BRYSTON BHA-1 HEADPHONE AMPLIFIER

James Tanner · « **Reply #1360 on:** 14 Mar 2023, 08:17 pm »

No changes under the hood.
Studios use the mono L/R

james

rob80b · « **Reply #1361 on:** 14 Mar 2023, 08:22 pm »

Gotcha...of course on the dual XLR.

rob80b · « **Reply #1362 on:** 14 Mar 2023, 08:40 pm »

Recently added the "New" Sennheiser HD660S2 to my headphone roster.
Contrary to the lower impedance HD660S which performed more less the same across most amps the Bryston unexpectedly, or expectedly, brought the new 300ohm S2 to life with deeper and more authoritative bass, clearer highs and wider and deeper layered soundstage.

inglisd · « **Reply #1363 on:** 22 Mar 2023, 07:00 pm »

some configuration questions involving BDA-3, BP17³ , and BHA-1. I currently run
BDA-3 balanced out to BP17³ balanced in and BDA-3 SE out to BHA-1 SE in.
BP17³ balanced out (variable output number 1) to 4B³ balanced in.

I'm looking for the best input configuration for BHA-1: all my sources for BHA-1 are digital
and controlled by BDA-3 (CD, BDP-2).
1) keep config as is: BDA-3 SE out to BHA-1 SE in
2) BDA-3 balanced out to BHA-1 balanced in, BHA-1 balanced out to BP17³ balanced in
3) BDA-3 balanced out to BP17³ balanced in BP17³ balanced out (variable output number 2) to BHA-1 balanced in

I'm not sure 3) even makes sense unless I send the BP17³ to Bryston to have one balanced output 1
converted from variable to fixed. Any idea what that would cost ?

NekoAudio · « **Reply #1364 on:** 25 Mar 2023, 06:42 pm »

Quote from: inglisd on 22 Mar 2023, 07:00 pm

I currently run BDA-3 balanced out to BP17³ balanced in and BDA-3 SE out to BHA-1 SE in.
BP17³ balanced out (variable output number 1) to 4B³ balanced in.

I'm looking for the best input configuration for BHA-1: all my sources for BHA-1 are digital
and controlled by BDA-3 (CD, BDP-2).
1) keep config as is: BDA-3 SE out to BHA-1 SE in
2) BDA-3 balanced out to BHA-1 balanced in, BHA-1 balanced out to BP17³ balanced in
3) BDA-3 balanced out to BP17³ balanced in BP17³ balanced out (variable output number 2) to BHA-1 balanced in

I'd keep the configuration as you have it, having only the BDA-3 as the common component.

trebor2 · « **Reply #1365 on:** 10 Apr 2023, 01:14 pm »

Am I correct in saying that the BHA-1 now has the low gain mod as standard?

James Tanner · « **Reply #1366 on:** 11 Apr 2023, 07:19 pm »

Hi - no the low gain is only on a special request.

james

Melting735 · « **Reply #1367 on:** 27 Sep 2023, 04:48 pm »

I wanted an SE output (RCA) to feed my tube amp, Schiit Folksvangr. Unfortunately, BHA-1 doesn't have one. May I plug a 1/4 inch to RCA Y cable to the front headphone jack to achieve this? Any negative impact to safety and sound quality?

rob80b · « **Reply #1368 on:** 27 Sep 2023, 08:03 pm »

Quote from: Melting735 on 27 Sep 2023, 04:48 pm

I wanted an SE output (RCA) to feed my tube amp, Schiit Folksvangr. Unfortunately, BHA-1 doesn't have one. May I plug a 1/4 inch to RCA Y cable to the front headphone jack to achieve this? Any negative impact to safety and sound quality?

