Dual Bryston 2B's

 

Gold Member
Username: Dmitchell

Ottawa, Ontario Canada

Post Number: 1188
Registered: Feb-07
Just picked up two Bryston 2B amps that a local guy was selling.

Still had the original boxes,manual and brochure - from 1979! The amps are in perfect condition, no scratches or dents. The only problem I can find with one is the green LED is very dim. Oh well.

Running them bridged driving my Sttafs. Much more musical and neutral sounding than the Rotel.
 

Gold Member
Username: Artk

Albany, Oregon USA

Post Number: 7345
Registered: Feb-05
Congrats David...nice score.
 

Gold Member
Username: Dmitchell

Ottawa, Ontario Canada

Post Number: 1189
Registered: Feb-07
Thanks Art. The price was right too, I think.
 

Platinum Member
Username: Nuck

Post Number: 10554
Registered: Dec-04
Cool, David, you sure are adding up equipment!
Are these SST units?
 

Gold Member
Username: Dmitchell

Ottawa, Ontario Canada

Post Number: 1190
Registered: Feb-07
Nope, these are the original, run of the mill 2Bs.

They still sound pretty nice, though.
 

Platinum Member
Username: Nuck

Post Number: 10556
Registered: Dec-04
I bet!
 

Bronze Member
Username: Snapcat

Post Number: 67
Registered: Oct-07
Nice find!

Have you compared these with the mono's you have on the same setup?

I like learning about new stuff with your money

 

Platinum Member
Username: Nuck

Post Number: 10558
Registered: Dec-04
 

Gold Member
Username: Dmitchell

Ottawa, Ontario Canada

Post Number: 1191
Registered: Feb-07
lol snapcat. Haven't had a chance to compare them yet really. I'll let ya know, when I do.
 

Bronze Member
Username: Snapcat

Post Number: 71
Registered: Oct-07
What a fun hobby; or illness depending on who you ask.

I just dropped a load on a preamp and new DAC.
 

Gold Member
Username: Dmitchell

Ottawa, Ontario Canada

Post Number: 1192
Registered: Feb-07
Luckily my wife fully supports my habit.
 

Platinum Member
Username: Nuck

Post Number: 10561
Registered: Dec-04
Luckily your career also supports the same, Dave. LOL!
I hear ya man, all except the wife part.
 

Gold Member
Username: Dmitchell

Ottawa, Ontario Canada

Post Number: 1193
Registered: Feb-07
True Nuck... right now my work allows me enough disposible income to pursue my obsession. May not always be the case, but you take it as it comes, right?
 

Platinum Member
Username: Nuck

Post Number: 10564
Registered: Dec-04
Ya mon.
Ya take what ya get.
Cheers, Buddy.
I will say hi from Jamaica tomorrow.

Working there for a few days.
 

Gold Member
Username: Dmitchell

Ottawa, Ontario Canada

Post Number: 1194
Registered: Feb-07
Nice!

You bugger :-P
 

Gold Member
Username: Stu_pitt

Irvington, New York USA

Post Number: 2909
Registered: May-05
Dave,

Great pick up on those amps. When funds recover, you may want to contact Bryston and have them service/update it. I've heard they'll give it a complete look over and bring it back up to original specs, if not better. I don't think its expensive to do either.

Just something to think about.
 

Gold Member
Username: Dmitchell

Ottawa, Ontario Canada

Post Number: 1195
Registered: Feb-07
That's what I plan on doing sooner than later, Stu. I think I'd like to hold onto these ones for a long time.
 

Bronze Member
Username: Betamax

Canada

Post Number: 53
Registered: May-07
Great purchase there, David. I've got a B60, so I'll probably get a second-hand 2B sometime to compliment it. Thanks for posting your good results; it encourages me to definitely get it done.
 

Gold Member
Username: Dmitchell

Ottawa, Ontario Canada

Post Number: 1196
Registered: Feb-07
Wish I had scored the SST version of 'em, but still, I'm pretty happy.

Love to hear them with a B60.
 

Gold Member
Username: Nickelbut10

Post Number: 1675
Registered: Jun-07
I cant believe I have never seen this thread.lol

Bravo David, wicked pick up. FWIW I also contacted Brian from Bryston a while back. Great guy. He said anytime they will give the amp a one two over-hall of any 'Legacy' amp for a roughly 75-100 dollars. Also, you guys may think I am crazy, but to my ears, the sonic differences between the Legacy to the SST series is very minimum.
 

Gold Member
Username: Nickelbut10

Post Number: 1676
Registered: Jun-07
Brian from Bryston also said, if you Legacy amp is working perfectly fine, then there is no need to waste your money on bringing it in. That came from his own mouth not mine.lol.
 

Gold Member
Username: Dmitchell

Ottawa, Ontario Canada

Post Number: 1197
Registered: Feb-07
Cool. Thanks for the info Nick.
 

Gold Member
Username: Stu_pitt

Irvington, New York USA

Post Number: 2918
Registered: May-05
Keep in mind that the 2Bs are almost 30 years old. It shows you how seriously Bryston takes their reliability claims and build quality, but they're 30 years old. I'm sure something in it has to be coming close to the end of its run. Maybe not though, it is a Bryston after all.

If you're close to Peterborough, you can save on shipping by dropping it off.
 

Platinum Member
Username: Nuck

Post Number: 10566
Registered: Dec-04
Same year as the introduction of the SST model, at double the power, among other things.
Bryston will baby these...
 

Platinum Member
Username: Nuck

Post Number: 10567
Registered: Dec-04
I almost had a deal to trade a spare Classe amp for a pair of the SST's

Wonder if I can find the dude again...
 

