Bryston SP3 Preamp-Processor

[nicoff]

Originally Posted by DRC2

I know this thread has not been responded to in a long time but I thought I would bring it to life for thoughts from other SP3 owners.

I am one of the original owners of the SP3 with serial number 112. I still think this is one of the only Pre/Pros on the market that caters to the audiophile because it has 2 channel and 5.1 channel analogue bypass through an analogue volume control. Everything else out there takes an analogue signal converts it to digital (because the volume control is digital) and then converts it back to analogue. I have tried many other pre/pros for pure analogue and I have not found anything that sounds as open and non fatiguing other than a dedicated 2 channel pre amp when I listen to 2 channel. That being said, the Bryston is 8 years old. In tech years that is a lifetime. The advancement in DAC's, HDMI, DSP's etc change (improve?) every year.

I am faced with a decision based on the fact I now have more than 2 UHD 4K/HDR sources and my Bryston still has the original HDMI boards which will not pass 4K. In fact I found out that Bryston is now on there 4th HDMI board since the SP3 was introduced 8 years ago. I have been able to get around that limitation because my Oppo had 2 HDMI output so I run the video direct my my JVC projector and the audio to the SP3. The Oppo also has an HDMI input for my Apple 4 TV with HDMI bypass.

I think the fact that technology is changing every couple of years that any Pre/Pro will need to be upgraded every couple of years. This leads me to my question:

It seems to make sense for me that investing in a high quality analogue pre amp with Home Theatre Bypass (that will not be obsolete for many years) and then getting any AVP for handling my 7.1 home theatre might make the most sense. The advancements in AVP's and receivers is primarily around Immersive audio, video processing, room correction, staying current with HDMI standards etc. For the most part they are disposable in 2 or 3 years.

I also have a latest generation Marantz in another room and I have experimented with it in my media room. I have kept everything else the same and just replaced the SP3 with the Marantz. For 7.1 movies the Marantz sounded as good as the SP3, was easier to set up, passed all 4K signals to my projector etc. but for analogue 2 channel was not even close.

For my particular situation:

Immersive sound is not important, my room is set up for 7.1 channels and that will not change.

I don't require room correction because my room has been treated and measures flat from all seating positions.. In fact when I had the Marantz in the room I used the room calibration feature of the Marantz and found that for 7.1 it actually sounded better when I disabled that feature.

I don't need any video up conversion or processing in my pre pro. I will leave that up to my source (Oppo 203, Apple 4K, Marantz Blu ray) or my JVC projector.

In reality if the SP3 had the latest DAC's, and passed 4K, 60Hz, 4:4:4 12 bit signal with all the HDR standards, plus had a DAC that converted a 2 channel or multi channel DSD signal through HDMI that would be perfect. Until 8K comes out in a couple of years



Upgrading the SP3 to the current latest specs for HDMI board and USB DAC would cost about $3,800 which at best would buy me a couple of years until HDMI standards change again.



Or I could sell the SP3 and put that money into any Receiver from Marantz (with pre outs) or any AVP for 7.1 sound and a good quality 2 channel pre amp with home theatre bypass.



If my overall budget is around $10K that seems to make the most sense. If I look at the Bryston SP4, The McIntosh MX170 and MX123 Trinnov, Marantz AV 8805 they are all catering to videophiles that want all the latest immersive sound capabilities and have very elaborate video processing capabilities.

It seems that they new Theta is more catering to what I am looking for but at a very high price

I could have written your post. I have similar equipment: SP3, Apple TV, Oppo 205, JVC projector. For a while, I experienced the same issues that you are talking about and looked into different options. Ultimately I kept the SP3 and had Bryston do the HDMI upgrade only ($1k).

I now use SP3 primarily as a Source switch.

I only have one 4K source (Apple TV), so I can connect the AppleTV output directly to the Oppo HDMI input. Then I let the Oppo do the 4K video signal processing and send the digital HDMI Audio back to the SP3 for audio processing.

So if I wanted to watch Apple TV, in the SP3 I would select the Oppo as the source.

For audio, I can also use the Oppo as a DAC and send the analog XLR signal to the SP3 and then use the 2-ch bypass in the SP3. My Oppo 205 has XLR outputs that I can connect to the Bal 1 of the SP3.

Also, I have a separate two channel DAC that I connect to the SP3 via analog as well (Bal 2). Then I use 2-ch bypass as well.

In essence, what I am doing is using the SP3 as a fancy switch.

I agree that the SP3 is now old technology and does not do the latest codecs. That solution works for me only because at this time I am not looking for anything beyond 5.1.

Also it allows me to use the better DAC and 4K (from the Oppo).

And also since the Oppo is compatible with Roon, I can create room correction filters that are processed by the Oppo.

The end result is a set up that can do 4K, use a more advanced DAC, and add room correction capability if I want to.

Addendum:
If you have several 4K devices, you can also connect all your HDMI sources directly to the SP3. Then connect the HDMI output of the SP3 to the Oppo (HDMI In) and have the Oppo process the 4K video for all your sources. Then connect your JVC projector directly to the Oppo.

[Kal Rubinson]

Originally Posted by gbaby

I don't know of any pre/pro that has 7.1 balanced analog pass throughs. Do you?

Nope.

