Planning to upgrade my amp for all the wrong reasons

[Whiskey the Cat]

The "wrong" reasons being that I want to improve the appearance and operation of my system, but I don't think I can get any improvement in sound. In my living room system I have B&W 702 S3 floor standing speakers which I very much like and will keep. They are driven by a Moon 330A amp at 125 Wpc, which in turn is driven by a Benchmark DAC3 HGC, while the sources are a Naim streamer and server, and an AudioLab 9000CDT. Some things are black, some chrome, and all the styles are completely different. It looks a visual mess! And each has its own remote. I have on order a new custom built stereo stand, but I realized that the visual clutter will remain if I don't change the electronics.

I would like to get a really good integrated amp and a "matching" CD player (I feel guilty even writing that!). As I live near Toronto I have always been aware of Bryston, who are within a few hours drive, but have never owned any of their stuff. Now could be the time to change. I am thinking of the Bi200 integrated amp and possibly the BCD3 player. I would keep the Naim streamer and hide it on a lower shelf. I think that should sound as good as what I have now and look good doing it. Any thoughts?

I should also say that I have a full Benchmark system (DAC 3B, HPA4, and AHB2) in another room driving KEF R3 Meta speakers. It also sounds excellent (of course!), and I very much enjoy it. I thought of moving it to the living room, but it doesn't win any prizes for beauty either. It has a very industrial look and would not fit with the room. So... a very nice problem to have, you are probably thinking, but I am getting on in years, and can afford equipment now I could only dream about while my family was growing up, so why not?

I would appreciate any thoughts on the Bryston or good alternatives. (I thought briefly about Accuphase as they get lots of love here, but the price is outside my range, and I like the local aspect of Bryston.)

 

[bargainguy]

I think the Bryston system is an excellent choice, and their equipment has a reputation for being long-lasting and durable.

If you want to stay Canadian, perhaps NAD's M series amplifiers (more elegant) would work better than the C series (more industrial).

You also have one Canadian component already in the Simaudio Moon 330A. If you need everything to match, sell off the rest of your components and get a Moon 390 network player/preamp and maybe the 260D transport. That is a classy-looking system in my view.

 

[Salt]

Why to be shy about Bryston?
They are all solid engineered an made to last for eternity.

 

[Oddball]

Bryston makes quality products. Some of their 30Y old amps are still working well. Mine are 15 years and going very strong.

However, I would give some thought about room correction as well - and perhaps a sub.

 

[voodooless]

Get something with room correction. It’s the only right reason.

 

[Jarrett]

They are doing a Bi101 next year!

I hear that though. I became more concerned with having a system I can "live with," as I got older. Didn't want black pieces sucking all the light out.

I'm sure the Bryston CD player is great if you want it for an eternity, yet on the flipside, Bryston digital is not updated all that often, which is one drawback of the company.

 

[Jarrett]

Get something with room correction. It’s the only right reason.

I agree! It's the last step, but what a big difference. I went umik-1 + Audiolense, and it's funny because the learning curve expanded my enjoyment of the hobby.

 

[Whiskey the Cat]

I agree! It's the last step, but what a big difference. I went umik-1 + Audiolense, and it's funny because the learning curve expanded my enjoyment of the hobby.

But I'm trying to cut down on clutter hence the integrated side of the amp. This sounds like I would be adding more complexity. (I will need to look up what Audiolense is all about.)

 

[mps]

Since you value matching, fewer remotes, and already have a Naim streamer in the mix, how about their CD player and matching integrated amp (Nait)? Without debating any other questions about them, I find them very attractive, especially as a matched set.

 

[CuteStudio]

I want to improve the appearance and operation of my system

While your thoughts on replacement are eminently sensible, if you are after looks, then I would suggest now is not the time to be sensible, and strongly consider something that's really going to catch the eye, such as a giant McIntosh amplifier with big blue meters, or for the evenings a big tube amp with glowing tubes.
Essentially shiny switches, knobs and big dials paired with some top designs would I think, be my recommendation

 

[Snoopy]

You could also look into a refurbished Vintage accuphase / Luxman integrated if you are looking for something that is easy on the eye , that’s a good option.

 

[Whiskey the Cat]

Thanks for the suggestion. But it also has to sound really good. I am confident the Bryston, McIntosh, NAD suggestions will satisfy this requirement. The only Accuphase integrated that @amirm tested did not impress.

 

[sceptical1]

You should completely rethink your choices. You could drive to Cleveland quicker than Dwight. Not local anymore.
What is the obsession with bling, who are you showing it off to? Just curious.

 

[Whiskey the Cat]

I don’t think that can be true. Dwight is just the other side of Toronto from me, so a trip along the 401 would cover most of it. But why would I go to Cleveland? What is there? As for the “bling”, I’m only looking to impress me.

 

[TurtlePaul]

Bryston makes good stuff but make you pay for it. It seems silly to me to spend more for the BI200 amp than the price of the speakers. I personally couldn’t justify buying an $8k amp just for the look, but it is your money.

 

[Whiskey the Cat]

Actually I just looked up the price of the amp and my speakers at my dealer. The speakers are about a hundred more than the amp, but with a bit of negotiating, who knows? But why does it matter what the speakers cost? If they had cost $200 and work for me then that is all I should spend. No? But you are right that this is not logical – as I indicated in the title. If I was being purely logical – and most of the decisions in my life have been exactly that – then I would buy a Topping pre-amp/ headphone amp and couple it with a DIY class D power amp. I’m pretty sure I would not be able to tell the difference in sound. But the satisfaction of seeing it in front of me would be absent, and so would the knowledge that I will be lucky if I manage to last longer than the (20 year) warranty.

 

[TurtlePaul]

Actually I just looked up the price of the amp and my speakers at my dealer. The speakers are about a hundred more than the amp, but with a bit of negotiating, who knows? But why does it matter what the speakers cost? If they had cost $200 and work for me then that is all I should spend. No? But you are right that this is not logical – as I indicated in the title. If I was being purely logical – and most of the decisions in my life have been exactly that – then I would buy a Topping pre-amp/ headphone amp and couple it with a DIY class D power amp. I’m pretty sure I would not be able to tell the difference in sound. But the satisfaction of seeing it in front of me would be absent, and so would the knowledge that I will be lucky if I manage to last longer than the (20 year) warranty.

Let's put it this way. You are paying for ~$1000 of audio performance and $7k of looks (and warranty).

Unless you have audiophile friends, nobody would know the difference between the Bryston, a Yamaha R-N1000a, an Outlaw RR-2160mk2, a Cambridge CXA81mk2, a Rotel RA-1572mk2, etc. They will all sound the same, they are all silver and not black. The Bryston is $6-7k more than all those others.

 

[Whiskey the Cat]

You’re right!

 

[Mart68]

Looks and build quality are valid reasons for paying more, when you can comfortably afford it. Bryston's an excellent choice.

When I've had equipment I didn't like the look of it was only a mild irritation but I got it every time I looked at it.

 

[Groove01]

Bryston is excellent, built to last forever, and has a ridiculously good warranty. You’re paying for those last 2 for sure.

You really can’t go wrong with the suggestions McIntosh, Bryston, etc. There are certainly other options, but at that point you’re really deciding on fit, form, and finish.

Pick the one that best matches the form and function you are looking for. The good thing about Bryston, Mac, Accuphase, etc., is you will be able to repair it for as long as you want to own it (if ever needed).

Look on the 2nd hand mkt, I believe Bryston has a transferable warranty-IIRC.