm also a Vandy fan, but definitely look into Harbeths - a lot of guys end their upgrade search with these speakers - I have some P3's and I love 'em.