d2girls:"both of these amps will sound identical with your loudspeaker assuming they arent wilsons with a sub 1ohm impedance dip. any differences in the midrange and bass will be placebo. amps do not sound different from one another assuming they are driving a well designed speaker with a smooth impedance modulus and phase."
Hello d2girls,
First a few grammar questions: Is your Shift key broken on your device or do you just don’t want to be bothered capitalizing the initial letter on the initial word of each sentence? Is it intended to convey you’re whispering? Perhaps your formal education was cut short after kindergarten for some unfortunate reason?
In any case, it’s very annoying and I thought it’d be constructive feedback for you to realize your odd writing style is communicating more to readers than just your actual intended meaning. The above are only the dubious impressions of yourself that you communicated to me through your nonuse of simple and universally accepted capitalization practices. I’m fairly certain you’re communicating additional negative impressions of yourself to others.
Second a few questions on the content of your post: How limited is your knowledge and experience of home audio to make the presumably honest claim that these very different amps will sound identical to each other when driving the same speakers?
These amps are completely different brands, using completely different technologies and designs. Do you believe all high quality amps regardless of brand, design or being class A, AB, D or tube will sound the same on an identical given pair of speakers?
Based on my personal experience auditioning and comparing used models of the Bryston 4BST and Parasound A21 class AB stereo amps with a new pair of class D D-Sonic M3-600-M mono-block amps in my system all driving my Magnepan 2.7QR speakers, they definitely sounded significantly different from my perspective. I was very impressed with both the Bryston and Parasound amps in my system. I thought they sounded remarkably similar to each other and would certainly recommend either one to anyone desiring a slightly warmer and more forgiving quality added to their overall system sound.
I decided to purchase the D-Sonic monos mainly because I perceived them as having a more neutral presentation which more closely resembles the audio amp ideal of a ’straight wire with gain’. But I also perceived a lower noise floor, better bass response, increased dynamics and very similar detail levels and 3-D soundstage imaging capabilities of the D-Sonics when compared to the Bryston and Parasound amps. The used stereo Bryston or Parasound amp along with a new pair of the D-Sonic mono amps were all priced at about $2,000 so that wasn’t a consideration. The smaller size, lower weight, higher electrical efficiency, cooler operating temperature and the ability to leave them powered on 24/7, however, were also valid considerations in favor of the D-Sonics which may have also tipped the scales in their direction.
I noticed there’s a few individuals on this thread, namely gammonit_2000 and Elizabeth, that have for unspecified reasons dismissed the possibility that the PS Audio M700 mono-blocks will perform very well in your system. I believe this lack of open-mindedness, willful ignorance, blind loyalty to a certain amp brand/type or however it is accurately described is just, at its root, a manifestation of their desire to rationalize an amp purchase they’ve already made. I suggest you value their advise accordingly.
I believe, as you’ve stated you believe, that the ideal method is likely listening to both in your system and deciding for yourself which you prefer. I understand this may not be possible with the Bryston 4B3, but the next best option is probably to visit the nearest Bryston dealer, bring along some familiar music and have them audition the 4B3 paired with a tube preamp and on speakers as similar to yours as possible. Heck, even bring your preamp and interconnects along if it’s not too much trouble. You also already know there’s virtually zero risk with the M700s since you have about a month to try them in your system to make sure you really like them. I’m not certain but I doubt you’ll be able to do the same with a Bryston amp.
The only advise/caution I would add is that the sound qualities of your Rogue tube preamp, or really any preamp’s sonic qualities, will be clearly noticeable when using good quality class D amplification. As will the clarity of any tube, cabling, power cord, recording quality or any other upstream changes in your system. If you’re not absolutely in love with the sonic qualities of your preamp, class D amps are not going to help by masking or flavoring anything.
Best wishes,
Tim
