Bryston 14B ST Amplifiers
Bryston 14B ST Amplifiers
USER REVIEWS
[Feb 20, 2023]
Breana
Strength:
You have a good product! Thanks Houses for sale Cincinnati Weakness:
none so far |
[Feb 18, 2023]
ampva301
Strength:
UNLIMITED POWER, LITTLE DISTORTION, AND EXCELLENT BUILD QUALITY. Comparatively inexpensive compared to its contemporaries. CAN DRIVE ANY SPEAKER. NICE, QUALITY AMPLIFIER. | www.drywallmidland.com Weakness:
I DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH KNOWLEDGE TO COMPARE AND CONTRAST THE WEAKNESSES OF EXPENSIVE POWER AMPS. Purchased: New
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[Feb 06, 2023]
rosendamanns
Strength:
Nad, hmm, no doubt also an incredible amplifier but with the majority of reviewers complaining about faults after an average of about 2 years simply turned me away due to poor build quality (and believe me nad has really shocking quality) which leads me to Arcam, I recieved my box with great anticipation...only to be disapointed by this cheap plastic fascia that greeted me. San Jose Concrete Solutions Weakness:
None . . Purchased: New
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[Aug 17, 2003]
TOM
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
UNLIMITED POWER, LOW DISTORTION, AND GOOD BUILD QUALITY. RELATIVELY INEXPENSIVE, COMPARED TO ITS PEERS. CAN DRIVE ANY SPEAKER. GOOD, QUALITY AMPLIFIER.
Weakness:
I AM NOT LEARNED ENOUGH TO COMPARE AND CONTRAST WEAKNESSES WITH THE MORE EXPENSIVE POWER AMPS. I HAVE HAD THE 14B SST NOW FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS. I HAVE A PAIR OF B&W N 802's. THE BRYSTON AMP HAS PLENTY OF POWER TO DRIVE THE SPEAKERS TO LOUD LEVELS. I LISTEN TO CLASSIC ROCK, SUCH AS THE BEATLES, LED ZEPPELIN, ROLLING STONES, PINK FLOYD,RUSH, ETC. THE BRYSTON AMP SOUNDS OUTSTANDING. NO CLIPPING AT LEVELS IN EXCESS OF 100 dBa. CLEAR, CRISP, AND POWERFUL. I HAD THE CHANCE TO LISTEN TO THE 802's WITH A LEVINSON AMP,AND THE SPEAKERS DID SOUND BETTER TO ME. HOWEVER, I COULD NOT AFFORD THE LEVINSON. SURE,IF I HAD THE MONEY, I WOULD BUY SOME EXPENSIVE MONOBLOCKS, FROM TENOR, AUDIO RESEARCH, EDGE, HALCRO, ETC. HOWEVER, STEREOPHILE DOES RATE THE BRYSTON 14B SST AS A "CLASS A" AMP. AND IN AN ABSOLUTE SOUND ISSUE, ONE WRITER SAID THAT HE COULD NOT FIGURE WHY ANYONE WOULD PAY MORE FOR AN AMP, AFTER LISTENING TO THE 14B SST. IN CONCLUSION, GIVEN MY INCOME, THE 14B SST IS A SUPERB POWER AMPLIFIER AND SERVES MY PURPOSE VERY WELL. Similar Products Used: BRYSTON 4B ST. AND THE 3B SST. |
[Mar 12, 2002]
pete6737
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
Tons of power, super clean amplification, does not let you down when you kick it up a notch
Weakness:
none Well, after months of pining for this new amp, it is finally here and life is great. I am using it with a pair of B&W 803''s, with a 9Bst powering the 804 surrounds and center. This amp is everything the previous reviewers have stated. The amp has punch and finesse. I am finally hearing what my speakers can do since the upgrade from a weak Yamaha receiver. There is plenty of power to spare, and the led''s never even flinch when I crank it up. A dedicated 30 amp breaker and 10 gauge wire is going to be wired into the house, since the lights flicker when the amp is in full swing. I feel that the amp is not getting the max juice it deserves from the wall. Since the upgrade, I found that I don''t need the sub on music. This amp is great, and I recommend it to anyone. The build quality is fantastc and the warranty is the best in the business. I feel so strongly about this amp that it has caused me to write my first and probably only review here. Check it out for yourself, and you''ll be compelled to praise it also. Similar Products Used: Bryston 9Bst |
[Mar 07, 2002]
Pat
AudioPhile
Strength:
Natural sound, with sweet, non-fatiguing treble; controlled and powerful bass, and lovely midrange. Not likely to clip. Price reasonable for the level of quality.
