Bryston speakers

John R Leddy said:
Hi James,

That's a shame. I guess Linn Products have this market pretty well sewn-up, where active systems are more like compulsory rather than simply being popular. If I remain with boxes, as opposed to Magneplanars for instance, I'll just have to keep an eye out for an old pair of Linn Espeks and see where I go from there.
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Yes Linn builds great active speakers.

james
 
John R Leddy said:
Hi James,

What's changing within the tweeter assembly during this time?
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Hi Folks,

Over the last year we have been developing a new tweeter for the Model T and Model A Series speakers.

Model A Speakers currently in the market already incorporate this new design.

The new tweeter has 4 major changes:

1. A die-cast aluminum face plate for both better rigidity and for cooling. It functions as a heat sink for the tweeter.

2. A new horn design to provide smoother off-axis response above 12 kHz,

3. A larger rear chamber that lowers the resonance frequency further below the crossover region.

4. The new tweeter can also handle significantly more power than the older version.

The new tweeter is retro-fit-able to all existing Model T’s in the field and are being utilized in all current production.

Price of the new replacement tweeter is $90.00 Each.

james
 
James Tanner - Bryston said:
Hi John

No not a QC issue - the new tweeters were a redesign and replaced the older style tweeters.

james
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Hi James,

Ah, I see. I shouldn't have allocated the "significant personality change of the speakers" to the break-in period of the tweeters alone. Sorry, my mistake.

This description could almost be word-perfect for Linn owners who replace their AV 5140 tweeters with those from an Espek, without realising the AV 5140 passive crossover assembly isn't really suitable for Espek tweeters, creating an exaggerated and imbalanced sound. Contrarily, this change is praised in the highest of terms by those having carried out the modification.

Thanks.
 
James Tanner - Bryston said:
The tweeters seemed to have passed the break-in period.
John R Leddy said:
James,
How long is this break-in period Marc mentions?
James Tanner - Bryston said:
Hi John
I would say about 30 hours on the break-in time.
james
John R Leddy said:
Hi James,
What's changing within the tweeter assembly during this time?
James Tanner - Bryston said:
Hi Folks,
Over the last year we have been developing a new tweeter for the Model T and Model A Series speakers.
Model A Speakers currently in the market already incorporate this new design.
The new tweeter has 4 major changes:
1. A die-cast aluminum face plate for both better rigidity and for cooling. It functions as a heat sink for the tweeter.
2. A new horn design to provide smoother off-axis response above 12 kHz,
3. A larger rear chamber that lowers the resonance frequency further below the crossover region.
4. The new tweeter can also handle significantly more power than the older version.
The new tweeter is retro-fit-able to all existing Model T’s in the field and are being utilized in all current production.
Price of the new replacement tweeter is $90.00 Each.
james
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James,
Thanks for such an informative answer.
I was really hoping you would tell us what was changing during the break-in period, rather than the differences between the old and new tweeters.
As a matter of interest, and you removing your work hat so to speak, in your opinion and cost aside, does the upgrade justify replacing perfectly working old-type with the new-type tweeters? Would you bother to do it yourself?
Thanks.
 
John R Leddy said:
James,
Thanks for such an informative answer.
I was really hoping you would tell us what was changing during the break-in period, rather than the differences between the old and new tweeters.
As a matter of interest, and you removing your work hat so to speak, in your opinion and cost aside, does the upgrade justify replacing perfectly working old-type with the new-type tweeters? Would you bother to do it yourself?
Thanks.
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Hi John

Yes I would replace them depending on the listener - it is not a night and day difference but in a quality system the overall soundstage presentation improves.

james
 
James Tanner - Bryston said:
Hi John

Yes I would replace them depending on the listener - it is not a night and day difference but in a quality system the overall soundstage presentation improves.

james
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Thanks James. Good to know.

I still think active Middle Ts and a stack of 4Bs with a dedicated external crossover would be awesome marketing, and a lot of fun besides.

And look, I'm even going to give up on the break-in baloney. :)

Take care.
 
'I'm even going to give up on the break-in baloney'

Hi John

So I take it you do not believe drivers change in performance over time?

james
 
John R Leddy said:
Hi James,

That's a shame. I guess Linn Products have this market pretty well sewn-up, where active systems are more like compulsory rather than simply being popular. If I remain with boxes, as opposed to Magneplanars for instance, I'll just have to keep an eye out for an old pair of Linn Espeks and see where I go from there.
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I have a friend that had an active Linn Espek (or 5140) system for years, it sounded great. He just replaced it with passive Model T's and a 4B. He seems very happy.
 