May be a mismatch, you are better off using a pair of Female XLR to RCA cables. (unless of course you have one of the first BHA1 without the pre-outs)

https://www.amazon.ca/Monoprice-104783-1-5-Feet-Premier-Female/dp/B001UNISK0/

Melting735 · « **Reply #1369 on:** 27 Sep 2023, 10:21 pm »

Quote from: rob80b on 27 Sep 2023, 08:03 pm

May be a mismatch, you are better off using a pair of Female XLR to RCA cables. (unless of course you have one of the first BHA1 without the pre-outs)

https://www.amazon.ca/Monoprice-104783-1-5-Feet-Premier-Female/dp/B001UNISK0/

To my knowledge, it is safe to go from RCA outputs to xlr input using that kind of cable, but it may damage your device if you go the reverse way. I think XLR outputs have higher voltage that may damage device with SE inputs. Is that true?

rob80b · « **Reply #1370 on:** 28 Sep 2023, 04:13 pm »

Quote from: Melting735 on 27 Sep 2023, 10:21 pm

To my knowledge, it is safe to go from RCA outputs to xlr input using that kind of cable, but it may damage your device if you go the reverse way. I think XLR outputs have higher voltage that may damage device with SE inputs. Is that true?

Balanced has a different wiring scheme, +, -, and ground, so yes is it very important when converting either way to use just the + and ground. The Monoprice cables that I've used do this correctly, not all do and things can get toasty.
And yes balanced has normally double the output, not always but that is not what will cause problems, it's incorrectly combining the + and - creating a possible short. Sadly some RCA to XLR adapter do this. : (

Melting735 · « **Reply #1371 on:** 28 Sep 2023, 11:13 pm »

Quote from: rob80b on 28 Sep 2023, 04:13 pm

Balanced has a different wiring scheme, +, -, and ground, so yes is it very important when converting either way to use just the + and ground. The Monoprice cables that I've used do this correctly, not all do and things can get toasty.
And yes balanced has normally double the output, not always but that is not what will cause problems, it's incorrectly combining the + and - creating a possible short. Sadly some RCA to XLR adapter do this. : (

Got you. Thanks a lot!

Melting735 · « **Reply #1372 on:** 21 Oct 2023, 05:20 pm »

I had bha-1 for a couple of weeks. I really love it and want to keep it. It is an earlier version from 2014. I'm curious if there were any changes under the hood in those newer units that may affect SQ? I saw a couple of very new units popped out on market, but I wouldn't bother if there was no change

James Tanner · « **Reply #1373 on:** 21 Oct 2023, 05:53 pm »

Only change was after SN 50 we went with a balanced pair of output XLRs on the rear so you could use it as a preamp.

rob80b · « **Reply #1374 on:** 12 Nov 2023, 04:30 pm »

Hi James...

Over in the Head-fi forum someone was curious about......
"But for what is the single blue electrolytic cap at each of the four power stages? Cap in series to output?"

Thanks Robert

James Tanner · « **Reply #1375 on:** 12 Nov 2023, 04:42 pm »

Hi Robert - email Mike on that - mpickett@bryston.com

rob80b · « **Reply #1376 on:** 12 Nov 2023, 04:47 pm »

Thanks for the fast reply...will do.

R. Daneel · « **Reply #1377 on:** 13 Nov 2023, 03:10 pm »

Quote from: rob80b on 12 Nov 2023, 04:47 pm

Thanks for the fast reply...will do.

... And be sure to report back here when you get a reply!

Shane D · « **Reply #1378 on:** 18 Dec 2023, 05:17 am »

Hello. I am looking at buying a used BHA-1. They seem to pop up on CAM pretty regularly. If I was to buy one that was several years old and didn't get the receipt for warranty purposes, would it be worth it or recommended to send it in for a refurb or inspection?

NekoAudio · « **Reply #1379 on:** 18 Dec 2023, 05:46 pm »

Quote from: Shane D on 18 Dec 2023, 05:17 am

Hello. I am looking at buying a used BHA-1. They seem to pop up on CAM pretty regularly. If I was to buy one that was several years old and didn't get the receipt for warranty purposes, would it be worth it or recommended to send it in for a refurb or inspection?

At that young-ish age, my guess is that it would still be in perfect working condition. So I'd probably listen to it before deciding whether or not that was necessary. If it did end up needing refurbishing or something, that might imply the seller wasn't completely open about the condition of the unit.