Bryston versus McCormack

[miroflex]

Hi,

There are a number of Bryston owners on this site. Have any of them also heard the McCormack DNA 1 pre and power amplifiers? Would anyone like to comment on the comparative strengths and weaknesses of the two makes and their approach to sound quality and musicality?

Would it be correct to say, as one reviewer has done, "Buy a Bryston if you want hi-fi sound, buy a McCormack if you want music."

Regards.

 

[srinisundar]

Correct would be to say " If you dont want to hear music from your wife dont go for either".

 

[malvai]

the brsyton amps KILL the McCormack!

when i was buying my (earlier) Bryston 3 Bsst, i did do an A/B... and there truly is NO COMPARISON.

 

[longshanks]

the brsyton amps KILL the McCormack!

when i was buying my (earlier) Bryston 3 Bsst, i did do an A/B... and there truly is NO COMPARISON.

I couldn't disagree more, 3Bsst is no match for the McCormack DNA Series,the few times i have listened to Bryston i found them to bright,quite fatiguing to listen to. McCormack on the other hand although not the most detailed or clean amp has great, full & Rich sounding mid-range ,very warm and pleasant to listen to for many hours, its is one among the the very few musical solid state amplifier out there.

 

[panditji]

I couldn't disagree more, 3Bsst is no match for the McCormack DNA Series,the few times i have listened to Bryston i found them to bright,quite fatiguing to listen to. McCormack on the other hand although not the most detailed or clean amp has great, full & Rich sounding mid-range ,very warm and pleasant to listen to for many hours, its is one among the the very few musical solid state amplifier out there.

It would be great if someone has done an A/B with atleast the same speakers to give us a better idea... it is difficult to conclude which is better unless the chain is also the same which I know is impossible but atleast if the speakers are the same we can get a fair comparison which again could be subjective ..........

 

[longshanks]

It would be great if someone has done an A/B with atleast the same speakers to give us a better idea... it is difficult to conclude which is better unless the chain is also the same which I know is impossible but atleast if the speakers are the same we can get a fair comparison which again could be subjective ..........

Exactly, I have listened to the 4BSST and 3BSST in my system when i was planning to buying Bryston,the out come remained the same as to what i felt in the dealers place and also what i felt when i heard abroad. McCormack came to my system a little later so its not a direct A/B but the thing is McCormack is with me till now

 

[reignofchaos]

All depends on what you like and what you want. The bryston is more accurate. Some might even call it clinical. The mccormack is the last amp to be called accurate. However it has a very tube like mid range and extremely hard hitting bass which can appeal to some folks. It certainly does to me!

Please audition in your system and then decide which one you like.

 

[miroflex]

All depends on what you like and what you want. The bryston is more accurate. Some might even call it clinical. The mccormack is the last amp to be called accurate. However it has a very tube like mid range and extremely hard hitting bass which can appeal to some folks. It certainly does to me!

Please audition in your system and then decide which one you like.

Thank you for a very clear cut opinion. Which do you think would be a good pre amp to partner the DNA-1 power amp with?

With regards.

 

[miroflex]

I couldn't disagree more, 3Bsst is no match for the McCormack DNA Series,the few times i have listened to Bryston i found them to bright,quite fatiguing to listen to. McCormack on the other hand although not the most detailed or clean amp has great, full & Rich sounding mid-range ,very warm and pleasant to listen to for many hours, its is one among the the very few musical solid state amplifier out there.

Thank you. For listening to music over long periods of time, I would prefer musicality over analytical ability. In the controversial area of soundstaging also I believe that the McCormacks excel.

Which pre amps do you suggest for a DNA-1? Is it a difficult power amp in terms of loudspeaker matching?

 

[odyssey]

Which speaker do you have? The pre-amp pairing can also depend on the speaker that you have.

cheers

 

[soundofmusic]

Hi Miroflex. I am using the Bryston 4BSST for quite sometime and I would say they are very very good amp and in the long run, you will love the brystons if matched properly. I have heard the DNA 125 and the sound is also good, but the DNA 1 is a Vintage and it may sound entirely different from the DNA125. Also you should be ready for the small services which pops in occasionally or frequently ( depends on the condition of the amp) for a vintage amp.

regards

 

[miroflex]

Which speaker do you have? The pre-amp pairing can also depend on the speaker that you have.

cheers

I am looking at a pair of KEF Q55.2 floorstanders but am open to suggestions regarding other floorstanders.

Thanks and regards.

