[Jim Hamley]

OK James,
My SP3 does not support 4K and has occasional trouble syncing on video streams. If I send it to you folks for upgrade/repairs I'll be without it for at least a month, will spend $1K to add 4K capability and who knows how much to fix the sync instability?
I've tried other processors and the SP3 sound has spoiled me. It is the most pristine, focused and balanced presentation by far. In comparison, other processors exhibit metallic upper registers and time smearing that impairs imaging.
When I listen to live music, what strikes me is the ability to pick out a single instrument and focus on it alone. The SP3 comes closest to that experience.
Much technology has come out since the SP3 was introduced and it is time for a replacement. I'd  rather invest in a brand new SP4 than my long-in-the-tooth SP3.
So, my birthday is a few days away-please make it memorable with a brand spanking new SP4.
Best regards,
...Jim

[James Tanner]

OK James,
My SP3 does not support 4K and has occasional trouble syncing on video streams. If I send it to you folks for upgrade/repairs I'll be without it for at least a month, will spend $1K to add 4K capability and who knows how much to fix the sync instability?
I've tried other processors and the SP3 sound has spoiled me. It is the most pristine, focused and balanced presentation by far. In comparison, other processors exhibit metallic upper registers and time smearing that impairs imaging.
When I listen to live music, what strikes me is the ability to pick out a single instrument and focus on it alone. The SP3 comes closest to that experience.
Much technology has come out since the SP3 was introduced and it is time for a replacement. I'd  rather invest in a brand new SP4 than my long-in-the-tooth SP3.
So, my birthday is a few days away-please make it memorable with a brand spanking new SP4.
Best regards,
...Jim

Hi Jim

Yes I have to agree the SP-3 'sonically' is without peer.

We have not started looking at the SP-4 yet as it would be a total remake and would have to incorporate all the new technologies.

In the meantime we are offering 4K upgrades and 2.2 capability to the SP-3.

Also the SP-3 is still selling very well (sold 5 this week) I think because a lot of customers do not see the need for ceiling speakers.

james

[Tony1]

Hi James,

How much for the 4k upgrade? Has the price for the USB upgrade been determined yet?

Thanks,

Tony

[James Tanner]

Hi James,

How much for the 4k upgrade? Has the price for the USB upgrade been determined yet?

Thanks,

Tony

Hi

Check with Mike on the 4K. 

The USB is working well and I will soon have pricing. It will depend on which main board you have. The current board is version 5 and it can be updated for the least amount.  Version 4 takes a lot more labour and version 3 more again.

I am putting together an update memo next week so I should have more info for you then

James

[Pundamilia]

Hi James

Does this "update memo" only concern the SP3 or will it also refer to updating other Bryston products. I am sure that most of your dedicated "Brystonians" with older equipment would be interested in seeing a list of which products can be upgraded and which can't.

[James Tanner]

Hi James

Does this "update memo" only concern the SP3 or will it also refer to updating other Bryston products. I am sure that most of your dedicated "Brystonians" with older equipment would be interested in seeing a list of which products can be upgraded and which can't.

Hi

Just the SP3 at this point.

James

[witchdoctor]

OK James,
My SP3 does not support 4K and has occasional trouble syncing on video streams. If I send it to you folks for upgrade/repairs I'll be without it for at least a month, will spend $1K to add 4K capability and who knows how much to fix the sync instability?
I've tried other processors and the SP3 sound has spoiled me. It is the most pristine, focused and balanced presentation by far. In comparison, other processors exhibit metallic upper registers and time smearing that impairs imaging.
When I listen to live music, what strikes me is the ability to pick out a single instrument and focus on it alone. The SP3 comes closest to that experience.
Much technology has come out since the SP3 was introduced and it is time for a replacement. I'd  rather invest in a brand new SP4 than my long-in-the-tooth SP3.
So, my birthday is a few days away-please make it memorable with a brand spanking new SP4.
Best regards,
...Jim

Have you considered a workaround like a 4K switching device?

https://www.amazon.com/AV-Access-Switcher-Control-Adapter/dp/B01HENRCVK/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1494762706&sr=8-3&keywords=hdmi+2.2+switcher

[gbaby]

Also the SP-3 is still selling very well (sold 5 this week) I think because a lot of customers do not see the need for ceiling speakers.

james

I have to agree with folks that don't see the need for ceiling speakers. ATMOS is so overrated to me.

[witchdoctor]

I have to agree with folks that don't see the need for ceiling speakers. ATMOS is so overrated to me.

I don't use ceiling speakers, I prefer my height channels high on the wall. I actually don't like the Atmos upmixer eiether and prefer Auromatic upmixer of Auro 3D.
So, I actually prefer Auromatic over Atmos native mix. With Atmos you are at the mercy of whoever mixed the BRD. If they used height channels a little or a lot, up to them.
With Auro you can adjust the use of height channels to your room, the content you are listening to and to your taste. You can engage them a little or a lot.
Don't throw the immersive baby out with the atmos bathwater until you tried all formats.

To me, spending money on a new processor it would have to be immersive compatible, especially if I were spending more than $3000. But of course not all buyers have the same requirements.

[sdolezalek]

It is actually an interesting question.  On the one hand, I really like the fact that Bryston is offering board to update the SP-3 to more current technologies.  However, when you upgrade, the part you are replacing effectively goes in the trash.  When that is $100 worth of trash it is one thing.  When it is $1000 or more of trash it raises the question of trickle down.  Put differently, when is the overall user community better off with a steady supply of slightly outdated SP-3s available used at a bargain, with those wanting the latest upgrading their entire product?