Mark Jones said:
I have a friend that had an active Linn Espek (or 5140) system for years, it sounded great. He just replaced it with passive Model T's and a 4B. He seems very happy.
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Hi Mark,

I also like Bryston and have experienced a similar situation compared to your friend as well. Linn just didn't do it for me. Accurate maybe, but way too thin and tinny for my tastes. Just wasn't my sort of thing I guess.

Before reducing my system I was running: Linn Unidisk 2.1 > Exotik > 3 x Aktiv Akurate 2200 > Ninka. I had owned a few of their other products as well: Classik, Genki, Ikemi CD players; Kolektor, Kairn-Pro/SPS, AV 5103 pre-amplifiers; 4 x LK140, 2 x AV 5125, 3 x 2250 power amplifiers; and Keilidh loudspeakers.

I possess, what I choose to perceive as, a healthy suspicion towards dropping a perfectly ordinary PCB populated with cheap and nasty SMDs into a billet of machined aluminium, so I knew I wouldn't be chasing after a Klimax system anytime soon. I replaced the Exotik with a BAT VK-3iX and discovered exactly where all my music had been hiding. Switching the Ninkas back to passive mode, I then replaced 3 x Aktiv Akurates with a single VK-55 and simply burst out laughing. I kept the VK-55 and sold the 3 Akurates. I've also owned and enjoyed using a 4B-ST. I really had a lot of fun with it in the 2.1 > VK-3iX > Ninka set-up.

These days I am not chasing a system anymore, and have chosen to let the market influence my next purchases. I'm after a Marantz NA-11S1 network audio player, but even new only value it at £2,000 as opposed to its £3,499 RRP, so I guess I'll be waiting a long time to replace my Stream Magic 6. I wish to replace my VK-3iX with a VK-51SE for the right kind of money at some point in the future as well; no rush for that though. Come to think of it, no rush for anything really.

I had hoped to pick up another VK-55 and go active with two stereo power amps into the Ninkas, just for a bit of fun, but there is no sign of one of those on the horizon. I am also keeping an eye out for a BAT VK-200 and, as I've previously mentioned, a pair of Linn Espeks. However, all these notions of active systems and box collecting would be right out of the window were a pair of Magneplanar 1.7s to make themselves available.

As you can see, I have left my options well and truly open and really don't grant too much importance to which direction my stereo might head. To be perfectly honest, I listen to such crap music I sometimes wonder if all this perfection-chasing is just downright silly.

All the best.
 
DEALER FEEDBACK:

Hi James,

We have the Bryston A1 speakers hooked up to the 28 monos and they are incredible.

The dynamics and visceral impact is first class. Right out of the box we knew they're special and they've improved noticeably over the week.

We definitely have a winner on our hands : )

Best Regards,
Robert
Audio Eden
 
Hi Folks,

Sneak Peek - Review on Bryston A3 Speaker from Secrets of Home Theater coming soon:

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Teaser Text

The Model A3 is the smallest floor-standing speaker in the new A series from Bryston.

It is well suited for a two-channel system that requires a compact floor-standing speaker. It is capable on its own of full range music playback without a subwoofer. The Model A3’s sound is neutral and it can be driven to high SPLs without sounding strained. The Model A3 is detailed and accurate. Its sound quality will satisfy regardless of listening preferences.

Travis
 
MEMO: To All Bryston Customers
SUBJECT: Comments on The Bryston Mini T

Hi James, what a treat it was to listen to your Mini T speaker system for the first time.

Although it is physically much smaller than most high performance speaker systems, it clearly plays in their league and outperforms many of them. As sound colouration from cabinet and other structural components was inaudible, one could easily focus on the music and the recording environment.

The large dynamic range was very impressive and could easily satisfy the needs of most home audiophile applications. Perhaps the key to winning my heart was the linearity of the dynamics. It seemed that the dynamic range of all drivers was so well matched that the frequency and impulse responses remained uniform regardless of level.

It brought the music to life! I could have listened to it for hours.

The bass response was most impressive. Ever since I played string bass in my high school orchestra (in the 50s), I have always been sensitive to accurate bass reproduction. The Mini T passed with flying colours as it produced solid, deep fundamentals with none of the boomy, poorly damped, uncontrolled dynamics associated with virtually all small speaker systems. What a difference a 3-Way makes! A midrange speaker must be dedicated to reproducing critically important voice and instrumental information without experiencing the Doppler and intermodulation distortion inherent in a 2-Way that is forced to make large cone excursions in response to the bass. The excellent imaging and sonic accuracy of the Mini T's attest to the importance of a 3-Way design.

