Ability to play loud,bass slam

Overall grain,narrow soundstage especially in depth,not up to the best in clarity-musicality

i used 4SB-ST for 1 year in the following system:
1)Magneplanar MG 2.6R
2)Siltech Flat ribbon loudspeaker wire-Interconnects
3)Wadia 850 CD player
4)Pink Triangle PT-TOO,RB 300,Van.d.Hul MC1,EAR pre-pre
Listening extensively to Classical music,the amplifier consistently imparted a "mechanical" character to the music, mainly a "grain",obscuring the inner musical details and narrowing the soundstage.Maybe this ultra-revealing system especially in the upper registers,highlighted these weaknesses,so the amplifier in my opinion,must be used with dynamic speakers where it exhibits all the advantages that the various users presented.

Similar Products Used:

Krell KSA-100S,Classe CA-200,Threshold T-100

I tried the Bryston 4B-ST at home, with a Sonic Frontiers Line 2 preamp, a CAL Icon Mk. II CD player, and Magnepan 3.3R speakers.
The 4B-ST had lots of "drive," excellent bass control, and smoother highs than my existing (HK) power amp. Rock music really came to life with the 4B-ST in my system.

However, the 4B-ST didn't float my boat for new age and classical music. It seemed like the 4B-ST stripped all the ambience and "air" from the music. I tried several different recordings, and noticed the same effect on every one.

Finally, I took the 4B-ST out, and put the HK back in. The HK restored the ambience to the music, but added some edge to the highs and subtracted a lot of bass.

I decided to return the 4B-ST to my dealer, and keep my power amp search open. I tried several more amps the next day (Spectral DMA-50, NEW A-60, Goldmund NEM-6, CJ MF-2300), and all recreated the ambience better than the Bryston did. However, they were all lower-power units, and wouldn't be able to to drive the Maggies to their full potential.

Rating 3 stars for the strong, tight bass, but missing "air" and ambience.

All Aspects

None

Beautiful AMP. Sound handling is Suberb!!! Absoloutely sweet to listen to, especially when paired to Bryston's BP25 PreAMP. The AMP delivers SOLID power at ANY volume level, effortlessly, with Zero noise. Quality/Finish is flawless. Warranty - 20 Years, what more can you say.

Like music to my ears!!!

SYSTEM:-
Bryston 4B-ST AMP
Bryston BP25 Pre-AMP
B&W 804 Main Speakers - Bi-Wired (Red Cherry Finish)
B&W ASW2000 Sub
Rotel RCD991 CDP via XLR
Sony XA20ES CDP
Sony JA55ES MiniDisc
Sony KA3ES 3 Head Tape
Sony SA50ES Tuner
Sony M1 DAT
All Kimber Kable KCAG, Hero and 4TC/8TC Interconnects.

Similar Products Used:

Rotel, Sony, Yamaha, Marrantz

Build and sound quality.

None for the money.

The amp I am speaking of is a USED 4B NRB. It was purchased through a good friend who happens to work for a high end dealer. Am thinking of upgrading it to the ST status...Any coments from other users would be appreciated. TNX

The reason I'm writing this is to let others know of Bryston's service.....I've been into audio gear since I was in my mid teens. In the past I've had gear from the likes of SONY, NAD,AUDIER, NAKAMICHI and BRYSTON just to name a few.

The right ch. of my amp went down about 3 weeks ago. Last Tuesday it was shipped from Nova Scotia to Rexdale, Ontario for repairs...Following Monday I called their service department to find out if my amp had arrived....It not only arrived, it was repaired that same week and on its way back to NS by Friday. It landed at my houst Wednesday past. Let's see, a little over a week to travel 4 provinces, get repaired, and then sent back including a weekend.....That is the BEST service I have EVER received from a company in my life.

The sound of the NRB is definately night and day compared to the older 4B I had (the one with the black rounded handles). Thought this one was nice when I first bought it, but after its return it seems to sound even better. The only thing I know of that was replaced in the amp was 2 transisters of its right channel and the soft start board was replaced. Either way I am impressed. Also proud knowing this company is one of the most recognized and it is CANADIAN.

One last thing......Can anyone suggest a good phono to go with the gear listed below as well as interconnects?

PRE: BRYSTON BP-20
AMP: " " 4B NRB
TURNTABLE: MICRO-SEIKI BL51 W.REGA RB-300(in need of phono pre)
CD: PIONEER PD-65 ELITE
SPEAKERS: SWANS CYGNUS

I am giving them 5 for both accounts...For the money which was paid it CANNOT be beat.

Great Reviews Many good ones by magazines

Rather Steely looking but nice

I've read many review on this amp and considering it. Has anybody tried it with B&W 801's (older models). I'll give it 4 stars so not to change (too much)the rating of this fine product.

Easy to hookup, takes balanced cable and RCA,THE 20 YEAR WARRANTY

None

The amp works great, You plug it in and let the magic take over I never had a problem driving the different speakers that I had hooked up to this amp.
1.Defintive Technology BP 2000
2.Martin Logan SL-3
3.Proac 3.8 Response
My only situation that I have happened is the LEDs when turned on will turn red for a second then go to green for normal operation. The problem that has occured is in the summer time when it is very humid the green LEDS flicker red for a couple of seconds longer than the LEDS turn green. The amp was mailed to Bryston and nothing was found to be wrong. This summer I got Central Air so the humidity will not get as intense in my room.
My equipment is as follows:
1. Audio Research Reference 1 Pre-Amp
2. Bryston 4BST Amp
3. Classe CDP.3 CD Player
4. Proac Response 3.8
5. All MIT cables (Terminator 2 BiWire speaker) Terminator 2 Proline balanced cables

Clean, lots of dynamic range, horsepower

binding posts

What else is there to say. Excellent, high value product. Running 400W into 4 ohms is handled easily.

uncluttered design,bass control,soundstaging,clean highs,awesome warranty!

none

I bought this amp a little over 5 months ago. This amp is an excellent buy for anyone looking for a high quality amp that is extremely well built and engineered. I really can't fault this amp at all! It makes more power than most people will ever need, has wonderfully full and tight bass, nice clean highs even when you lean on it hard, nice soundstaging capabilities and transperecey you normally don't find in amplifiers at this price point. Lets not forget that warranty which is unmatched (20 years no matter who or how many people own it from date of manufacture!)If you are considering buying a Bryston amp, I recommend you buy their BP-25 preamp as well. There is a special chemistry that exists when these two pieces are together that other preamps I've heard with it don't seem to pull off. Either way you go, you can't go wrong with a Bryston! Highly recommended!

Well built and very reliable; low noise and distorsion, very accurate and musical due togood control of speakers.

A little laid back for some tastes.

A great product for music lovers.Install it and enjoy the music.

Similar Products Used:

Audio Research D 120

accuracy...

none....

Auditioned plenty of amps in HiEnd shops but I wanted to bring this one home to run it side by side with my Classe CA-200 driving my Dunlavy SC-IV's.
Bryston is the brand used by most good recording studios,and alot of them also use the Bryston's with Dunlavy speakers.
Don't want to get into alot of detail so i'll get to the point. You can buy either one and be happy with your decision. These are two excellent amps for the money or at any price. But i'm not going to sell my Classe...it's a keeper.
Thanx to Audiolab in PA for the use of your Bryston 4B.
Next I plan on auditioning a Pass Labs X150 or X250.

Similar Products Used:

Classe CA-200