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The 14B-SST's treble was clear and extended. My beliefs about bridged circuits—which were already changing—had led to me to expect etched highs and zippy transients. Not so with the 14B-SST. It delivered effortless, grain-free, extended highs. Vocal sibilants, which could trouble the beginning of Paul Simon's "Trailways Bus," didn't hiss, but were natural without being too soft. Billy Drummond's opening brushwork on his ride cymbal in "The Mooche," from the Jerome Harris Quintet's Rendezvous (Stereophile STPH013-2), had the characteristic buzz and shimmer of wire brushes and not—as it does…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Solid-state, dual-mono power amplifier with balanced and unbalanced inputs. Specified output power (at 2kHz): 600Wpc into 8 ohms (27.8dBW), 900W into 4 ohms (26.5dBW). Distortion: 0.007%, 20Hz-20kHz. Intermodulation distortion: 0.002%, 60Hz+7kHz, mixed 4:1. S/N Ratio: 112dB ref. full output, input shorted, 20Hz-20kHz bandpass. Power bandwidth: 1Hz-100kHz -3dB. Damping factor: >300 at 20Hz, ref. 8 ohms. Input sensitivity: 2.2V unbalanced, 4.5V balanced, both for full output. Input impedance: 50k ohms unbalanced, 20k ohms balanced. Polarity:…
Sidebar 2: The 14B-SST against the 7B-SST
The 14B-SST differs from the 7B-ST and 7B-SST in several ways. The 14B-SST is a single-chassis product that is 6.6" deeper, 1.75" taller, and 41 lbs heavier than a single 7B-ST. Only the 14B-SST is available in both 240V/10A and 120V/15- and 20A versions.
Like the 14B-SST's, the power supply of Bryston's new 7B-SST will feature 100,000µF of capacitance, and will use the 14B-SST's more rugged bipolar output power transistor, supplied in a larger package with higher power handling. Also included will be the 14B-SST's new power-supply design…
Sidebar 3: Associated Equipment
Analog source: Linn Sondek LP12/Lingo turntable, Linn Ittok tonearm, Spectral moving-coil cartridge.
Digital sources: Krell KRC-28 CD player, Sony SCD-C555ES multichannel SACD/CD player.
FM tuners: Day-Sequerra FM Reference Classic, Rotel RH-10, Magnum Dynalab MD-102 and 205 Sleuth RF amplifier, Fanfare FT-1A.
Preamplification: Krell KCT, Sony TA-P9000ES, Mark Levinson ML-7A with L-2 phono section, Conrad-Johnson Premier 18LS preamplifiers; Margulis, Duntech MX-10 moving-coil phono preamplifiers.
Power amplifiers: Mark Levinson No.334, Krell…
Sidebar 4: Measurements
After checking for continuity and the optimal grounding between the device under test and the Audio Precision System One test gear, my usual routine for an amplifier review is to run the amp for 60 minutes at 1/3 power into 8 ohms. This preconditioning both thermally stresses the amplifier and makes sure its operating conditions have stabilized.
With the Bryston 14B-SST, however, not only was its chassis too hot to touch after just 20 minutes of driving 200Wpc into 8 ohms, it turned itself off after 25 minutes. While this IHF-recommended test is very much…
THEATER OF VOICES: The Age of Cathedrals
Paul Elliott, Alan Bennet; Theater of Voices: Neal Rogers, Mark Daniel, Hugh Davies, Tom Hart, Boyd Jarrell; Paul Hillier, dir.
Harmonia Mundi France HMC 907157 (CD only). Robina G. Young, prod.; Craig Silvey, eng. AAD? 1996. TT: 77:18
Performance ******
Sonics *****
Paul Elliott, Alan Bennet; Theater of Voices: Neal Rogers, Mark Daniel, Hugh Davies, Tom Hart, Boyd Jarrell; Paul Hillier, dir.
Harmonia Mundi France HMC 907157 (CD only). Robina G. Young, prod.; Craig Silvey, eng. AAD? 1996. TT: 77:18
Performance ******
Sonics *****
This disc is an exploration of the rich polyphonic tradition of the cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris, as well as that of the abbey of St. Martial de Limoges (Aquitaine), itself the wellspring of French medieval poetry and music, both monophonic and polyphonic. The four…
In the ongoing audiophile debate over the relative merits of solid-state vs tube amplification, compelling cases can be made for the overall musicality of both methods. And while there's a lot to be said for the dynamic headroom, bass focus, clarity, frequency extension, and silent performance of solid-state gear, it's funny how much you can come to miss the aural verities of tube electronics after a prolonged absence.
I realize that not everyone can afford to (as I've suggested in past equipment reports) split the difference by mating a tubed preamp to a solid-state power amplifier. But…
"We favor the 12AU7 because it has [more drive and less gain]. For power tubes we are using Russian-made Sovtek 6550s. The 6550s are very detailed in terms of image; they have a wide soundstage and good low extension. Our designer believes that because the KT90 has higher voltage on the grid, he can push the tube a little bit further to achieve better bass and a better image—and that [the] tube will last longer. That's our only reservation about the 6550s—that they cannot be pushed quite as far as the KT90, which we've been using in our triode amplifiers, and were planning on using in the…
A softening effect? Okay, but not really rolled-off in an exaggerated triode sense. The Starlet's top end was sweet and glistening. Bright sounds came out bright, more so than with some modern solid-state amps of my acquaintance—and boy, did the trumpets on Doc Cheatham & Nicholas Payton (Verve 314 537 062-2) ever come out right, warm and shimmering with all of their harmonic nuances and dynamics of attack rendered intact, with both romance and discipline. Some might find this sort of midrange a tad opaque and lacking in a certain cool, extra-deep transparency, but triode freaks should…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Vacuum-tube integrated amplifier with three line-level inputs, active preamplifier (+20dB) stage and class-A triode output stage. Tube complement: four 6550, five 5814A. Power output (20Hz-20kHz, 1% harmonic distortion): 40Wpc (16dBW). "Music" power: 100W before clipping. Preferred load impedance: 4 ohms (optional internal tap can also be configured for 8 or 16 ohms). Input impedance: 500k ohms. Sensitivity: 150mV (-14dB). Bandwidth: 10Hz-25kHz at 1W, 20Hz-20kHz at 40W. S/N Ratio: 92dB.
Dimensions: 18" W by 8.5" H by 16" D. Weight: 65 lbs…