Authorized re-print of:
Home Theater Magazine

By Chris Lewis

For the small companies that make up most of the high-end-audio realm, there's a constant struggle between the inevitable march of progress and the good old "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" philosophy. More and more, these companies find themselves competing in the same categories with larger, mass-market companies that thrive on releasing new models every year with what they claim to be a slew of improvements and new features. As the word "new" has unfortunately become almost synonymous with "better" for many people, these small companies are forced to walk the fine line between being perceived as stale or outdated and not messing up what already represents their best efforts in many cases. Certainly, new technologies emerge, as do new design philosophies. Changes - sometimes major ones - can obviously be beneficial. However, change simply for the sake of change can have far more negative ramifications in the high end than it does anywhere else.

It's likely that Bryston was dealing with issues like this when they decided to give their well-regarded ST line an update, including replacing the popular 9B ST THX with the new 9B SST. As I initially suspected and my listening tests later confirmed, Bryston has done what legitimate high-end companies usually do in these situations: They made relatively minor changes based on new technology while still maintaining the fundamental principles that made the 9B ST such a well-liked amplifier in the first place. These changes have their noticeable effects, but they do nothing to change the 9B's - ST or SST - bottom line of big, quick power, wide dynamic range, and build quality that doesn't quit, literally or figuratively.

I don't have the space here to go into detail about the SST's changes, but they're more than just window dressing. Highlights include more linear, reliable output transistors that are faster and improve high-frequency accuracy (just in time for DVDAudio and SACD) and a doubling of filter capacitance. A new heatsink design looks to keep things cooler, and Bryston has also incorporated a proprietary new grounding protocol that eliminates the need for ground-lift switches and reduces system noise.

The 9B fundamentals are still in place, though, starting with the continued exclusive use of five completely independent amplifier modules (OK, they do share the AC power cord), creating what is essentially five 120-watt monoblock amplifiers in a single chassis. This means that each channel has a good-sized toroidal transformer and multiple filter capacitors, in place of the more-standard configuration of one or two transformers and pair of large filter cans for all five channels. As everything else (including a motherboard) is also exclusive to its particular channel, you can replace an entire channel section if need be without upsetting any other section of the amplifier. As for this design philosophy's benefits, they're still being hotly contested in the wider context of the monoblocks-versus-multichannel debate. Putting aside more-intricate issues like crosstalk for now, I simply like the fact that monoblocks-whether separate or in one chassis-remove doubt from the equation. I like knowing that each channel will have its own dedicated power the millisecond it needs it for music or movie soundtracks that require five hard-driving, full-range channels of power. Truth be told, with most well-designed multichannel amps, power-sharing issues won't come up often, but some manufacturers figure, why not be sure?

The 9B SST THX's rear panel offers some interesting perks, starting with balanced XLR inputs and, of course, unbalanced RCAs. There's also an input-sensitivity switch (1 volt per 29 decibels for unbalanced; 2 volts per 23 dB for balanced; 4 volts per 17 dB for high-output preamps-all based on 100 watts at 8 ohms) for each channel, as well as a polarity switch (0 or 180 degrees). The CE-compliant binding posts accept bananas, 0.625-inch spade lugs, or bare wire. On the slick black or silver front panel, LEDs flash red to indicate clipping. Inside and out, build quality is absolutely first-rate, as both the THX Ultra certification and Bryston's 20-year warranty attest to.

I tested the 9B SST using a couple of quality, neutral pre/pros: the midpriced Anthem AVM 20 and the loftier Lexicon MC-12. For speakers, I stuck primarily to midpriced contenders like an Energy Veritas setup and B&W's CDM Series. Sources included a Philips SACD-1000 SACD/DVD player and Meridian's 598 DVD-Audio player, and I used both balanced and unbalanced interconnects.

Quality two-channel recordings immediately revealed an excellent sense of texture and depth in the critical midrange frequencies. Paco de Lucia's frenetic guitar attack on "Live in America" from the second Burmester collection was sharp and controlled but also bold and spacious, with perfect timing. Naturally, vocals benefited, as well, especially with the Energy Veritas V2.4 tower's transparent midrange. Even though I've been spoiled by DVD-Audio and SACD, the resolution of Stevie Ray Vaughn's voice on "Tin Pan Alley" was unmistakable. I heard singing, breathing, the shuffling of feet, and most everything else the microphone originally picked up. Upper frequencies were similarly well crafted. The potent cymbal barrages of Pink Floyd's "Another Brick in the Wall" were as speedy and full as they could be while resisting any temptation toward ringing and sibilance. The V2.4's tweeter can get away from some amps, but the 9B SST retained a firm grip that paid major dividends.

With big multichannel amps, people tend to focus on raw power and bass-both of which are abundant with the 9B SST. However, as I switched over to multichannel music, it was this amp's performance with midrange and high frequencies that sucked me in. The clarinet's timbre throughout Bucky Pizzarelli's outstanding Swing Live disc was as true as I've heard it. High notes hit with passion and attack but didn't drive you out of the room with hardness or excessive bite. The 9B SST slugged its way through Jerry Goldsmith's dense SACD rendering of "The Generals" with little obvious effort, even at higher volumes. If you think 120 watts is a low power rating, don't worry. This amp has plenty of current and punch to fill rooms far larger than those it will likely be used in, and it does so without any compromise in dynamic range. "The Generals" runs the gamut from loud to soft and dense to sparse, and the Bryston was ready with instant power and a massive, well-defined stage.

I gave the amp's bass performance its due attention with movie soundtracks, especially when I cut the sub and let the 9B SST and the front speakers carry the load. As with music, the Bryston's bass performance with movies was deep and rich. Again, control was superb. I've used few multichannel amps at any price that exhibit this kind of control over a driver, from tweeter to woofer. This was especially evident with the wide array of sounds that the standard movie soundtrack presents. Snatch offered the 9B SST a little taste of a lot of things, and the amp responded enthusiastically. Chapter 26 presents the pounding of human flesh, gunshots, dialogue of all intensities, car engines, and plenty more. The 9B SST ate all this up, and it handled dialogue particularly well, thanks again to the clarity and resolution it delivers in the midrange. With large explosions, bass was punchy and well extended. People tend to forget what a pair of smaller woofers, like those on the Energies and the B&Ws, can do with the right amp behind them. Compression only reared its head at an intense volume. If you regularly listen to your material at this level, compression will be the least of your concerns before long.

Already familiar with the 9B ST in its own skin (and in the skin of at least one other well-respected electronics company), I was pleased to see that, at the end of the road, the 9B SST THX not only retains everything I liked about its predecessor, but it actually sounds better, especially in the upper frequencies. Thankfully, change isn't usually a high-end manufacturer's primary motivation, but you have to like it when it comes for the right reasons and helps a good product become even better. In its new SST guise, the 9B remains an excellent choice in the midprice range of multichannel amplifiers.

We invite you to experience the Bryston SST² Series amplifiers

20 Year Warranty - A Generation of Music