[James Tanner - Bryston]

Originally Posted by DRC2

I know this thread has not been responded to in a long time but I thought I would bring it to life for thoughts from other SP3 owners.
I am one of the original owners of the SP3 with serial number 112. I still think this is one of the only Pre/Pros on the market that caters to the audiophile because it has 2 channel and 5.1 channel analogue bypass through an analogue volume control. Everything else out there takes an analogue signal converts it to digital (because the volume control is digital) and then converts it back to analogue. I have tried many other pre/pros for pure analogue and I have not found anything that sounds as open and non fatiguing other than a dedicated 2 channel pre amp when I listen to 2 channel. That being said, the Bryston is 8 years old. In tech years that is a lifetime. The advancement in DAC's, HDMI, DSP's etc change (improve?) every year.
I am faced with a decision based on the fact I now have more than 2 UHD 4K/HDR sources and my Bryston still has the original HDMI boards which will not pass 4K. In fact I found out that Bryston is now on there 4th HDMI board since the SP3 was introduced 8 years ago. I have been able to get around that limitation because my Oppo had 2 HDMI output so I run the video direct my my JVC projector and the audio to the SP3. The Oppo also has an HDMI input for my Apple 4 TV with HDMI bypass.
I think the fact that technology is changing every couple of years that any Pre/Pro will need to be upgraded every couple of years. This leads me to my question:
It seems to make sense for me that investing in a high quality analogue pre amp with Home Theatre Bypass (that will not be obsolete for many years) and then getting any AVP for handling my 7.1 home theatre might make the most sense. The advancements in AVP's and receivers is primarily around Immersive audio, video processing, room correction, staying current with HDMI standards etc. For the most part they are disposable in 2 or 3 years.
I also have a latest generation Marantz in another room and I have experimented with it in my media room. I have kept everything else the same and just replaced the SP3 with the Marantz. For 7.1 movies the Marantz sounded as good as the SP3, was easier to set up, passed all 4K signals to my projector etc. but for analogue 2 channel was not even close.
For my particular situation:
Immersive sound is not important, my room is set up for 7.1 channels and that will not change.
I don't require room correction because my room has been treated and measures flat from all seating positions.. In fact when I had the Marantz in the room I used the room calibration feature of the Marantz and found that for 7.1 it actually sounded better when I disabled that feature.
I don't need any video up conversion or processing in my pre pro. I will leave that up to my source (Oppo 203, Apple 4K, Marantz Blu ray) or my JVC projector.
In reality if the SP3 had the latest DAC's, and passed 4K, 60Hz, 4:4:4 12 bit signal with all the HDR standards, plus had a DAC that converted a 2 channel or multi channel DSD signal through HDMI that would be perfect. Until 8K comes out in a couple of years

Upgrading the SP3 to the current latest specs for HDMI board and USB DAC would cost about $3,800 which at best would buy me a couple of years until HDMI standards change again.

Or I could sell the SP3 and put that money into any Receiver from Marantz (with pre outs) or any AVP for 7.1 sound and a good quality 2 channel pre amp with home theatre bypass.

If my overall budget is around $10K that seems to make the most sense. If I look at the Bryston SP4, The McIntosh MX170 and MX123 Trinnov, Marantz AV 8805 they are all catering to videophiles that want all the latest immersive sound capabilities and have very elaborate video processing capabilities.
It seems that they new Theta is more catering to what I am looking for but at a very high price

HI

The HSR82T is in the process of replacing the HSR72Q, beginning over the next few weeks. The specs for the two boards are quite similar, and the switch is being made because the HSR72Q is being phased out by MDS.

james

[gbaby]

Originally Posted by Kal Rubinson

If the 7.1 analog inputs were balanced, I'd feel the same way.

Kal, I am just re-reading this post. Are you saying the 7.1 analog inputs on the SP3 are unbalanced? I thought the analog section of the unit was based upon Bryston's BP-26 analog pre-amp.

[nicoff]

Originally Posted by gbaby

Kal, I am just re-reading this post. Are you saying the 7.1 analog inputs on the SP3 are unbalanced? I thought the analog section of the unit was based upon Bryston's BP-26 analog pre-amp.

Not Kal, but I can confirm that the 7.1 multichannel ANALOG INPUTS in the SP3 are NOT balanced. They are RCA.
The multichannel 7.1 ANALOG OUTPUTS of the SP3 are XLR connectors.

[Kal Rubinson]

Originally Posted by nicoff

Not Kal, but I can confirm that the 7.1 multichannel ANALOG INPUTS in the SP3 are NOT balanced. They are RCA.
The multichannel 7.1 ANALOG OUTPUTS of the SP3 are XLR connectors.

Exactly. I thought the SP3 was a near ideal product and the only missing feature that deterred me from buying one is this.

[gbaby]

Originally Posted by nicoff

Not Kal, but I can confirm that the 7.1 multichannel ANALOG INPUTS in the SP3 are NOT balanced. They are RCA.
The multichannel 7.1 ANALOG OUTPUTS of the SP3 are XLR connectors.

I may be confusing myself. Only the two channel XLR inputs are balanced. Correct? It also has balanced digital inputs.

[Kal Rubinson]

Originally Posted by gbaby

I may be confusing myself. Only the two channel XLR inputs are balanced. Correct? It also has balanced digital inputs.

Yes.

[gbaby]

Originally Posted by Kal Rubinson

Exactly. I thought the SP3 was a near ideal product and the only missing feature that deterred me from buying one is this.

Wouldn't that be an unreasonable expectation knowing no other pre/pros have 7.1 balanced analog pass throughs?

[Kal Rubinson]

Originally Posted by gbaby

Wouldn't that be an unreasonable expectation knowing no other pre/pros have 7.1 balanced analog pass throughs?

It wasn't an expectation. It is a requirement of mine which has not been met.