[TJB]

Hi.  I've always wanted to buy a Bryston SP3, and I now have a chance to do so.  However, I'd like to know whether it's worth buying today in 2025.  Is the technology outdated for today's system?  Please help me.  I would love to hear from Mr. Tanner.  Thanks.

[TJB]

I just read that they can upgraded with 4k HDMI upgraded boards. Would that make it useful for today's home theater? 

[gbaby]

Rather than hear from James Tanner, I would think it's best to hear from current owners. I am an early owner of the SP3, and from it, I built my entire system, both digital and analog. The processor, itself has a great D/A converter, and one can add a phono pre-amp, which I have done, and add a turntable and whatever cargtridge one likes. I added a Regal P6 with an ania moving coil cartridge. I also added a Bryston BDP-3 and a BDA-3 for an updated 2 channel D/A converter. There is no way I would buy a processor with room correction as James Tanner's philosophy about room correction is correct. So, in my opinion, if I wanted an SP3, I'd get it because it is still sonically relevant. In fact, I may get a second one for my bedroom to replace my Arcam AV9. I have heard Atmos, and to me, its sounds unnatural. I'd rather hear my music and video sound coming from the horizontal plane rather than the ceiling.

[Yodalogger74662]

I haven't heard the SP3 but I have a Storm Audio ISP Core. Storm and Bryston had the short-lived partnership on the Bryston SP4. For home theater, when you have a bluray disk with audio designed with Atmos or other fancy new audio codec and dedicated ceiling/height speakers I think the benefits of a Atmos capable processor are tremendous and you would be missing out with the SP3. Other movies with mono or stereo or even 5.1/7.1 or rooms without dedicated ceiling speakers the SP3 would be fantastic. I don't know about the SP3 but other processors also allow for configurations with multiple subwoofers which I find improve sound for movies. As an example, the Villeneuve Dune movies have scenes with these ornithopters (dragonfly-esque helicopter like flying ships), the Atmos soundtrack has sound zooming around and above you where the 5.1 was more like the sound was coming at you from the screen.
I don't find any improvement from Atmos capable processors for stereo music so I would anticipate the SP3 to be fantastic there as well.
At the end of the day, it depends what you want from the system.

[ec]

Firstly, self confessed Bryston fan having owned SST power amps and the SP 1.7.  I have longed for the SP3 ever since it came out.  In the past 4-5 years wanted to pick a 4k SP3 (unicorn and got lucky) because I rebuilt the theatre in my new house which was put on hold because of life (marriage, new house, kid etc).  With said my priorities are:

1. a purely 7.1 pre processor as I never intend to use more based on how I built my theatre and really don't use my theatre that much.   Want something that does 7.1 exceptional (SQ).  Also hate paying for things that won't be used eg Atmos etc.  Granted these weren't available when the SP-3 launched.   Also as Gbaby mentioned, I did not want any audio processing / room correction on the prepro.  I do bass EQ via MiniDSP externally though <Check>

2. Brand that stands behind its products as this would be my end game last prepro <Check>

3. Must have XLR for all 7.1 outputs <Check>

3. KISS (Keep it Simple Stupid) in terms of feature and interface operation.  <Check>

4. 4K HDMI as my Projector is pseudo 4K (JVC 4k e shift) <Check> with the following caveats:

a. The 4k versions of the SP3 will be very hard to find because they would have had to be upgraded original units with the 4K HDMI board.  And there are different HDMI boards depending on when the upgrades were done or a very late production model where the 4K HDMI was standard.  Check previous threads on the different 4k HDMI flavours so you are educated on whats out there and what and what each upgrade can do.

b. you will not and I repeat will not be able to upgrade a non 4K unit to a 4K unit as Bryston can't source the boards from their OEM manufacturer

c. if you find an "original" SP3 which most are (ie non 4K) then expect to use 1080p only or use an external 4K HDMI switcher and pass the HDMI audio to the SP3

d. there will not be any more firmware updates.  Last one is many years old.

Some perks:
- speaker setup (large/small/off, xover) is done per input so highly customizable eg CD input only for 2 ch and no sub where as DVD input 7.1 with sub
- great span of volume control range
- Assignable default audio inputs (eg HDMI, Toslink, analog etc) per source input
- 3.5 mm IR in at the back for IR extenders so you don't need those IR stick on things.  My SP3 is at the back of the room

Be aware that:

- switching HDMI sources can have handshake issues thus not passing video onto the projector and or not passing audio or video.  I especially have this issue with an Amazon Fire Cube and Google 4K Chromecast (original).  I fixed the chromecast issue by putting an "EZCOO" 4K HDMI splitter in between the chromecast and sp3.  Normally have to switch to my Bell Satellite source input (no HDCP) then back to the Fire Cube. 

- two concurrent displays. There are two HDMI output but I could never get it output concurrently even with one display off if I recall.  HDMI 1 out goes to my 4k PJ and HDMI 2 goes to a 1080p HDCP compliant computer display.  There are times where I want to use the SP3 wtih a display but not the PJ eg set recording on Bell Satellite, listening to SACD.  I tried tricking the SP3 by using the EZCOO 4K splitter which can downscale to 1080p on on its outputs (to computer display) but no luck.  Now to be fair my previous prepro which also supported 4k HDMI also had 2 HDMI outs and I faced the same issue.  I suspect that if I had two of the exact displays on each HDMI outs that it would work but I don't so can't test this hypothesis.

As you are probably aware

a. SP3s in general rarely come up in the used market
b. market price is still very high (testament to demand/supply and product quality)
c. also keep your eyes open for a "similar" JBL Synthesis SDP-45 again most will be non 4k versions and support if any will come from JBL

[TJB]

Thank you so much for your inputs.