[James Tanner]

Hi Folks,

Some people have asked about the different preamps (BP26/BP16/BP6) we offer and which one they should purchase.

I guess the best answer is... given the options and features the BP26 is our best preamp - but it is incorrect to think there are large performance differences between our preamps.  They all use the same gain stage and BRYSTON does not build better/best products.

It is the same as our power amps - a 4B costs more than a 2B but the performance is the same - but the 4B has much more power than the 2B.

The BP26 has many more inputs and has a balanced XLR option 'in and out' and has a slightly better noise floor due to the external power supply.  The BP26 also allows for an internal moving coil phono stage.  The BP16 offers full remote control and pass-through option plus both an internal MM phono and DAC . The BP6 has only 4 single ended inputs and remote volume only. In other words the differences in our products are based on application and feature differences not basic performance differences.

I think it makes sense to build the same quality in all our products and then our customers can decide what best suits their particular system.

Hope this helps.

james

[miss_moneypenny]

Hello James,

Thank you for posting this clarification.  Your 4B SST2 is superb and brought my music closer to life.  I am looking to match it with one of your pres for synergy but can't stretch to the BP26 - plus I think I would be divorced!

I only need two inputs and the pre would occupy the next shelf, negating the need for long interconnects (xlr benefits).

I can now look forward to saving for the BP6 (blue LED to match the 4B!) to complete my Bryston amplifier configuration.

Thanks again,
Darren

[jaxwired]

What a refreshingly honest answer.  Thanks James. 

This is one of the things I like about Bryston.  They don't have compromised products at lower price levels.  If I buy an entry level product from bryston I'm still getting their best work.

Also, as a BP6 owner this is nice to hear from the horses mouth (no offense, not calling you a horse or anything  )

[SoundGame]

What a refreshingly honest answer.  Thanks James. 

This is one of the things I like about Bryston.  They don't have compromised products at lower price levels.  If I buy an entry level product from bryston I'm still getting their best work.

Also, as a BP6 owner this is nice to hear from the horses mouth (no offense, not calling you a horse or anything  )

Jax - I'm with you all the way on this - ever more so being a BP6 owner.

[vegasdave]

Same here. The BP6 is a great preamp.

[miss_moneypenny]

James, thank you for the clarification regarding the preamps - what a great philosophy by Bryston to have the same high spec performance across the range and only charging for the extra features.  I only need 2 inputs so the BP6 is perfect for my needs - time to get saving!!

One question though, looking at the specs for the two preamps, the BP6 is stated to weigh 3.8Kg whilst the BP26 weighs 5.62Kg.  As they appear to share the same identical dimensions, I was wondering how the BP26 weighs more when it does not have the internal torroidal transformer of the BP6?

I assume both preamps use the same chassis and steel enclosure?

Many thanks in advance

[James Tanner]

James, thank you for the clarification regarding the preamps - what a great philosophy by Bryston to have the same high spec performance across the range and only charging for the extra features.  I only need 2 inputs so the BP6 is perfect for my needs - time to get saving!!

One question though, looking at the specs for the two preamps, the BP6 is stated to weigh 3.8Kg whilst the BP26 weighs 5.62Kg.  As they appear to share the same identical dimensions, I was wondering how the BP26 weighs more when it does not have the internal torroidal transformer of the BP6?

I assume both preamps use the same chassis and steel enclosure?

Many thanks in advance

Hi,

No the BP6 chassis is much smaller in depth.

james

[miss_moneypenny]

Hi James,

I've just copied these dimensions direct from your online PDFs.

BP26

Standard version: 17” (or 19”) x 2.25” x 11”
43.18cm x 5.7cm x 28cm

Weight:
actual: 12.4 lb. (5.62Kg)
shipping: 16 lb. (7.25Kg)

BP6

17” wide version (standard): 17” x 2.25” x 11”
43.2cm x 5.7cm x 28cm

actual: 8.4 lb. (3.8Kg)
● shipping: 12 lb. (5.4Kg)

 

Thank you for your continued help and support 

[James Tanner]

Hi James,

I've just copied these dimensions direct from your online PDFs.

BP26

Standard version: 17” (or 19”) x 2.25” x 11”
43.18cm x 5.7cm x 28cm

Weight:
actual: 12.4 lb. (5.62Kg)
shipping: 16 lb. (7.25Kg)

BP6

17” wide version (standard): 17” x 2.25” x 11”
43.2cm x 5.7cm x 28cm

actual: 8.4 lb. (3.8Kg)
● shipping: 12 lb. (5.4Kg)

 

Thank you for your continued help and support 

I think that is wrong unless they changed the chassis and did not tell me

james

[miss_moneypenny]

Oops! 

