Bryston vs McCormack, any thoughts???


I'm looking for new choices in 2 channel electronics. These two companies are at the top of my list and I wanted to see if anyone has directly compared them. My speakers are Paradigm ref 100's V2. The two amps are the 4BSST vs DNA225
and preamps being the BP25 vs RLD-1. I've also thought about mixing the Bryston amp with the McCormack preamp since the RLD-1 has a great attenuation for volume. Any thoughts regarding these choices are appreciated. Thank you and have a great Christmas!!!
chrisrn

Showing 2 responses by boberica9a25

Having purchased this amp FOR low impedance speakers, I would like to offer my 2 cents.
I've tried many amps with my dynaudio contour 1.3's (4 ohm nominal, 88-89 Db sensitivity), the 4bsst sounds as if it were made for this very task. I also have a sunfire signature sub II and it became obsolete the minute I plugged in the 4bsst! These little speakers finally fulfilled their promise. All I can say is, I have the combo I always dreamed about, I couldn't ask for more.
I would put this combination up againt any system I've ever heard except for a audio research / magneplanar combination I heard in SE Michigan about 6 years ago (12k).
I'm running a marantz av550 preamp right now, but I'll sneak a line level preamp into the mix when I can afford it.
I listened to the DNA225 and the new ARC 150M, and others, just prior to my purchase and found them to be less satisfying.
For the record, in response to Sv47's comment about the Bryston 4BSST being unstable at low impedences:
I've had this amp hooked up to several speakers in the last year, all sub 89 Db sensitivity, all 4 ohm or lower (the dynaudio's spend most of the curve under 4) and the amp did not clip, instead it's taught me the meaning of microdynamics, headroom, and pace.
It also cut more than a few discs out of my rotation!
This amp has shown me what's really on all these discs.

I would be afraid of the conditions under which this amp would clip!