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Looking to upgrade Bryston B60. Considering Atoll among others.

Hello,

I am looking to upgrade my amp which is a Bryston B60 integrated.  I have a bigger space now and want some more power / headroom.  My speakers are Thiel CS 1.6s which are power hungry (so I have read).  I mainly stream Tidal using a Cambridge Audio CXN V2 STREAMER.  I am considering a bigger Bryston like an used 3B or 4B with say a BP17 preamp or maybe a B135.  I love the clarity and punch from my B60.  The Thiel's are quite detailed so a touch more warmth wouldn't hurt. I wanted to ask about Atoll.  I recently went the AXPONA and I heard an Atoll SDA300 into Atohm Sirocco 2.24's.  I wasn't familiar with Atohm but had heard of Atoll.  Wow, really sounded impressive. Big, detailed, punchy. The SDA is 260 watts in to 4 ohms I believe and I could really feel the power and headroom. So I thought about an Atoll IN300 evo as an option.  Would love to get opinions on how that might sound with my Thiel's?
I am also open to other amp brand suggestions. Some other brands I was thinking about - Accuphase, Hegel, Simm Audio, Cambridge, Arcam.  My price ceiling is around $4k, possibly $5k.  thanks!

j-mo
jheppe815
71 posts
 

@greenngoldcheesehead - I agree on the Arcam.  I have a friend who recently bought a 20 year old Arcam and it’s a treat to listen to.  I have had new generation Arcam power amps...and, they are no longer in my stereo setup...

I also agree that a Hegel integrated (any of ’em) is quite nice.  Got to audition a Hegel H600 and it was stunning.

Have a friend running older Bryston and I've listened to his system quite often.  Those Bryston components are very smooth as well.  

If you are on a budget, the Atoll integrated amps will compete with the more pricey stuff for sure.

greenngoldcheesehead
102 posts
 

I would also look at Benchmark.  I heard a system with their AHB2 amps at FLAX and they sounded great.  You're shopping in a price range where you have alot of great options.  The benchmarks were driving Aretai horn speakers which are around $20k ?ish.   My Atoll is driving TAD E1TX which MSRP for $30k.  Amps within this price range can definitely scale up and sound even better with better sources and can drive better speakers.

tweak1
3,766 posts
 

See Audiophi;ac YTV about LAIV amps

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