In the great hi-fi hobby, sometimes we come across a combination of products that creates a special synergy. And that is the case with the marriage of Bryston speakers and Atoll electronics.
What’s especially enticing is, the money is downright reasonable.
What is more common in our hobby is that a listener found “a great deal” on quality product like a 25w Class A integrated amp, and chose to run it with inefficient speakers that have a complex crossover. While both products are good in theory and on paper, they don’t work together well at all. The speakers sound smooth, but SLUGGISH.
Since speakers have more to do with what we hear than anything else, let’s start there.
Bryston Speakers From Canada
Bryston speakers are made in their own house in Canada. They make their own drivers which have to pass a battery of stringent tests before they can go on to be installed in a finished speaker. Then the completed speaker has to survive a torture test before it can go out the door. Build quality insures close to bullet proof durability and the speakers come with a 20 year warranty.
Bryston speakers have the same family of sound. They’re STEINWAY SMOOTH. They are especially romancing when listening to piano, vocals and other acoustic instruments. Further, every Bryston speaker delivers class leading bass response and power handling. This bass response doesn’t just consist of high output. The bass is tuneful and will allow you to hear/feel the impact of a stand up bass, grand piano or impressive drum kit.
The vast majority of speakers running $5k per pair or less now are built by Chinese job houses. They don’t go particularly deep. They’re almost always on the brighter side of neutral in terms of voicing. Think, TV picture with cranked up VIVID. Worst of all, the job houses make speakers that accommodate “most” listeners- not the toughest listeners. The Polks and Monitor Audios of the world don’t NEED to make their speakers for the most demanding customer. They’re happy to handle about 80%. If they have to cough up new tweeters under warranty for some folks along they way, that’s a lot cheaper than making their speakers tough enough for the most challenging buyers. You’ll be out of warranty soon enough.
Combo
In looking for a great integrated amp, or separates, to drive supremely capable speakers like Brystons, we need to hand shake with electronics of massive COURAGE. While you can run Brystons off sissy Chinese electronics, they won’t sound like they CAN. You’ll be leaving performance on the table.
I’m happy to tell you, that you can get FABULOUS sounding electronics, at a fair price, made in France (not China!), with a 3 year warranty. If you haven’t heard of Atoll, we’ll be happy to introduce you!
Atoll Electronique From France
Atoll makes the best sounding, high value integrated amps and separates in our biz. Almost everything else in Atoll’s price range is of lesser quality, made in China. There are a few N American or Euro competitors. But their power levels and infrastructure flat out pale in comparison to Atoll.
All Atoll integrated amps are dual mono designs. The lower three models run dual mono from a single transformer.
Starting at IN100 Signature, Atoll runs two large transformers, EACH of which is larger than the single transformers their competitors use. Atoll runs MATCHED MOSFET output transistors, which deliver a smoother sound than running miss matched transistors. Atoll employs larger amounts of filter capacitance in their power supplies than the other guys. We’ll be happy to break it all down for you.
But most impressively, Atoll integrateds are crafted like a fine piece of art. Look at their circuit boards, constructed of nickel and gold, and you’ll see a symmetrical design with virtually no spaghetti
wiring involved. Check out the other guys and you’ll see wires the size of dental floss linking several
punched out boards of piece work- which are easy to mass produce.
Synergy
The SYNERGY is that the Bryston speakers are capable of prodigious, room filling bass and dynamics. Atoll is fully up to the task or providing the power and timbre they need to get there!
If you run Brystons with flimsy electronics, you’ll think the speakers just don’t HAVE IT.
If you run Atoll electronics into flimsy speakers, at least you’ll be getting the best out of those speakers. When you hit Bryston with Atoll, now you have a synergy to get excited about.
We can prove this if you stop in to listen in person. We love to show off our toys!
If you can’t visit, please have a look at our TESTIMONIALS yellow tab at the bottom of our home page. It’s an ever growing list of customers who have discovered what we’re bragging up here.