Be interested to know the true dimensions and weights of each.  I'm still going to buy a BP6 (with a blue LED!) as that will more than meet my needs.

Darren

[SoundGame]

I think that is wrong unless they changed the chassis and did not tell me

james

James - I just checked the B60R external dimension diagram that's posted under DIMENSIONS on the site.  Since the BP6 utilizes the same chasis - it appears that those are the correct dimensions for the BP6.

The dimensions of the BP6 are confirmed as correctly stated - by looking at the BP6 manual and the same goes for the BP26.

As well, looking at images of the internal components and layour - it does not appear that the additional inputs and XLR connections on the BP26 would explain the significant difference in weight.

I'm thinking that the ERROR is with the BP26 weight figure - since I checked the BP16, which has a much larger housing then both weighs in at 11 lbs / 5 kg - LESS THAN the BP26 - weird?

[James Tanner]

James - I just checked the B60R external dimension diagram that's posted under DIMENSIONS on the site.  Since the BP6 utilizes the same chasis - it appears that those are the correct dimensions for the BP6.

The dimensions of the BP6 are confirmed as correctly stated - by looking at the BP6 manual and the same goes for the BP26.

As well, looking at images of the internal components and layour - it does not appear that the additional inputs and XLR connections on the BP26 would explain the significant difference in weight.

I'm thinking that the ERROR is with the BP26 weight figure - since I checked the BP16, which has a much larger housing then both weighs in at 11 lbs / 5 kg - LESS THAN the BP26 - weird?

Ya - we are redoing the website and some stuff has got screwed up.

james

[James Tanner]

OK here is the story:

The BP-6 chassis is only about 1/2 inch less deep than the BP-26 chassis.

The difference in weight is because the BP-26 chassis is Steel and the BP-6 chassis is Aluminium

james

[SoundGame]

OK here is the story:

The BP-6 chassis is only about 1/2 inch less deep than the BP-26 chassis.

The difference in weight is because the BP-26 chassis is Steel and the BP-6 chassis is Aluminium

james

Wow - very interesting!  James - depending on the guage - I'm sure aluminum would be the preferred.  I assume the aluminum is used for the B60-R and hence, for the BP6 accordingly.  Is there any advantage to the steel constructions...sturdier or less vibration?

[James Tanner]

Wow - very interesting!  James - depending on the guage - I'm sure aluminum would be the preferred.  I assume the aluminum is used for the B60-R and hence, for the BP6 accordingly.  Is there any advantage to the steel constructions...sturdier or less vibration?

Correct - the BP6 evolved from the B-60 chassis which is also aluminum.  The BP-26 and the MPS-2 are steel chassis for both.

james

[SoundGame]

Correct - the BP6 evolved from the B-60 chassis which is also aluminum.  The BP-26 and the MPS-2 are steel chassis for both.

james

This is interesting, as I would presume that the aluminum enclosures would be premium in terms of cost and both heat dissipation and vibrational characteristics vs. steel. 

Perhaps, since all of the Bryston amplifier enclosures are made of aluminum, and the BP6 is a spin-off the B-60R (an integrated amplifier) it acquired the premium aluminum chasis, whereas, the BP26, being the evolution of the BP20/25, inherrited an updated steel case - as the heat dissipation requirements are lesser for a preamp then an amp.

In any case - as I see it, the BP6 from this perspective would have a preferable construction - at least from a material standpoint.  Guage of metal etc. could make this mut between the BP6 and BP26 - I would guess.

[spinner]

  I thought that steel had more effect on magnetic interference. Perhaps it was copper , not sure.....

[SoundGame]

  I thought that steel had more effect on magnetic interference. Perhaps it was copper , not sure.....

Aluminum works with RFI and I believe EM as well - hence the old DIY technique of wrapping wires with aluminum foil etc.  Don't quote me on this though.

[lanchile]

I like this : "BRYSTON does not build better/best products". This means if you get "any" Bryston amp or integrated amp, you are getting the same top build quality and reliability. the difference is just less or more power. I like it!!!

[HsvHeelFan]

A Bryston preamp is still on my list of things to acquire.

I haven't listened to vinyl in at least 10 years and my turntable is in storage.  The last few LPs that I really liked that were not available on CD eventually got released on CD.

Most likely I'll pick a used one from Ebay somewhere down the road.

So, I'm still using my Parasound PH850 preamp as the front end for my 4B-ST.

My used preamp budget will probably be $600 - $1000 when I get to that point.

HsvHeelFan