ME25/850 vs Bryston B135 SST2 vs Esoteric I-05

[muzzagruzz]

Hey Peeps,

 

Suggestions/thoughts/ideas/experience please.

 

I have an ME25 pre and ME850 power running my beautiful Legend Acoustics Kantu 6's - which are a three way floor stander - with source equipment being Rega P3-24 and Naim CD5i-2. The ME25 has an MC card installed as well.

 

While I love the sound of the ME equipment - I adore ME stuff in general - I'm thinking of modernising the amps and since I can't really afford to get Bryston or Esoteric pre and power amps together, I could get their integrated amps. That would be once I sell my ME gear and add a bit of dosh.

 

The 25/850 combo, I have to say, plays the Kantu's effortlessly and beautifully. Any integrated I purchase will have to do the same and with equal SQ.

 

I also have an ME240 - not the hi-cap though. (This one won't be sold as I love it so much). I don't think the ME240 has quite enough grunt for the Legend Kantu's - the fan spins quite violently when playing them.

 

Anyone here have the Bryston B135 SST2 or Esoteric I-05 and what do you think of them? How do you think they would compare with the ME25/850 combination.

 

A supplementary question - would I lose much SQ switching between the pre/power to an integrated. I'm thinking that if I switch to an extremely high quality integrated then I'm not going to lose all that much? Would I be right in thinking that?

 

I particularly like the Bryston's 20 year warranty - wow - but the sound quality is really uppermost in my mind.

 

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Tricky

 

 

[sir sanders zingmore]

Tbh I don't understand why you need to do anything. You say you love the sound you have, sounds like a great reason NOT to change. Save yourself some cash.

Edited May 31, 2013 by Whatmore

[Zaphod Beeblebrox]

The ME850/25 combo is very hard to beat at anything remotely close to sane money. Has yours been examined by an ME authorised guy in the last few years? IS the ME25 the latest series, or been upgraded?

 

Whatever you do, listen to competing products, before you sell. Although the ME850/25 may be long in the tooth, very few products can match them for sound quality. Like all such things, bias levels can shift and electrolytic caps do wear out.

[muzzagruzz]

Hey Zaph, I knew you'd chime in with a comment. And always a welcome comment it is. Yes, you looked at both of them - the 850 just this year - both are working perfectly and have had all necessary work done to them by your good self and Peter Stein. I'm just toying with the idea of modernising my amps. I enjoy the sound of the ME and love Australian equipment but I'm thinking of trying something more up to date and also I think I want to simply my system.  Laurie

[Orpheus]

An up to date amplifier is not necessarily a better amplifier.

[muzzagruzz]

Orpheus,

 

Agreed. However, time marches on and much has changed in the hi fi world since ME were around. We'll see. I'll have to do some comparison testing / listening and determine if there are any sonic benefits with the Bryston and Esoteric.

[Zaphod Beeblebrox]

Hey Zaph, I knew you'd chime in with a comment. And always a welcome comment it is. Yes, you looked at both of them - the 850 just this year - both are working perfectly and have had all necessary work done to them by your good self and Peter Stein. I'm just toying with the idea of modernising my amps. I enjoy the sound of the ME and love Australian equipment but I'm thinking of trying something more up to date and also I think I want to simply my system.  Laurie

 

Read Orph's comment.

 

Also, listen to comparable products in your system. If you find something that sounds better, buy it.

[bwhitesox]

Hey Zaph, I knew you'd chime in with a comment. And always a welcome comment it is. Yes, you looked at both of them - the 850 just this year - both are working perfectly and have had all necessary work done to them by your good self and Peter Stein. I'm just toying with the idea of modernising my amps. I enjoy the sound of the ME and love Australian equipment but I'm thinking of trying something more up to date and also I think I want to simply my system.  Laurie

 

 

Don't sell them as you already love the sound and would have to spend considerable coin to better them.

[firefly0071]

Don't sell them as you already love the sound and would have to spend considerable coin to better them.

 

Sell them so another SNA can benefit! 

[frankn]

I don't know if it is possible but try to get a home demonstration of whatever equipment you are thinking about - or at least an agreement of a refund if the gear doesn't measure up to the ME at home. Or, take the ME combo to the shop you are demo-ing new gear. I doubt if you could really compare different equipment properly if you don't have both running through the same gear and in the same room. I did this and it helped me a lot

Good luck & keep enjoying the music

[davewantsmoore]

modernising the amps

 

See the post #5   :-)

 

Also, I'm not sure ME doesn't fit into some definitions of "modern"    (excuse the double negative).

