Bryston 3BSST2 x 2 in mono….Thoughts?

[JWJW]

I've been running a 9BSST2 + 3BSST2 in my HT rig now for a few months. I LOVE my Bryston amps. So much, I have been considering adding another 3BSST2 to have mono pair running my front speakers. It would be much more economical to add another 3B than to sell my existing and move up to a pair of 7B's.

Is anyone else running 3BSST2's in mono? Curious on your results.

Thoughts and your input please.

[Formerly YB-2]

Ran a pair of 3B-ST (considerably different amp, but Bryston and fell into their product line at the same place) as mono-blocks for a number of years and thought they were excellent. Probably my favorite solid-state amps. So much so that I only recently sold, thinking I might some day go back to them. Still have a pair of 2B-LT amps. Terrific gear.

[JWJW]

Originally Posted by Formerly YB-2

Ran a pair of 3B-ST (considerably different amp, but Bryston and fell into their product line at the same place) as mono-blocks for a number of years and thought they were excellent. Probably my favorite solid-state amps. So much so that I only recently sold, thinking I might some day go back to them. Still have a pair of 2B-LT amps. Terrific gear.

Thanks. I want to "pull the trigger" so bad on a second 3BSST2!

I REALLY enjoy listening to my Bryston HT rig. I couldn't be happier with my SST2 amps. I just wish the SP3 was priced more reasonably. I just can't see spending almost $10k for a processor.

[Masterlu]

Someone call me?

[Pider]

Or, PM me. I have a Bryston 3B SST2 I'd consider selling.

[James Tanner - Bryston]

Hi

You have to be carful when you mono or bridge a stereo amplifier as the bridged amp will 'see' 1/2 of the impedance it does in stereo.

So a 4 ohm load becomes a 2 ohm load and depending on the type of load (reactive vs passive) it may cause the amplifiers protection circuits to operate on music peaks as it is trying to deliver high current into very low impedances.

So generally speaking we do not recommended mono-ing stereo amps into any load less than a non-reactive 8 ohms.

james

[JWJW]

You guys are killing me!!!!!

[JWJW]

Originally Posted by James Tanner - Bryston

Hi

You have to be carful when you mono or bridge a stereo amplifier as the bridged amp will 'see' 1/2 of the impedance it does in stereo.

So a 4 ohm load becomes a 2 ohm load and depending on the type of load (reactive vs passive) it may cause the amplifiers protection circuits to operate on music peaks as it is trying to deliver high current into very low impedances.

So generally speaking we do not recommended mono-ing stereo amps into any load less than a non-reactive 8 ohms.

james

Thanks! Do you think it would be fine with my Klipsch Cornwall III? They are 8 ohm.

[Rod#S]

Based on James' response I guess the question would be do you know if those Klipsch speakers dip over their frequency range? For example my B&W's are rated at 8ohms however they dip into the 3ohm range at certain frequencies.

[Rod#S]

Another thought, although I'm sure a pair of 7's would be awesome have you thought about replacing the 3 with a 4? That would be much cheaper than a pair of 7's plus it is basically delivering the same power that a pair of 3's would when running in bridged mode.