Bryston BP-19 Stereo Preamp, $5195
($6195 with MM, $6945 with MM & MC)
Bryston has been talking about a new analog preamp for well over a year. Bryston is never fast, but when they ultimately deliver the goods, we’re never disappointed. BP-19 measures up as another superstar Bryston product- with a 20 year warranty.
BP-19 is just now shipping to the USA. It’s built in Canada with a 20 year warranty. BP-19 is available as a line stage only preamp, or with the phono options spelled out above. It isn’t available with on board DAC. Bryston has BR-20 for that purpose.
Bryston has always delivered substantial power supplies- which are the keys to its silent foundation. BP-19 has an extra trick up its sleeve. It uses Bryston’s Salomie input circuitry. The only other Bryston preamp to do that is Bryston’s BR-20, its preamp with a DAC built in.
Dr Salomie designed an INPUT circuit to prevent overloading. If you run a high output streamer, for example, into a high level input, there is some potential to saturate the input and provide flatter, less dynamic sound than is ideal. With the Salomie input circuitry, Bryston preamps are all but impossible to overload. Hence the sound maintains dynamics, depth and space, instead of having those characteristics being quashed or dulled.
Bryston has been using the Salomie input circuit on its Cubed series of power amps for several years. We have learned, with its implementation, that power amp inputs are also subject to being overloaded. The Salomie circuit has paid nice dividends in Bryston power amps. Who would have thought power amps would benefit so substantially from a state of the art input circuit?!
We’ve also appreciated its advantage on the boatload of BR-20s we’ve sold. We look forward to the advantages of this valuable Salomie circuit in its use in a full analog preamp. A dead quiet background mated with an input circuit you won’t overload translates to musical IMMEDIACY. Vocals and acoustic instruments can POP from a quiet background. With many brands, voices and instruments congeal to become part of a soggy casserole.
When looking for an end game preamp, you might ask yourself a few questions.
*Which brand is the most reliable?
*Which brand has the best warranty?
*Which brand has the lowest noise floor?
*Which brand delivers the best resolution & dynamics?
*Which brand will trade or resell well?
*Is my money supporting N America? Europe? China?
Honest audiophiles will accede that many top brands sound good. You might like roses. Your buddy might like daffodils. There’s always room for taste. However… these other factors are vital- especially Bryston’s 20 year warranty.
Bryston is made in Canada, in its own house. James Tanner, Bryston’s CEO has been with Bryston since 1976. That’s right. The captain of the ship has been there almost 50 years.
Many of Bryston’s competitors, especially the tube guys, even those that DO make nice sounding products, are notoriously spotty in reliability. They often have a modest warranty of 1-3 years. Further, they exempt the tubes from that warranty. They’re typically not capitalized well enough to provide prompt and precise service.
All you have to do is view a few “factory tours” on YouTube to see that many companies just assemble products in a cramped facility. The guy(s) building products is also the repair guy and there’s a mountain of gear in line to fix- which doesn’t generate money like new construction. Further, the minute you’re out of warranty, their service department is a profit center, not a support system.
These factors make most brands worth but a fraction of their price when you’re interested in selling outright or trading. Today’s amp of the month can easily be a dog in a year or two- even if it still “sounds good.” Take a look at the hundreds of odd ball brands on eBay and audiogon. They don’t fetch much down the road because smart shoppers learn the hard way- you don’t want to have to deal with these guys for service.
Bryston on the other hand, will be under warranty to the original owner for 20 freaken years! Its track record for reliability and quality service is second to NOBODY in our business.
The sound of BP-19 is indeed immediate and alive. Plucked strings and vocal dynamics jump from the speakers. They don’t sound soft or murky. Bass is deep and controlled. You only hear it when it’s in the music. You don’t hear an ever present bump or blur as with many electronics. The soundstage around the recording depict the room size it was recorded in. BP-19 reveals everything.
If you need your last analog preamp, please consider BP-19, a magnificent new offering that is unsurpassed- even by the $80k Swiss manufacturers.
A Fair Trade?
Rod Stewart was young with no money. He was booked to sing in a club, whose owner had very little money. Rod worked a trade. He sang. The owner bought him floor mats for his car.