Bryston Class D Amplifiers

[AcuDefTechGuy]

What are your thoughts/opinions on the Bryston class D amps?

The BD-325 is 325 Watts into 8-ohm, 650 Watts into 4-ohms, Linear Power Supply, Massive Toroidal Transformers, Bryston’s legendary 20 YEAR Warranty. Oh, and the cost is almost HALF of their class A/B amps.


The BRYSTON BD-225-2 is 225-WPC Stereo Amp, retails $3495 with a 20-YEAR BRYSTON WARRANTY.






It looks like the Bryston Class D are similar to the ATI Class D amps: both use Linear Power Supply (not Switching Power Supply). Both the ATI and Bryston class D amps are heavy and weigh like some class A/B amps.

 

[ski2xblack]

I'm sold. On class D amps that is. They've demonstrated SOTA performance, the only unproven aspect being long term reliability, and even that becomes less of a concern as they're going into "mature tech" at this point. The Bryston is a bit bougie, but kudos to them for their 20 yr warranty.

 

[Tankini]

@AcuDefTechGuy. Your post is already on the web,

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I'm sold. On class D amps that is. They've demonstrated SOTA performance, the only unproven aspect being long term reliability, and even that becomes less of a concern as they're going into "mature tech" at this point. The Bryston is a bit bougie, but kudos to them for their 20 yr warranty.

Bryston 3B3 200W x 2ch = $6,000, 20YR warranty
Bryston BD225 225W x 2ch = $3500 20YR warranty
Benchmark AHB2 100W x 2ch = $3500 5YR warranty
NAD M23 200W x 2ch = $5,000 3YR warranty
ATI AT522 200W x2ch = $2,500 7YR warranty
Buckeye PURIFI 1ET6525SA 230x2=$1,150 2YR warranty

So the biggest point for me is definitely the price vs 20YR warranty.

The 225-2 is almost HALF the price of the 3B3.

I’ve always wanted Bryston for their 20YR warranty and brand name, but their class A/B amp prices are just too high. Now thanks to their new class D, I’m wondering if more audiophiles will actually jump onto the Bryston bandwagon.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

@AcuDefTechGuy. Your post is already on the web,

Kind of fast, aren’t I?

 

[lovinthehd]

I don't think much about Bryston at all. Nice in a way, but more costly than other alternatives.

 

[ski2xblack]

Yeah, $3500 is still a bit bougie to me. I'm just a lowly hoopty jeep driving RN, not a high fallutin late model Lexus driving pharmacist.‍ I would have to stick with the short warranty, utilitarian looking, but similarly powerful Buckeye for a third the cost.

 

[ryanosaur]

Purifi 2-ch 1ET6525SA for $1150.
230w into 8ohms, 450w into 4ohms, 510w into 2ohms, per channel.

Might not have a 20yr warranty, but you could upgrade again in 10yrs with little to no concern!

 

[lovinthehd]

Purifi 2-ch 1ET6525SA for $1150.
230w into 8ohms, 450w into 4ohms, 510w into 2ohms, per channel.

Might not have a 20yr warranty, but you could upgrade again in 10yrs with little to no concern!

Does Bryston keep a full equivalent retail guarantee in their warranty? That would be unusual....but not sure what they do for warranty claims over the length of the warranty.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Yeah, $3500 is still a bit bougie to me. I'm just a lowly hoopty jeep driving RN, not a high fallutin late model Lexus driving pharmacist.‍ I would have to stick with the short warranty, utilitarian looking, but similarly powerful Buckeye for a third the cost.

Well it’s not always about your career.

Not always about amp-power and cost-effectiveness or practicality.

I know plenty of doctors and pharmacists who wouldn’t even spend more than a Denon x2800 or a Kia.

@Danzilla31 is an RN, and he probably has spent more money in this HT hobby than most doctors and pharmacists I know.