[Cafad]

Definitely demo first and sell second, or, if you can, buy second and sell third (just in case!).

[muzzagruzz]

Everyone seems to be issuing caution here and I understand that. I do realise what I have is quite special and I certainly won't be jumping ship immediately or easily. However, I just don't believe the old mantra, 'if it ain't broke, why fix it'. There is always room for improvement - how much of it I'll see with a high quality integrated is the unanswered question.

 

I can get a home demonstration of the Esoteric but I'm not sure about the Bryston as yet. More enquiries to be made.

[vinilink]

Let me know if you are selling ME combo. Even though I already have them, I don't mind another combo depending on the conditions and price.

 

Edit: Trickster, it will be really hard to beat ME from those amps you mentioned above. A long time ago, a hifi shop who were selling Bryston amps then said to me ME are great amps. As others said, unless you hear the real improvement over ME...

Edited May 31, 2013 by vinilink

[Sir Triode]

Everyone seems to be issuing caution here and I understand that. I do realise what I have is quite special and I certainly won't be jumping ship immediately or easily. However, I just don't believe the old mantra, 'if it ain't broke, why fix it'. There is always room for improvement - how much of it I'll see with a high quality integrated is the unanswered question.

 

I can get a home demonstration of the Esoteric but I'm not sure about the Bryston as yet. More enquiries to be made.

 

I think the same as the rest here but if you are keen on the Esoteric, I would be speaking to Cameron Pope of Krispy Kables to see if he can setup a demo of the Esoteric for you. (if he hasn't contacted you already)

 

 

BTW, what do you find lacking in your current system that you think needs improving?

[davewantsmoore]

 'if it ain't broke, why fix it'. There is always room for improvement

 

Carry on then!   :-)

 

I wish I could justify joining the "queue" for your 850, but I just don't need that much power  :-/

[adrocks]

I'm with everybody else. The ME25/850 combo still stand up as a great combo and more than match everything out there for a lot more money today. So if you like the sound they produce, why change at all.

 

If you are determined to spend some money, send them to Zaph to go over them and maybe change any tired components in them if need be.

 

Otherwise enjoy what you have as it is very very good. I used to own both but they were knocked off many moons ago. I occasionally still lament their loss.

Edited May 31, 2013 by adrocks1

[Darryl]

"I have an ME25 pre and ME850 power running my beautiful Legend Acoustics Kantu 6's - which are a three way floor stander - with source equipment being Rega P3-24 and Naim CD5i-2. The ME25 has an MC card installed as well".

 

Out of that lot, I reckon you'd probably be better off upgrading the sources than the amps.

[muzzagruzz]

Hmmmmm, now I'm confused.

[Darryl]

My reasoning is, and this isn't based on direct experience with your specific equipment, just what I've picked up on over the years, is that the speakers and amp are highly regarded, while the CD player and TT are, while still well regarded, a few rungs below that level.

Hmmm, trying to explain this, and not very well!!!

I guess if you look at the dollar value and subjective sound quality of your set-up, the sources could be increased a few rungs to match the amps and speakers.

 

Having said all that, system synergy is king and it may be that the TT and CD gel really well with the amp and speakers.

 

Just saying if it was me, that's what I'd be doing.

[Milo]

Hi Trickster, there happens to be a review of the Bryston B135 SST2 in the current issue of Australian Hi Fi.  

[Orpheus]

If you listen to your turntable much, you could purchase a better turntable (ie, one that is pitch stable) and probably a better phono stage.

[Phantom]

I hate to jump on an already over loaded band wagon but there is no way I would sell/trade an ME pre power combo for a Bryston anything and definitely not a class D amplifier,no matter how good the brand may be.

I am sure the Bryston and Esoteric are very good amplifiers indeed, but so is what you already have.

 

I tend to agree with Darryl in that I would be upgrading my source. An Esoteric K-07 sacd/dac would give you a huge improvement and added versatility for the future, for the same price as the Esoteric I-05 amplifier.

 

Just a thought.

[MrRogers]

 "there is no way I would sell/trade an ME pre power combo for a Bryston anything and definitely not a class D amplifier,no matter how good the brand may be."

 I totally agree.

[Orpheus]

Trickster, I think someone else asked this as well, but I'll ask it anyway;

 

What sort of improvement are you looking for? IE, do you find the system to brittle or dry, lacking in detail, too warm, etc, etc?