I would guess that the new product version ultimately costs the consumer more, but brings new Bryston fans in through the used equipment market.  Personally, I prefer the route that Bryston has taken, although it would be an even stronger preference if the updates were user plug-in replacements rather than requiring a reshipment to the factory and back. 

[gbaby]

It is actually an interesting question.  On the one hand, I really like the fact that Bryston is offering board to update the SP-3 to more current technologies.  However, when you upgrade, the part you are replacing effectively goes in the trash.  When that is $100 worth of trash it is one thing.  When it is $1000 or more of trash it raises the question of trickle down.  Put differently, when is the overall user community better off with a steady supply of slightly outdated SP-3s available used at a bargain, with those wanting the latest upgrading their entire product?

I would guess that the new product version ultimately costs the consumer more, but brings new Bryston fans in through the used equipment market.  Personally, I prefer the route that Bryston has taken, although it would be an even stronger preference if the updates were user plug-in replacements rather than requiring a reshipment to the factory and back.

The SP3 was designed first and foremost for accurate sound. If one wants ATMOS, they need to look elsewhere. In fact, they would need a processor with home theater oriented features. I am not convinced by the object based ATMOS as I don't hear object based in real life, and I am not convinced music sounds correct.  This processor takes the minimalist approach in favor of superior overall sonic quality. It still sonically betters most processors in its class in 2 channel/ 7.1 Digital and Analog. I plan to at least get the HDMI upgrade because I feel I have a special piece of equipment worth the upgrade for my use. However, even then, only if I get a new 4k HDR OLED TV. No plans as of now.

[witchdoctor]

The SP3 was designed first and foremost for accurate sound. If one wants ATMOS, they need to look elsewhere. In fact, they would need a processor with home theater oriented features. I am not convinced by the object based ATMOS as I don't hear object based in real life, and I am not convinced music sounds correct.  This processor takes the minimalist approach in favor of superior overall sonic quality. It still sonically betters most processors in its class in 2 channel/ 7.1 Digital and Analog. I plan to at least get the HDMI upgrade because I feel I have a special piece of equipment worth the upgrade for my use. However, even then, only if I get a new 4k HDR OLED TV. No plans as of now.

I prefer the channel based Auro 3D over Atmos, but native Atmos discs still sound a lot better than 7.1.

[gbaby]

Not for music.

[witchdoctor]

Not for music.

Why not for music? Works for Pink Floyd, Abbey Road, and the Witchdoctor. I use the same setup as they do at Abbey Road (with active speakers too) but only 1 sub instead of 8:

https://youtu.be/yMlFN8V4qW4

[witchdoctor]

Not for music.

Another example using my preferred upmixer, Auromatic:

http://www.avsforum.com/auro-3d-music-upmix-demo-stormaudio-isp-3d-16-elite-prepro-ces-2017/

[witchdoctor]

Witchdoctor Studio- All Immersive, All Active, All the Time 

[mv038856]

I would love to see an ATMOS/DTS-X product from Bryston too!

I am also reluctant to sacrifice Bryston sound quality for more channels.

I was wondering, however, that a Bryston ATMOS/DTS-X capable SP-4 pre/pro would be considerable more expensive than an SP-3. To differentiate the SP-4 from the competition it would have to support at least 16 channels. Emotivas RMC-1 pre/pro under development is planned to support 16 channels and is projected to cost US$4,999...

I honestly do not know how big a market there is for a SP-4 that follows the design philosophy of the SP-3 and just adds the new 3D audio codecs, especially when it might be priced somewhere between 15 and 20k... 

Cheers Markus

[James Tanner]

I would love to see an ATMOS/DTS-X product from Bryston too!

I am also reluctant to sacrifice Bryston sound quality for more channels.

I was wondering, however, that a Bryston ATMOS/DTS-X capable SP-4 pre/pro would be considerable more expensive than an SP-3. To differentiate the SP-4 from the competition it would have to support at least 16 channels. Emotivas RMC-1 pre/pro under development is planned to support 16 channels and is projected to cost US$4,999...

I honestly do not know how big a market there is for a SP-4 that follows the design philosophy of the SP-3 and just adds the new 3D audio codecs, especially when it might be priced somewhere between 15 and 20k... 

Cheers Markus

Yes that is a challenge - if you want true Class A discrete audio circuits (instead of computer chips) and separate linear power supplies etc. it would be more costly.

james

[witchdoctor]

Yes that is a challenge - if you want true Class A discrete audio circuits (instead of computer chips) and separate linear power supplies etc. it would be more costly.

james

You could partner with another vendor like you did with Axiom for speakers. Example:

https://www.trinnov.com/tri_news/trinnov-partners-with-jbl-synthesis/

[mv038856]

You could partner with another vendor like you did with Axiom for speakers. Example:

https://www.trinnov.com/tri_news/trinnov-partners-with-jbl-synthesis/

I have suggested something similar before...

But JBL is more or less just rebadging existing products, just as they did with Bryston's SP-3.
That would certainly not be the Bryston way... I suggested to take the digital part from Trinnov and add the analog part from Bryston... but the philosophy of Trinnov is quite different from Bryston's. Trinnov is THE room correction specialist, while Bryston (=James Tanner) is convinced that it potentially harms the sound quality more that enhancing it. So that would be an unlikely partnership...

But who knows what James comes up with... he is always good for a surprise!

Cheers

Markus