Weakness:
You have to pay for it. It''s heavy. This amp replaced a roughly $3000, 10-year-old MOSFET amp from another high-end manufacturer. The Bryston is better in every way: clarity throughout the band, high-frequency reproduction, and stronger and better controlled bass. I had selected the old amp in a comparison among numerous high-end amps, some considerably more expensive. (At that time I lived in a big city.) However, the one I chose was the only one that could reproduce the high frequencies without what seemed to me a horribly etched presentation. The Bryston has bettered it by far, giving the most lovely, natural, and musical presentation of violins that I''ve heard from a stereo system. With my NHT 3.3 speakers, which are not shy or recessed in the highs, CDs that I had previously thought unlistenable have become deeply enjoyable. If you love string quartets or violin sonatas, you''ve got to hear this amp! It also sounds GREAT playing Bob Marley or Jimi Hendrix. My wife, who is neither an audiophile nor a critical listener, noticed the difference with the very first note. We were up for hours dancing to the music. I am more of a music lover than a gearhead, and this amp is great one for someone like that. No fiddling around with tubes, a 20 year transferrable warranty from Bryston, and very musical sound. I don''t listen at high volumes, but I suspect the huge power reserves of this amp contribute to its beautiful clarity and ease of presentation. I have rarely heard better sound that I am getting in my system from the Bryston 14B ST. I recommend that anyone looking for a power amp in or above its price range listen to it -- even those who think they would prefer something more exotic or something with tubes. You could be surprised. Similar Products Used: Adcom GFA-555 with Musical Concepts mods. Conrad-Johnson MF-2300A. Auditioned several older amps by Mark Levinson (Madrigal), Audio Research, and Conrad-Johnson. |
[Jan 16, 2002]
Don Clarke
Audiophile
Strength:
Musical at any volume
Weakness:
None Having worked in the audio industry at a high end store, I have had the chance to try far more equipment than the average person. I have tried the Audio Research Corp. amps,the Mark Levinsons, etc,and I have always felt that there was a real point of diminishing return......Pay 100% more to get a 5% improvement in sound. That is why,for my own use I have always bought "value for the dollar" amps like the Parasound,the Haffler or the Acoustat.After hearing the Bryston 14 B ST with my B&W Nautilus 802,s I can honestly say that until this amp, I hadn't really heard my speakers.What I was hearing was very good electronics making very good sound. With the big Bryston I am now hearing the "Music". This is hands down,price no object,the best sounding amp I have ever had the privilege to listen to.....period.In a word it is "Perfect" If power and musical prowess were analogous to water then this is the "Amazon" in a box.This is quite possibly the best value in audio.If you want to pay more for the aesthetics of the likes of Simm Audio and others that is certainly your privilege.For my money, when I buy stereo equipment,it is not to look at, but to listen to.You can certainly pay more money and buy prettier equipment but you won't get better "Music" for your dollar. This amp sounds truly amazing at high volume levels,as it should.Any quality amp capable of 500 watts/side should sound good at higher levels.....but what amazed me was the micro dynamics this amp is capable of. I have never heard my speakers sound so good at lower levels.The bass is deep and defined the high end is extended, with no harshness or grain and the sound stage extends well beyond the speakers with amazing detail. Some people say this amp sounds tube like...I don't agree. I don't think it sounds anything but Musical..and isn't that what it's all about! Similar Products Used: Parasound HCA 2200II,Acoustat TNT 200,Haffler DH 500 and many,many more |
[Jul 18, 2001]
Allan
Audiophile
Strength:
Smoothness, detail, balance, extension of both bass and treble.
Weakness:
None This is truly an outstanding amplifier. I have lived happily with my Bryston 3B-ST for years. It is certainly one of the best values in high end stereo. However, after upgrading to my Mark Levinson preamp, I was looking for that extra something. Thanks to local dealers, I was able to audition a number of amplifiers in my system. As my TV/VCR/DVD all run through my stereo system, tubes were not a practical option. Similar Products Used: Bryston 3B-ST, Moon W5, BAT VK-200, Pass Labs X150, GamuT D-200 |
[Jan 25, 2001]
David
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
Unlimited Power. Utter smoothness. Very high build quality. Understated appearance. 20 year warranty.
Weakness:
Not any that I can put my finger on. I find this to be one of the best amplifiers available. I also find this to be the best amplifier available at a reasonable cost. I have listened to the big Krells, Levinsons, etc. but I cannot rationalize the additional expense. Though the build and styling are superior on these units, I cannot say the same for the sound quality. I feel that Bryston has been given a bad rap. It is sort of rejected in audiophile circles. I refer you to the Stereophile issues that review the 9B-THX and the Krell FPB 350m. The Bryston measures every bit as well as the in all respects other than power output. Yet Atkinson says that the Krell is one of the few amps available that is available to get the most out of digital formats. The Bryston? The measurements reflect "... solid, reliable engineering. Snobs. The bottom line is that the Big Bryston drives my Maggie 3.6R as well as any other amp can. I did not have to pay for all the extras (like mirror finished chasis) and the "High End Tariff" that some feel is necessary to be a true high end piece of equipment. I highly recommend that anyone in the market for a high quality amplifier to check out the 14B. You may realize like I did that the hype is not worth the price. Similar Products Used: Classe', McIntosh, Krell, Mark Levinson, Jeff Rowland, and YBA |