Old Bryston - use or start new

M

mik

Enthusiast
Hey all, I just stumbled across this forum and have been reading all I can tons of info here. I am about to finish my basement and want to get a nice system set up so I can escape to my new "happy place". I'm just now starting to read up on home theatre systems so excuse my ignorance.

I have an old (read 18 yrs or so) Bryston 2B amp with a Bryston preamp. I've got an old set of Paradigm towers as well. To be honest I haven't used the equipment in some time but I do love the Bryston. My question is would you recommend sticking with the amp and getting a new preamp for home theatre or starting from scratch.

I'm also thinking of replacing the Paradigms with a full new set. Thoughts?

Many thanks!
 
son-yah-tive

son-yah-tive

Full Audioholic
If you want to go HOME THEATER, I think you'll have to give up both, if you want all the features of a Home Theater system? The set up you have is fine for stereo, but not flexible enough to accomplish as a HT. The PARADIGMS are fine. But, you should find A CENTER CHANNEL SPEAKER that matches those. The choice of surround rear speakers can be flexible. Welcome to the forum from Atlanta.:)
 
M

mik

Enthusiast
Thanks for the reply! I had a feeling that might be the response. And yes I am looking for full HT feastures.

If the current setup won't do I'll have to tell the missus the fine folks here said I had to go shopping.:D
 
son-yah-tive

son-yah-tive

Full Audioholic
Thanks for the reply! I had a feeling that might be the response. And yes I am looking for full HT feastures.

If the current setup won't do I'll have to tell the missus the fine folks here said I had to go shopping.:D
You're welcome.Try AMAZON.com to start your shopping around. You can also learn about the products there also. That way you won't make any mistakes mismatching anything. And of course come back here if you have any questions. I know ADAM and SETH and others here have deeper insights and knowlege than I have. I can help but, THEY can really HELP you!
 
AVRat

AVRat

Audioholic Ninja
Definitely keep the Bryston amp. My 20+year old Carver still works great. Depending on the 'Digm models, you may be able to find a center to match or use them for surrounds. To help in the right direction, how large is your room? What are you looking at for a display? $$$?

Welcome to the sight.
 
M

mik

Enthusiast
The entire room will be roughly 25 X 35 X 8 high. Where I will have the screen and seating will be about 25 X25. I'm really starting from scratch. Currently have a Toshiba 53" 5 yr old projection but may go to a Samsung LCD 52-55". Speakers I'll be starting feom scratch as well. In terms of budget.....not sure just yet. I'm thinking maybe 2000-2500 for speakers and receiver??????
 
anamorphic96

anamorphic96

Audioholic General
Hey all, I just stumbled across this forum and have been reading all I can tons of info here. I am about to finish my basement and want to get a nice system set up so I can escape to my new "happy place". I'm just now starting to read up on home theatre systems so excuse my ignorance.

I have an old (read 18 yrs or so) Bryston 2B amp with a Bryston preamp. I've got an old set of Paradigm towers as well. To be honest I haven't used the equipment in some time but I do love the Bryston. My question is would you recommend sticking with the amp and getting a new preamp for home theatre or starting from scratch.

I'm also thinking of replacing the Paradigms with a full new set. Thoughts?

Many thanks!
Keep the Bryston. Just make sure when you purchase your receiver you get one with pre-outs then use the Bryston to power the front left and right channels.
No need to throw away a perfectly good Bryston with 2 years left on its warranty.:D:)
 
M

mik

Enthusiast
Keep the Bryston. Just make sure when you purchase your receiver you get one with pre-outs then use the Bryston to power the front left and right channels.
No need to throw away a perfectly good Bryston with 2 years left on its warranty.:D:)
The more I talk to people and read the more I think this is what I'll end up doing. I visited a couple of places today and was eyeing a NAD receiver which I can use with the Bryston. It's the T747. Thoughts????
 
J

jostenmeat

Audioholic Spartan
The more I talk to people and read the more I think this is what I'll end up doing. I visited a couple of places today and was eyeing a NAD receiver which I can use with the Bryston. It's the T747. Thoughts????
Why bother buying anything at all until you have more than two speakers?? A new receiver with all the bells and whistles will do almost nothing for you IMO until you add other speakers and/or sub.

When that day comes, I'd look elsewhere rather than NAD. BTW, I own a NAD amp, and used to have a NAD pre/pro. They make robust amps, but it's their upstream electronics that I worry about. I'd look at Denon if you can afford it. With Denon, Onkyo, NAD, and Marantz, I like the Audyssey suite. Denon seems to have the best implementation, however, their manuals are also impossible. Marantz might have had the very worst implementation, depending on how you looked at it, at least last year. Onkyo will make the most affordable dedicated pre/pro of the above.

Otherwise, without any desire for the Audyssey suite, I'd also look at Yamaha for their reputation of having a very transparent preamp section.
 
M

mik

Enthusiast
Thanks for the input. I will be purchasing speakers as well as a sub. I plan to have all the gear by the time my basement is finished so won't be just going with two. My bad for not being more clear.

BTW what do you mean you worry about NAD's upstream electronics? Sorry if this is a dumb question. Thanks.
 
GO-NAD!

GO-NAD!

Audioholic Warlord
Thanks for the input. I will be purchasing speakers as well as a sub. I plan to have all the gear by the time my basement is finished so won't be just going with two. My bad for not being more clear.