But yeah, I gotta get me a Lexus LX600 to be my “weekend car” and my LX570 will be my “workhorse”.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Purifi 2-ch 1ET6525SA for $1150.
230w into 8ohms, 450w into 4ohms, 510w into 2ohms, per channel.

Might not have a 20yr warranty, but you could upgrade again in 10yrs with little to no concern!

I was gonna say “cheapa$$”, but you did just buy a brand new Marantz AV20.

 

[Verdinut]

Apart from being rather costly, it's very heavy compared to the Purifi or the Buckeye amps. What's nice about these latter are their compactness and lightness. Some switching power supplies have been reliable for more than 25 years. One example of a reliable SMPS is that used in some QSC Pro Audio amps.

 

[flyboylr45]

New speakers, new electronics. I‘m in team Bryston!!

 

[TankTop5]

Yeah, $3500 is still a bit bougie to me. I'm just a lowly hoopty jeep driving RN, not a high fallutin late model Lexus driving pharmacist.‍ I would have to stick with the short warranty, utilitarian looking, but similarly powerful Buckeye for a third the cost.

Are you a BSN? I dated a girl who graduated with her Pharm D in 18 months after graduating UC Davis in 3 years all while partying and drinking 40’s.you’ve saved enough lives in the trenches, time to save patients from their Dr’s…. Maybe you can even run the crash cart

 

[TankTop5]

We should all keep an eye out for a used Bryston SP4. They can be upgraded to Storm audio software with full Dirac ART. A 20 year warranty with the best software on earth, if you can get a deal on one I can’t imagine a reason to pass on it

 

[mtrycrafts]

... if you can get a deal on one I can’t imagine a reason to pass on it

Just watch me.

 

[TankTop5]

Just watch me.

Do it

 

[PENG]

Apart from being rather costly, it's very heavy compared to the Purifi or the Buckeye amps. What's nice about these latter are their compactness and lightness. Some switching power supplies have been reliable for more than 25 years. One example of a reliable SMPS is that used in some QSC Pro Audio amps.

Like Benchmark's, those class D amps use linear power supply and that's the main reason why they are much heavier than the Purifi and Hypex amps that use switching PS. Some Purifi, and may be Hypex amps also use linear power supplies, such as some NAD models, and if they do they will be heavy too.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Like Benchmark's, those class D amps use linear power supply and that's the main reason why they are much heavier than the Purifi and Hypex amps that use switching PS. Some Purifi, and may be Hypex amps also use linear power supplies, such as some NAD models, and if they do they will be heavy too.

The $2,500 200WPC ATI AT522NC is 66 lbs.

The $3,500 225WPC Bryston BD-225 is 53 lbs.

The $3,500 100WPC Benchmark AHB2 is 12 lbs.

The $5,000 200WPC NAD M23 is 21 lbs.

The $1,150 230W Buckeye PURIFI 1ET6525SA is 8 lbs.

Benchmark AHB2 Power Amplifier

Benchmark's new AHB2 Power Amplifier - "The Quietest, Cleanest Audio Amplifier on the Planet"

benchmarkmedia.com

Non-rack-mount version:

• 11.04" W x 3.88" H x 9.34 " D - w/ feet + binding post
• 11.04" W x 3.47" H x 8.33 " D - exclude feet/connector

Weight

• 12.5 lbs - Non-rack-mount version

 

[Tankini]

Well it’s not always about your career.

Not always about amp-power and cost-effectiveness or practicality.

I know plenty of doctors and pharmacists who wouldn’t even spend more than a Denon x2800 or a Kia.

@Danzilla31 is an RN, and he probably has spent more money in this HT hobby than most doctors and pharmacists I know.

But yeah, I gotta get me a Lexus LX600 to be my “weekend car” and my LX570 will be my “workhorse”.

Getting one of those Buckaroo class D amps is equivalent to say a Corolla. Where's a Bryston class D is equivalent to a Mercedes..