B&W 802D-Mcintosh 501 or Bryston7B-SST?

[ED K]

Has anyone done an A/B audition on the Mcintosh 501 monoblocks and the Bryston 7B-SST with the B&W 802D speakers? If so which did you like best and why. Playing around with getting new amps but I wanted to see what the folks out there with 802Ds may have like the best.

[Indytown]

Has anyone done an A/B audition on the Mcintosh 501 monoblocks and the Bryston 7B-SST with the B&W 802D speakers? If so which did you like best and why. Playing around with getting new amps but I wanted to see what the folks out there with 802Ds may have like the best.

Ed,

MAC 501's with a MCD201 aand C220 2 channel pre-amp, simply superb. -

Indy

[ED K]

Indy, do you use the 501s ? My pre/pro is a mx135 and I'm using a MVD 861 player. My concern was that he 501 would not ave the base slam the Brystons do. But I believe that the mc 501s would have a less harsh mid/highs.

[DM3000 Owner]

I have Bryston 7b St's and N801's and I would definately not describe them as harsh. The sound is actually very similar to my previous tube setup. My preamp is a Musical Fidelity A308CR, which is not harsh ("Tubelike" - a term used everywhere) and have plenty of current to drive any amp. I can listen for hours with no fatigue.

Hope this helps.

Chris

[jim777]

Ed,

MAC 501's with a MCD201 aand C220 2 channel pre-amp, simply superb. -

Indy

And did you try the MCD201 strait into the 501's? balanced?

[Indytown]

Indy, do you use the 501s ? My pre/pro is a mx135 and I'm using a MVD 861 player. My concern was that he 501 would not ave the base slam the Brystons do. But I believe that the mc 501s would have a less harsh mid/highs.

Ed, I use the 501's with MCD201 and C220, run everything with balanced connections.

With your current set-up MVD861 and MX135 I think there would be more synergy with the 501's in place of the 7B's. I had a chance to audition the 7B's and they sounded very good, full, clean. To my ears, I found the 501's to have more air to them like the CAM 400, detail was all there like the CAM's but with more body and texture.

Best thing to do is audition a pair in your system. I like to listen to tracks with cymbal (should sound like brass and not shattering glass), bass guitar and kick drum should be able to clearly distinguish between the two, the snyer drum should have a in your face/smack to it. Mids and highs should have top end air to them. I agree there should be bass slam, that is up to you to determine what you prefer. I have no issues in that department with the 501's.

[Indytown]

And did you try the MCD201 strait into the 501's? balanced?

Jim, I did try the MCD201 straight with balanced connects, the bass was lounder and heavier, I prefered it through the C220.

[earwit]

ED,

I have come to the expensive conclusion if you want to bring out the most
from your 802d's you need to use a monoblock configuration...

I have listened to McIntosh 501's, Bryston 7b-SST, and let me include Classe M400's.
They are all wonderful amps and frankly I would be thankful to have any of them..

Bryston clearly does have a better low end with more punch, but the trade off is you
loose something in the mid and highs.. Also Bryston is a great value.

McIntosh doesn't have as much on the low end, but they are just so musical. When I listen to my Mcintosh amps I think less about the amp,
and more just about the music....

Bob

[ED K]

Thanks for your comments. At one time I had the Mcintosh 402 and it sounded pretty good ,,, good but not great. Then I went to (and currently have Bryston 7B-sst monoblocks). I have been happy with the Brystons (Great base !!!!!!) but the highs to my ears are a bit bright. I don't know if it's the 802D diamonds, my Brystons, my old ears or a combination of all three. The issue is that I really can't listen to music very long (any kind of music) before it becomes very fatigueing and I have to turn it off. This is the reason I'm looking at the 501s. Have been reading the thread comparing the 402 and the 501 with interest seeing what others say about the 501s compared to the 402 (which I didn't care for when I had it because of the bass issue).

[DM3000 Owner]

Ed,

We emailed a few times before I bought my Brystons. Thanks for the reccommendation. I have them and do not get fatigued at all. I listened to a pair of 802D's at a local dealer and they were way too bright as set up (I forget what they were driven with). The dealer said that they just needed to break in, but I could hardly stand to listen. Now, I am assuming that the D series is very good and he had a setup problem.