 

[odyssey]

What I would suggest is the following - (hope I don't confuse you more). Buy the speakers first and then the amp/pre or integrated that goes with it.
Personally, spending on a new Bryston or a McCormack amp and then a pre will get quite pricey when an integrated like the Symphonic Line can be had for equivalent or much less and will definitely sound better than both of the above amps. Keep in mind that i am a dealer so I will be biased


The 55.2 from what I could gather from a quick search is not in the same league as the amps (in fact it seems much lower end), so you will also need to question the rationale behind spending on a lower end speaker and looking for a high end amp. Its better to use the budget the other way around or at least spend equally on both.

Where are you based? THere are plenty of options other than KEF. You just need to search on this site to get more options.

Cheers
Sridhar

 

[miroflex]

What I would suggest is the following - (hope I don't confuse you more). Buy the speakers first and then the amp/pre or integrated that goes with it.
you will also need to question the rationale behind spending on a lower end speaker and looking for a high end amp. Its better to use the budget the other way around or at least spend equally on both.

Where are you based? THere are plenty of options other than KEF. You just need to search on this site to get more options.

Cheers
Sridhar

I have grown up with the good old British theory that the quality of the source (including a smooth power supply)and the interconnects are the heart of the system. One can pick and choose the amplifiers and speakers later depending upon ones listening tastes, listening area, budget etc.

I am in Allahabad where there are practically no dealers or listening rooms. A member had suggested travelling hifi shows for catering to potential buyers in smaller towns. I don't think there were any positive responses to the idea. Are any dealers listening and interested?

Regards

 

[soundofmusic]

Miroflex, First decide on the budget. Just searching for a system without having any specific idea will lead you no where. As said in my earlier post the Brystons are very good amplifiers BUT ONLY if matched properly. You dont need a Brystons or SL or the likes to drive the KEF. Not that the Kef is a bad speaker ( or, is it??) but there are some good speakers which goes well with the Brystons, SL etc etc. If you have already finalized the Kef ( I wish you have not done that) then look for amps like the Marantz, CA, NAD, Rotel and used amplifiers like Cyrus, Arcam, Marantz Premium series. All these comes for similar budget.

cheers

 

[reignofchaos]

I have grown up with the good old British theory that the quality of the source (including a smooth power supply)and the interconnects are the heart of the system. One can pick and choose the amplifiers and speakers later depending upon ones listening tastes, listening area, budget etc.

I am in Allahabad where there are practically no dealers or listening rooms. A member had suggested travelling hifi shows for catering to potential buyers in smaller towns. I don't think there were any positive responses to the idea. Are any dealers listening and interested?

Regards

I concur with Odyssey - If you are looking at new amps, an SL or Einstein integrated will sound much much better than anything from Mc or Bryston, at similar or slightly higher prices.

If you are planning to audition, I'd suggest you travel to either Mumbai or Delhi or Bangalore to listen to some nice setups.

As far as what preamps go well with a mc, I'd say anything with gain on the lower side will work. Almost all mccormack amps are pretty high on input sensitivity. As a result even source direct or a passive pre shouldn't be too much of a problem.

 

[ajay124]

A Bryston pre/power will provide superb amplification in the right set up. After one year of use I am extremely happy with my BP6+4B SST. I don't think Bryston is clinical, analytical or any of the the other overused adjectives which reviewers routinely use. It is a great solid state amplifier. Period.

Considering any component in isolation will merely lead a prospective buyer on a wildgoose chase. If the OP is considering Bryston, then he should be also considering a source and speakers of a similar calibre. Interconnects and speaker cables also need to be considered as components. Placing them in a lower sphere of HI FI would be a mistake. Clean, regulated power is important for any HI FI system and absolutely essential if one is using a high powered amp.

The Bryston SST square amps are expensive, although I am not aware of the exact prices. But they are still far more affordable than an Accuphase, Esoteric, Laxman or Pass Labs. A lightly used SST pre/power combo carrying Bryston's 20 year warranty from the date of manufacture is a great option. I am sure there are other amps which can match Bryston's top end and mid range. But finding an amp that builds a huge soundstage, and an enormous tidal wave of bass, like a Bryston 4 B SST does would not be easy.

 

[Rajiv]

Considering any component in isolation will merely lead a prospective buyer on a wildgoose chase.

Hi,

Very true.

System building is all about synergy between the different components.

Regards
Rajiv

 

[longshanks]

Which pre amps do you suggest for a DNA-1? Is it a difficult power amp in terms of loudspeaker matching?

I am using a musical fidelity tube pre, Mccormack also works really well with passive pre.Like many have pointed out it all depends upon the speaker and the rest of your components.

From what i've heard of kef speakers including their reference floor standers i found them to be on the brighter side, have not heard the specific model you mentioned, but if u do find the speakers a little bright as i did then warm sounding amp is a good choice.

 

[Dr.Bass]

going pre-power is "special" case. Unless you really need it or have a lot of money to throw in it is generally wiser to stick to a quality integrated amp.