wan8dan

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Price Paid:  $1600.00 from eBay

Summary:
Versatility of 8B-ST is great, especially with switchable mode of operations (bridged or individual) toggle switch on the rear panel. At individual setting, this allows me to configure bi-amping with CHs 1, 2 driving mid/high of Paradigm Studio 100, and CHs 3, 4 driving low side, for music listening. For HT, I can simply hook up HT receiver's front L/R to a bi-amping L/R mode. This is HORIZONTAL BI-AMP configuration, great for imaging and presence.

At bridged mode, this allows me to bridge CH1 & 2 to drive either low end of Paradigm's left speaker, then bridge CH3 & 4 to drive the right speaker. Then I use a 2CH integrated amp to drive mid/high end of speakers. Pre-outs of integrated amp feeds into 8B-ST. This is VERTICAL BI-AMPING configuration, great for loud music since any bass distortion from 8B-ST is isolated from mid/high of the speakers.

This versatility is not found in many other high end multichannel amps: many of which require taking top cover off and manually setting dip switches to accomplish this.

Above all, the sonic and distortion-free performance of this amps, combined with unprecented 20-yr warranty will make Bryston product and company last for a long time!

Strengths:
*Configuration versatility
*Well-built
*Excellent sonic presentation
*Can drive tough speaker loads flawlessly
*Excellent price

Weaknesses:
*No stand-by
*Power push-button
*Cannot support large, standard spade connector

Similar Products Used:
Krell KAV

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
First of all, I would like to describe my speakers so that the review could be easier to read: I have a Cabasse baltic + Cabasse stromboli woofers actively amplified by the Bryston 8B ST. The Cabasse speakers are monitor speakers and I am listening to live performance as soon as possible. But let's come back to the Bryston. Compared to other products I had the opportunity to test in my configuration, It is simply the one which gives me the feeling to listen to live performance. Its bass are very good with this kind of energy that you can feel when playing an instrument (I am also playing djembe) the tonal color of bass frequencies are accurate and the low medium is exactly what it should be (no coloration). As for the medium, I would say that it is rich detailled very dynamic (but the dynamic is well present at all frequencies with this amp)and without artificial romanticism. Last the high frequencies are well articulated with the medium and without any harchness. This amp is in fact exactly doing what professional expect it to do (simply increases the power of a small audio signal to deliver it to speakers without adding anithyng. Subjective power is amazing, probably much more due to the fact that the last watt available is very clean than to fact than basic BRYSTON design delivers 150 W output power(instead of 120 watt output power specification). Nevertheless this product is not the best one for all the configuration. Depending on your set-up it will perform at his best in very neutral combination (dont expect to introduce slight compensation of any default of your system. The power is also to be taken into consideration, I am not sure that the output power is enough for demanding seakers if you like to listen at very high volume (my system is 93.5 dB per watt per meter and is bi amplified (2 X 150 W per channel. To me it is much better than Hafler p 4000, cabasse AS 1000 YBA 2 Delta DT, KRELL KAV 300 i which are all exhibiting artificial sonic signature. My system : Teac VRDS 25 X BRYSTON BP 25 P BRYSTON 8 B ST Active crossover CABASSE FST 2 3 Way satellite Cabasse Baltic Woofer Cabasse Stromboli 1 per channel interlink OSH Speaker cable OSH

Strengths:
Neutral

Weaknesses:
none in my opinion

Similar Products Used:
cabasse, hafler, YBA, Krell, Classe

Price Paid:  $2500.00 from Hong Kong

Summary:
Lovely story. I paid up for the 8BST as I have a slightly demanding speaker system (B&W Nautilius 803s) and my Classe wasn't quite up to mark with the new speakers. I was going to get the acclaimed 4BSTs, but found them insufficient for my room size. The 7BSTs were certainly an option, but somehow the 8BSTs sounded just about right and I went for them instead.

The ratings provided above are slightly confusing - in practice the amp delivers 120W*4 or 120W*2/400W*1 or 400*2 for the 4, 3 and 2 speaker combinations. As you can guess, I am looking to use the 8BSTs later on in life for a home theater system (it DOES have a 20 year warranty, so there is a long time yet to go).

The power is clean, fast and reliable (no clipping with these boys let me assure you). The bass is deep, the soundstage is ample and control is superb. If you are looking for amps for a reasonable sized room with speakers like the 803s, give the Bryston 8BSTs a listen. You will be shocked by what you hear.

Strengths:
Beefy, powerful, controlled, neutral .. you get the picture

Weaknesses:
They introduced the THX model

Similar Products Used:
Classe C101, 201;