Preamplifiers: Bryston BP-26 versus Spectral DMC-15
default -- Wed, 07/08/2009 - 07:39
I am looking to upgrade my preamp. I am looking for a transparent preamp with very low noise floor, without losing body of the music.
My current Setup:
Cambridge Audio 840C CD Player
VTL 2.5 Tube Preamplifier
Bryston 3B-SST Power Amplifier
Custom sealed box 2-Way monitors with Accuton Ceramic drivers
How does the Bryston BP-26 compare to the Spectral DMC-15?
Kindly suggest a good upgrade to my existing preamp, that is a good match to the Bryston 3B-SST Power Amplifier.
All content, design, and layout are Copyright © 1999 - 2011 NextScreen. All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or part in any form or medium without specific written permission is prohibited.
Reproduction in whole or part in any form or medium without specific written permission is prohibited.
Suggestions for a preamp
Audio Analogue Bellini Virtual Battery REv 2.0. ca 1800 quid.
624 thousand microfarrads...
This is a rather unique pre-amplifier as it uses, like the Blue circle pre amps (some of them) the large capacitor bank as a "battery"...
It "feeds" of the half of them, then the other half and use a couple more as transition caps so the is no "gap" in the powerdelivery.
So the powersupply charges the caps that's about it...
As you would guess, the noisefloor on this pre-amp is VERY low...'
The dynamics are VERY GOOD!
The following is an excerpt from Hifi4all.dk - reviewer is Mikkel/Michael Gige, writing in Danish. (I am translating...)
"Sonically the Bellini is not "just" a pre-amplifier, it's rather a control amplifier, such is the grip and domination it excubes over it's partner, the poweramp. You could call it master and servant...
You're thinking: that can't be? But it is, my ears tell me that the Bellini has total control over the Nakamichi poweramp, with it's newfound MASTER the Nakamichi found a new and invigorated life.
If we start with the bass, the Bellini has a drive and grip and speed in the bass that I have never heard before.
The hand is clad in an iron glove and hits with a total brutality and with apparent speed, this is not just detectable in the bass, but all frequencies are held in this grip and this speed gushes out of the poweramp it drives. Wether you connect a single ended source or a balanced one, the pre-amps does not care, the sound remains the same.
... The key word is dynamics and voices are presented with a naturalness and inner glow...
... the soundstage is vast, bristling with air and the seperation of instruments and placements within the recorded venue are clearly delineated...
... We are up there where the AyreAX 7e and the Rowland Concerto have their dominion.
My suggestion.
Imp.
Thank you, Imperial. I will see if I can listen to those pre-amplifiers.
I am also open to downsizing to an Integrated Amplifier without sacrificing on sound quality. Any suggestions?
I got a chance to audition BP-20 & 7B-SST in my system a while back and heard the newer combo BP-26/MPS-2 & 7B-SST2. Both sets are awesome, wow!
The BP-26 doesn't have HT bypass, so I chose the full function, less expensive Wyred 4 Sound STP Special Edition. Doesn't look very nice cosmetically but sonically transparent. I think its noise floor is quite comparable to Bryston's preamps. Check out 6moons.com latest review. BTW, I also use Azur 840C CDP.
I have owned lots of different top/highend equipment over the years and all I can say is I will never change brand again after living with my Bryston amps. I have had the 7B SST C monos sice 2003/4 with both the BP 25 and now the BP 26DA / MPS2. I am sold on theese amp. To me they get the music just right, and that also goes for the 3B and 4B SST as well. The BP 26 compared to the BP 25 ? Well at first it was not that obvious an improvement but after a while it becomes quite clear that the BP 26 is more out of the way. More quiet backgrounds, more full bodied and natural sounding and more authorative. The BP 25 was a bit more drier sounding all around from the bottom to the top frequencies.
English is not my native language so forgive me for typing errors and such.
Its all up to personal taste so I do hope that you will try out different preamps before you buy, but I highly reccoment you give the BP26 a listen with your great 3B SST.
But if you want to downsize and keep the great Bryston sound, why not try the B100 SST or the now to be SST2 (squared) version. Havent heard the latest SST2 but the B100 SST was pretty awesome, and for a while it makes you wonder if you really need the much more expensive separates, Its that good.
Enjoy your search :-)
lmp,
That guy is embarssing...
Yes, definetly no overture, opera or concert...
Imp.
I have been using the BP26MC for about two years and it is now my preamplifier for life. Since I listen to a lot of vinyl, I need the phono section which performs admirably with my low-output moving coil cartridge. But the BP26 is all around brilliant, with a very low noise floor, and gives the music its proper weight with lots of bass and great highs. It is built like all Brystons to last and has a 20-year warranty to back it up. The separate, full-size power supply is a mixed blesssing but delivers the goods. My BP26 is paired with a Bryston 4BSST power amp so there will be good synergy with your 3BSST. All this with great design and back up, online or otherwise, and a real-world price, so what's not to like if you want a solid-state preamp.