Gold Member
Username: Dmitchell

Ottawa, Ontario Canada

Post Number: 1199
Registered: Feb-07
So what do they actually do when one sends an old amp back to Bryston?
 

Platinum Member
Username: Nuck

Post Number: 10577
Registered: Dec-04
Overhaul, recap, clean, etc.
Measure all output devices for compliance and matching.
They will drop in a power supply for the SST uprade as well, I believe for a surprisingly good price.
Those guys love their gear like Mac does.
 

Gold Member
Username: Dmitchell

Ottawa, Ontario Canada

Post Number: 1202
Registered: Feb-07
I just drove back from Niagara Falls this week. I could have dropped them off. Oh well.
 

Gold Member
Username: Stu_pitt

Irvington, New York USA

Post Number: 2919
Registered: May-05
"They will drop in a power supply for the SST uprade as well"

Not always. There are a few pieces that can't be converted - B60s being one. The B60 is based on the 2B, so I'm not sure if it can be upgraded to an SST or not. Also keep in mind that the 2B SST is a different amp than the 2B LP. The SST is 100 wpc, the LP is 60. I highly doubt they'll turn it into a 2B SST.

But as Nuck said, clean, recap, measure, replace what needs to be, etc.

I read somewhere that a guy sent an older amp in to be checked over and they updated it to the current model, including detachable power cord. I beleive he said it cost him about $100 or so, including shipping. That was about 7 years ago.
 

Platinum Member
Username: Nuck

Post Number: 10580
Registered: Dec-04
Thanks, Stu. I may have had the case sizes wrong.
The guy I was dealing with had the SST's and he had them redone. I think Bryston plunked in some new gelcaps.
Nice.
Do it, Dave.
 

Gold Member
Username: Stu_pitt

Irvington, New York USA

Post Number: 2921
Registered: May-05
I'm pretty sure most other Bryston amps can be upgraded. I'm doubtful on the 2B though.

Here's how I came to my conclusion -
The original B60s weren't SSTs. New newer ones are. Original B60s can't be converted, as confirmed by their servive center and James Tanner (VP of Marketing) on Audio Circle.

Luckily, I got the 60th B60 SST made.

David and other Bryston owners -

If you haven't done so already, check out the Bryston Circle on Audio Circle. James Tanner is a regular there, as well as some appearences by engineers.

P.S. - You may want to ask this question in the Bryson circle David, or call Bryston's Canada servive center.
 

Gold Member
Username: Dmitchell

Ottawa, Ontario Canada

Post Number: 1206
Registered: Feb-07
Awesome. Thanks Stu.
 

Platinum Member
Username: Nuck

Post Number: 10585
Registered: Dec-04
Cool, Stu.
 

Gold Member
Username: Dmitchell

Ottawa, Ontario Canada

Post Number: 1426
Registered: Feb-07
So I got a rough estimate back from Bryston today.

$100 for parts
$300-$450 for labour
+ shipping

Total could be up to $600 bucks. That's more than I paid for them!

I think I'll live with the burned out LED.
 

Silver Member
Username: Soundgame

Richmond Hill Toronto ..., Ontario Canada

Post Number: 107
Registered: Jun-08
Bummer Dave. I'd live with the burnt LED, as well. Let the next owner worry about it.
So that quote would just be for the LED or would they do a full tune up to spec.
 

Gold Member
Username: Dmitchell

Ottawa, Ontario Canada

Post Number: 1427
Registered: Feb-07
The quote was for a full tune-up, plus LED replacement.

I sure would be curious to hear the difference the Bryston guys could make with the old amps, but I'm really not willing to invest that sorta coin in 20 year gear.
 

Gold Member
Username: Nickelbut10

Post Number: 1892
Registered: Jun-07
At least it still has the sound of a Bryston Dave. Cheers man.
 

Gold Member
Username: Dmitchell

Ottawa, Ontario Canada

Post Number: 1436
Registered: Feb-07
You bet.
 

Gold Member
Username: Nickelbut10

Post Number: 1897
Registered: Jun-07
Technically, if you wanted Dave. You could sell the pair of them for what you paid, if not more, and get that used Pre Amp for around the same money. I see BP20's all the time for around the 600 mark. BOING!!
 

Gold Member
Username: Dmitchell

Ottawa, Ontario Canada

Post Number: 1439
Registered: Feb-07
I'm kicking around the idea, Nick.

I still have the original boxes from the 2B's (from 1979!), so re-selling them would be no-brainer.
 

Gold Member
Username: Nickelbut10

Post Number: 1899
Registered: Jun-07
Yuppers. I see Bryston Mono-Blocks paired with a Bryston Pre in your near future.lol
 

Gold Member
Username: Dmitchell

Ottawa, Ontario Canada

Post Number: 1441
Registered: Feb-07
You must be psychic!
 

Gold Member
Username: Dmitchell

Ottawa, Ontario Canada

Post Number: 1443
Registered: Feb-07
Stu, the Bryston Circle is cool. Thanks for the tip.
 

Silver Member
Username: Soundgame

Richmond Hill Toronto ..., Ontario Canada

Post Number: 109
Registered: Jun-08
Hey Dave. I know your 120's are newer and more powerful but what would you say is the difference you hear between them and the 2B's? Is it just volume? Are the 120's clearer and tighter? Is there a difference in the soundstage and imaging? Have you done an A/B compare?

Oh, is there anyway Bryston will negotiate on the fix. Are there other shops that have expertise with Bryston equipment and do it cheaper?
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