Keeping in mind that I am using N801's:

I used horns for years. They can be very bright and hard to listen to, but if the signal chain is set up correctly, they have no harshness and can be enjoyed for hours on end. This typically involves tubes.

Have you tried swapping preamps?

I used my Tube pre with my Brystons and N801's and there was no fatigue. I then switched to a Musical Fidelity A308CR and again, no fatigue. For what its worth, the Musical Fidelity pre's are described as "tubelike". I went with it because Kevin Deal of Upscale audio, a tube guru, highly reccommends them. It has worked very well for me. I am not necessairily saying to get a Musical Fidelity or a tube pre, but maybe audition something different.

Chris

[ED K]

Thanks Chris for your comments. I think the bryston 7Bs are great amps.Glad to hear you like them. Your comment about the pre amp sounds interesting. My problem is, and I'm sure it will contiue, is that I am forever tweaking. This may be my issue with the fitgue. I just replaced my digital ICs, power cords and installed a AC regeneration unit. My goal was to squezze all the detail I could get out of my system. It may be a good idea to go back to where I was before I spend more $$$$$$.Howerver,(here I go again) My dealer is a MF dealer along with Classe, Bryston and B&W. I'm sure he would be more than happy to let me audition some of his pre amps. :E

[Aussie Geoff]

Thanks for your comments. At one time I had the Mcintosh 402 and it sounded pretty good ,,, good but not great. Then I went to (and currently have Bryston 7B-sst monoblocks). I have been happy with the Brystons (Great base !!!!!!) but the highs to my ears are a bit bright. I don't know if it's the 802D diamonds, my Brystons, my old ears or a combination of all three. The issue is that I really can't listen to music very long (any kind of music) before it becomes very fatigueing and I have to turn it off. This is the reason I'm looking at the 501s. Have been reading the thread comparing the 402 and the 501 with interest seeing what others say about the 501s compared to the 402 (which I didn't care for when I had it because of the bass issue).

Ed,

A 'left field' idea for you - have you tried changing cables / cable configuratons. For example moving from non-bi wired to bi-wired (or visa versa) and / or changing the cables between your CD and pre and the pre and amps. Cables can for some people's ears make subtle changes to the tonal balance. I have found the B&W 800 series very revelaling and you may want a cable combination which (to your ears) softens / sweetens the treble...

PS - I'm not looking for a long cable discussion here as to what is best - but I may be interesting of others have found changing cables changes the sound...

Geoff

[ED K]

Geoff - I agree with you that we not start a cable discusion. I think your idea is a good one. I think part of my problem is that I have recently made some massive cable/IC changes so I could increase detail. I think I may have accomplished just that, at the expense of listenability. The Bryston7B-SSTs are excellent amps and it makes sense to try and get back to where I was. Thanks for the words of wisdom!
Ed

[tboooe]

Ed, here is another "left field" idea for you...what about room treatments. Is it possible that you have an overly bright room?

[ED K]

I think my room is ok. About six months ago I was on "another mission" to correct some problems. My room is 14' wide by 19+' long with a ceiling height of 8' at one end and 16' at the other. The floor is carpeted, Large leather furniture, base traps, Rug on one wall plus other sound absorbing treatments. I really think that since I retired I have much to much time to play with my system. But I guess it could be worse!!! Thanks for you thoughts.
ED

[jim777]

Jim, I did try the MCD201 straight with balanced connects, the bass was lounder and heavier, I prefered it through the C220.

Today I listened to 802D's with a MCD201, C220 and MC275. I now understand your comment, I also had a large preference for leaving the C220 in between!

[jlr_1304]

a bit OT, but there are 3 MCD201 on sale at audiogon. Is there something going on with this unit ?

[jlr_1304]

I'm lurkin also 501's monoblocs to go with my N802. I'm unsing for now MC7300 as monoblocs. Would there be a huge difference in sound?

[ED K]

If you look on audiokarma.org(in the mcintosh forum) you will see a heated discussion going on about the MCD201. Seems that a number of people are not all that pleased with the 201 right now. There are some mods that need to be installed to resolve some current issues. I think some people are just looking to get out now (your comment about MCD201 for sale on Audiogon) . However, there are still a number of people who are standing by Mcintosh and the MCD201.