Do Arcam poweramps mix with Bryston?

crobo · 30-03-2007, 4:16 PM

I am using a Lexicon CX7 for 5.1 and love it, but I just picked up a Bryston 3B-ST and this is excellent too in a rather different way. I still haven't decided which I prefer for 2-channel but the 3B-ST is a 2-channel amp so I would need a 3-channel to go with it for home cinema. Used Bryston 3-channel amps are not that common so I am wondering whether an Arcam P85/3 or P25/3 would do instead. It doesn't need to have the clout of the 3B-ST but would need to sound sonically similar.

Anyone have any experience of the Bryston vs Arcam poweramp sound? I'm guessing I will end up keeping the Lexicon but want to think about it carefully first; the Bryston has some very impressive qualities.

Cheers

bobdixon · 30-03-2007, 4:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crobo

I am using a Lexicon CX7 for 5.1 and love it, but I just picked up a Bryston 3B-ST and this is excellent too in a rather different way. I still haven't decided which I prefer for 2-channel but the 3B-ST is a 2-channel amp so I would need a 3-channel to go with it for home cinema. Used Bryston 3-channel amps are not that common so I am wondering whether an Arcam P85/3 or P25/3 would do instead. It doesn't need to have the clout of the 3B-ST but would need to sound sonically similar.

Anyone have any experience of the Bryston vs Arcam poweramp sound? I'm guessing I will end up keeping the Lexicon but want to think about it carefully first; the Bryston has some very impressive qualities.

Cheers

The Bryston 5B ST is three channel and you can also get 3 channel 9B ST. Yes quite rare but will certainly match the 3B to perfection

crobo · 31-03-2007, 6:43 AM

True, either one would match nicely. I had a 5-channel 9B-ST and sold it in when I bought the CX7, thinking I would use the extra 2 channels to biamp the fronts. I won't bother though, both the Lexicon and the Bryston drive the fronts very nicely.

Used Brystons are rare and they don't come cheap; I can imagine paying so much for a 3-channel model that I may as well buy another 9B-ST and sell this one, which is getting complex. Hence the question whether a 3-channel Arcam would be a good match.