[Rimbaud]

Now you're talking!  Of course a Bryston digital preamp would need to have remote volume.  For myself, I'd also like to see an AUX IR input for app control via something like iRule.

I'd better stop... getting off topic.

[Wim J]

I also have a BP-26  and it was my most difficult component to decide. Not because of it's audio playback qualities, but because of the lack of full- remote control. I never was 100% satisfied with it because the lack of remote controlled input switching. But since I added a BDA2 to my system and because all my sources are digital nowadays I can also switch inputs on the BDA2, so 'problem solved' for me. I just use 1 balanced input on the BP26 en I switch inputs on the BDA2 dac. I wouldn't change my BP26 fro a BP17!

[budcook]

I also have a BP-26  and it was my most difficult component to decide. Not because of it's audio playback qualities, but because of the lack of full- remote control. I never was 100% satisfied with it because the lack of remote controlled input switching. But since I added a BDA2 to my system and because all my sources are digital nowadays I can also switch inputs on the BDA2, so 'problem solved' for me. I just use 1 balanced input on the BP26 en I switch inputs on the BDA2 dac. I wouldn't change my BP26 fro a BP17!

What would you do if you had a BHA-1 with balanced headphone cables?  There is only one balanced output pair on the BDA-2. 

As for the sound, I prefer the sound of my BP-17 over the BP-25 it replaced.

Bud

[spinner]

In what ways is the 17 really better than the 26?

[budcook]

In what ways is the 17 really better than the 26?

Well, I've never heard the 26 but the 17 just seemed smoother than the BP-25 I had.  I WOULD like to try the 26 with the modifications and better power supply it has over the BP-25.

If the BDA-2 had multiple balanced outputs, I'd seriously consider trading up to a 26.

Even so, I'm quite happy with the BP-17.  I like being able to stand away from it and change the balance control to balance my Maggies.  I also like being able to see what input I have selected.  The volume control seems to operate more smoothly than the one on the BP-25 and from what I know is better isolated than the one in the BP-25.  I also like having one module instead of two.

Bud

[redbook]

  But I still would prefer the phase reverse and  balance inputs of the 25 and 26.

[95Dyna]

The BP-26 is an excellent audiophile grade, no non-sense, bullet proof, elctro-mechanical preamp designed for hard core two channel audio applications.  If all the features that are superfluous to that concept are more important to you than what the BP-26 represents then by all means a swap out to the BP-17 might be for you.

I personally love my BP-26 and would only trade it for something superior to it like the ARC REF 5 which at more than double the price of a BP-26 it should be far superior.  The only shortcoming of the BP-26 for me manifested when I became interested in the BHA-1 and found it shy one balanced output.  I talked to James about it and he said use the tape output for that application and you won't be missing anything.