The listening position was not critically important while the sonic depth of field and stage width of musical performances seemed very natural. The WAF (wife acceptance factor) is very high too! ....but of course Maria has lived with some speaker monstrosities in our house for years. :)

You definitely have a winner on your hands, James. It is clearly the best sounding small speaker system I have ever heard!

Congratulations!
James H. Hayward
 
MEMO: To All Bryston Customers
SUBJECT: Bryston Mini T Speaker – Customer Feedback

August 2014

Hi James – From Singapore

Ivy your dealer in Singapore was kind enough to lend me a pair of Bryston Mini T's while my (EDIT) are being repaired...totally forgot I need speaker cables as they are passive. I will get some on Monday...anyway. Pat is very impressed regarding the looks...she fell in love immediately even without hearing them..so great "wife factor" !

I just got the cables and set them up...superb sir...same tonal balance and natural sound character as the big T's! And the bass is exactly what I was missing before...played some high quality vinyl...and the detail and pace is beautiful....now we must choose the amp...and try to find a buyer for the (EDIT).
Ivy gave me the lovely 4B for loan.....it has indeed good power and its not too much power for the Mini Ts.

James I feel the Bryston Mini T’s provide a very natural and seamless soundstage also...I think a 2- way just can't match that, no matter how expensive... Plus It's nice and slim...which an active speaker can't match usually...I honestly had the (EDIT) speakers under consideration as well...but not anymore. I blasted a few live concert bluerays...and the soundstage is amazing..most of all, no compression even at "life" levels. and the bass has real punch..eg the basedrum kick.. .which is so crucial to us drummer boys! Also most of all, I am surprised at the resolution of the top end too...I don't miss anything even compared to my active speakers!

To summarize, I would say the Bryston Mini Ts sound like a "big speaker'...and have exactly the same attributes of the model T's - natural and seamless soundstage..and accuracy across all listening levels...it even sounds right while listening from outside the room..which is always my personal "test" !

Congrats to you James!

Tom Forester- Singapore
 
MEMO: To All Bryston Customers
SUBJECT: Bryston Model T Feedback

Hi James

After 30 yrs of audio, both with my band and my 2ch, I always look forward to an evening of both audio and equipment and an evening with James Tanner is always very informative and satisfying.

James had both his Model T and mini T rooms dialed in perfectly....and I mean perfect!!! The sound staging was big, full and wide, , something we as audiophiles love to here. James’ song choices on this evening were extraordinary to me as I had not ever heard any of them before...I must say that the T series goes deep and very detailed and came along way since the first prototype I heard 2yrs ago.

Thank you James for a listen and look at your most recent version of the Model T and Mini T… also I loved the sound of the Bryston DAC..Amps and Preamp combination in your setups..

Always a pleasure

John McLeod
 
Hi

Dynaudio C1 MK1's and Bryston Middle T’s


This is the change that I made!

FhZ8XC0.jpg

I don't regret the change at all. Most notable change for me was a lot less 'bloom' in the midrange (that I didn't even realize was so accentuated previously) from the C1's, and much deeper and controlled bass. I can't really think of an area that didn't improve to be honest, though personal preference might lead one to prefer that midrange bloom of course.

Compared them both side by side with the same gear in my room too, just to be sure (don't mind the missing heater boards and wires... was amidst some renovations!)

I do love the C1, had them for about 5 years before changing. It did take me about a week to get used to the new sound, but it didn't take too long to find I could dig deeper into the recordings and hear more of the detail than with the C1. The soundstage can get absolutely huge with the Middle T! The bass as well feels generally more subtle but more powerful, if that makes much sense. Top to bottom smooth is maybe a better way to put it. If there's a rumble, the speakers will reproduce it, and it doesn't sound like the cabinet itself doing the shaking.

Manbient
 
HI James,

I've been with the Middle T's for a month or so. I'm very pleasantly surprised as I didn't have the opportunity to listen to them prior to purchasing.

I read what was out there on the internet all positive and considered my system room size etc. and took a chance.

Most enjoyable is the articulate full bass while not overpowering the upper regions. The upper region is sweet defined and never fatiguing . A very seamless speaker that just disappears they do everything well. I've had some touted high resolution or revealing speakers in the same listening space and there is nothing lacking with the Middle T. I'm impressed and very much enjoying the music.

Best,
Don
 
Hi James,

I have had the Bryston A2 speakers at home this last weekend and they are dam good for the money.

Probably the best buy in the industry for the money and I have had many, many speakers in that room over the years!!

Garry Taylor
 
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