BTW what do you mean you worry about NAD's upstream electronics? Sorry if this is a dumb question. Thanks.
I agree about not buying a NAD receiver. They have lots of power, but when it comes to surround sound and video processing, they tend to lag behind mainstream competition like Yamaha and Denon. Especially when you consider the asking price. For 2-channel, I love NAD. For HT, look elsewhere. If you use your Bryston for the 2 fronts, that's a big load removed from a receiver, meaning you won't need to invest in a more powerful receiver for the remaining channels.
 
AVRat

AVRat

Audioholic Ninja
SVS Model SCS-01M 5.0 Set with SBS-01 surrounds & PB12-NSD - $1350 + shipping
SVS Model STS-01 5.1 Set w/ SBS Surrounds & PB12-NSD - $1640 + shipping
Ascend Acoustics ** Special: 340SE/340SEC/200SE system - $1048 w/stands
SVS Model PB12-NSD Charcoal Black - $599 + shipping

Onkyo 807 - < $850
Denon 3310 - $900 - $1000

OH, the “HAPPY PLACE” requires at least a Panasonic 58+” Plasma, especially in a room that big!
 
M

mik

Enthusiast
SVS Model SCS-01M 5.0 Set with SBS-01 surrounds & PB12-NSD - $1350 + shipping
SVS Model STS-01 5.1 Set w/ SBS Surrounds & PB12-NSD - $1640 + shipping
Ascend Acoustics ** Special: 340SE/340SEC/200SE system - $1048 w/stands
SVS Model PB12-NSD Charcoal Black - $599 + shipping

Onkyo 807 - < $850
Denon 3310 - $900 - $1000

OH, the “HAPPY PLACE” requires at least a Panasonic 58+” Plasma, especially in a room that big!
Thanks AVRat! I\ve never heard of SVS but I browsed some reviews and also see they have a Canadian Distributor. Pricing is def. in my ballpark. I was originally thinking of towers given the size of the room. Would these fill it enough?

And a 58" eh? Can you send that to my wife! :)
 
AVRat

AVRat

Audioholic Ninja
P

popotoys

Audioholic
I would never give up the Bryston. You could at least use it in a multi room scenario or to drive your front left and right speakers.

Buy a 6B and you could drive 5 channels (2B for rears, 6B for 3 fronts)! :D
 
M

mik

Enthusiast
I would never give up the Bryston. You could at least use it in a multi room scenario or to drive your front left and right speakers.

Buy a 6B and you could drive 5 channels (2B for rears, 6B for 3 fronts)! :D
Hell yeah! Can I sleep on your couch when I get the boot?

I'm def. keeping the Bryston. Just gotta narrow down my search for the rest of my goodies.
 
B

Boerd

Full Audioholic
Hey all, I just stumbled across this forum and have been reading all I can tons of info here. I am about to finish my basement and want to get a nice system set up so I can escape to my new "happy place". I'm just now starting to read up on home theatre systems so excuse my ignorance.

I have an old (read 18 yrs or so) Bryston 2B amp with a Bryston preamp. I've got an old set of Paradigm towers as well. To be honest I haven't used the equipment in some time but I do love the Bryston. My question is would you recommend sticking with the amp and getting a new preamp for home theatre or starting from scratch.

I'm also thinking of replacing the Paradigms with a full new set. Thoughts?

Many thanks!
Give up the Bryston amp??? I'll take them :):)
Get new speakers if you don't like them but do keep the preamp/amp if they still function. Maybe I am mistaking but Bryston offers 20 years warranty - the amp.preamp should still be covered.

Plus - I totally agree with AVrat - the VST stuff is good.
 
Last edited:
3db

3db

Audioholic Slumlord
I agree about not buying a NAD receiver. They have lots of power, but when it comes to surround sound and video processing, they tend to lag behind mainstream competition like Yamaha and Denon. Especially when you consider the asking price. For 2-channel, I love NAD. For HT, look elsewhere. If you use your Bryston for the 2 fronts, that's a big load removed from a receiver, meaning you won't need to invest in a more powerful receiver for the remaining channels.
You obviously haven't checked NAD's website over the past year. They offer everything the Yamaha's and the Denons now have but with a beefier power supply and amp section.

To the OP...don't get rid of that Bryston. That is a HUGE mistake .You still have 4 years of warrantry left on it that all other manufacturrs you would choose from still can't match if you buy new. Keep the Bryston, by another mutlicahnnel Bryston if money isn't an obejct and a used Yamaha as your pre-amp/HT processor. Another cheraper alternative is to r use the Bryston to drive your left and right main speakers and a recevier to drive teh center channels and surrounds. See if you can't pick up a used Yamaha RX-V1800/1900 or RX-V3800/3900 series. I would stay away from all of Yamahas latest offereings with teh exception of the RX-Z series. Yamah'a new RX-V series suck eggs in the power delivery and come no where close to their older RX-V 1800/1900 3800/3900 series.
 
AcuDefTechGuy

AcuDefTechGuy

Audioholic Jedi
I think it depends on how the Bryston amp looks aesthetically.:D

If it looks all beaten up and scratched to death, I say get rid of it.

If it still looks pretty and sounds great, i say keep it for as long as it works.
 

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