AudioAficionado.org - Bryston SP3 Preamp-Processor

MEMO: To All Bryston Customers
SUBJECT: SP3 Customer Response

DATE: November 2011

SP-3 Customer Response

“Hi James,

It's been about four and a half years since I placed my order for an SP-2. I can still remember, despite my old age, how excited I was waiting for it to arrive. I had been using a Denon receiver for my preamp/processor and I just knew the SP-2 was going to be a major improvement, the answer to all of the problems with my system. My expectations were really high.

Unfortunately, those expectations were never met. It is true that the SP-2 improved the sound of my system, but not to the degree that I had hoped. The Denon receiver was their reference receiver at the time, so maybe my expectations were too unreasonable. I was convinced that any issues I might have had with my system were not related to my preamp/processor.

So it goes that when I placed my order for an SP-3, I wasn't looking for, or expecting, major improvements in the sound of my system. In fact, I wasn't expecting it to sound much different at all. I justified the added cost on my desire to have the convenience of HDMI inputs and the corresponding reduction in the mass of cables required for connecting my equipment to my SP-2.

I was, however, anxious to see if I could improve the sound of my 2-channel listening with the balanced inputs on the SP-3. James, the difference is unreal. Can balanced inputs really improve the sound that much? Maybe I should have invested in a BP26 a long time ago. I thought of doing so on many occasions. I could have even drug out my Linn Sondek LP-12 turntable that's been stashed in my closet for about ten years. I haven't had a phono preamp since selling my Naim equipment in the early 2000's.

Back to the sound. The background noise, almost nonexistent before, or so I thought, just got substantially quieter. The soundstage substantially deeper. I am hearing inner detail that I have never heard before. The entire audio spectrum sounds cleaner and more pronounced. Surely this improvement goes beyond the benefits of using balanced inputs. By the way, my cabling is basically the same, Kimber Kable KS-1016's with RCA's vs. Kimber Kable KS-1116's with XLR's.

I'm sure others will see major improvements in the audio from video sources as well. I don't try to critique the audio from video sources like I do audio sources. I was content with the audio from the analog outs of my Oppo BDP-95. I'm sure the SP-3 will be just as satisfying, if not more so, with the HDMI connection. Again, I love the convenience of HDMI for video sources.

Access to menu settings is much improved as well, making setup a breeze. The much larger display helps in this regard. I really like the large display of the volume setting which takes up all four lines of the display when changing the volume. I sit about 15 feet from my equipment, yet I can easily see the volume setting on the display.

I had posted concerns about the lack of an analog balance control on the SP-3. My room is not a perfect rectangle, so having the ability to adjust the left/right balance of my analog sources is critical. You had indicated that I could do so in the trim settings. I still don't quite understand how trim settings can be made in bypass mode, but they work wonderfully. Actually much better than the old analog balance control.

I'm still hoping that Bryston will eventually maximize use of the network connection by releasing an app that allows for control of the SP-3 over the Internet. Wishful thinking probably.

Congratulations on the release of this outstanding product. I have no doubt that the reviews of the SP-3 will be much better than the reviews were for the SP-2. Not that the SP-2 reviews were bad, but the SP-3 really is a special product.”

Sincerely,
Gary Listen