I have owned the Bryston BP20 line level preamp for about two months now and here are my observations. If you are in the market for a high quality, superb sounding preamp, this is the ticket. I auditioned a Bryston BP4 first, and I was not too impressed, don't get me wrong the BP4 sounds decent, but it is no comparison to the BP20. I also auditioned an Audio Research LS3B, and that moved the listening experience up another couple of notches, but still no match for the BP20. The BP20 is much more dynamic, the highs are silky smooth, the midrange is incredable, and the low end is simply superb. The resolution on the BP20 is astounding, and there seems to be no noise floor under this preamp. The music just emerges from a jet black backround. The build quality looks absolutely splendid. I would say that if Bryston ever smartens up and decides to charge more for this preamp, it would still be a bargain. I have not heard any other preamp for under $4000 that sounds better. Pair this BP20 up with a Bryston 3B-ST or a 4B-ST amp, and forget what the lunatic fringe audiophiles say about having to spend on audio gear. Just sit back and enjoy the experience and you be the judge.

I have had this amp for about ten days. I bought it used, so it was already burned in. I like it quite a bit. I compared it to the Adcom GFP-750 for a couple of listening sessions. The Bryston in my system is more dynamic and more accurate. The Adcom throws a bigger sound stage and has more air, but also adds a dolop of syrup. The syrup made it fun to listen to, but I was regularly aware it was taking me away from "the absolute sound." They are close in price. I would go with the one which works best in a system. If a system is on the dry side, I would pick the Adcom, if the system is already sweetish, the Bryston. That said, personally I am going back to tube preamps. I find them more dynamic. I also find they capture more of the magic of music.

Size, build quality and precision of the sound

Soundstage, sound delivery and musicality

I was bitterly disapointed with this preamp. Having read the reviews here, and being in need of a preamp, i decided to give this a whirl.

I had this unit for a 15 day demo. Hooked it up to my Odyssey Stratos amp and my Wadia 861. Was expecting transparent and wide soundstage. All i got was wrinkled tiny sound, as if it the music had been thrown into a small box and just couldnt get out. The sound was very 2D, with slow dynamics and a tendancy to be very lazy with the bass. My audience speakers just weren't stretched to their limit. I removed the Bryston just to be sure, and the Wadia direct into the Odyssey absolutely blew it away.

Alltogether a very bad experience. Dont know why i got this when there are so many positive reviews, but i just have to relate the experience the way it happened.

Equipment used :

Odyssey Stratos
TMC yellow interconnects
Fadel XLR 15 C
Wadia 861
Audience Speakers

Similar Products Used:

Krell, Mark levinson, nOrh

Clean, clear, transparent. Almost utterly uncolored. Utterly noise free.

Very few, except it might not have enough gain for some systems.

Yep...I agree with the guys below. Doesn't add or detract much of anything to signal. Absolutely inaudible noise threshold, in marked contrast to most tube preamps I've used. I'm actually using the preamp outputs of Bryston B60, which is the same circuitry as the BP20, only lacking that piece's balanced outputs. One caveat-it only has about 7 db of gain, so make sure this is enough for your amplifier and
speakers.

Similar Products Used:

This is the only solid state preamp I could live with-all others have been tubed.

I have been listening to my BP20 for 2 years. I also have Bryston 4BST amp, CAL Icon Mk2 CD player, and Dunlavy SCIV's.This combination is so transparent and lifelike; it is just a thrill to listen to it every time.
The only system I have ever heard was a $45,000 system at Sound By Singer - and it wasn't much better.
The Bryston equipment is just the best for the money.

Breakneck dynamics; extremely low noise floor; clean and clear; tight, powerful bass; mind-boggling value.

Might need a little more gain.

The sonic qualities of the BP-20 have already been discussed pretty accurately by previous posters, so I won't bother to tread over old ground. What I will say is that the BP-20/25 is one of the best, most intelligently engineered preamps I've ever encountered. It does exactly what a preamp *should* do: get out of the way of the music and allow you to hear the actual recording--not some audio designer's idea of what the recording should sound like. If the music is dry or brittle, or overly sweet and bloated, blame the recording, not this preamp. It is a wonder to me why the BP-20 hasn't caught the fancy of more audiophiles. The again, despite what a lot of them say, many audiophiles don't want the musical truth; they want a beautiful illusion. The BP-20 doesn't cast any such illusions. It delivers what's there--nothing more, nothing less. Which is how it should be. A world-class component at a ridiculously sane price? Is this really high-end audio we're talking about?

Similar Products Used:

Krell, Linn, Classe, Sim, Audible Illusions, VAC, Sonic Frontiers.

Great soundstage, neutrality, build quality

None really

I haven't auditioned a lot of preamps, but I can tell you that my system was transformed by the addition of the BP20. I was using the preamp out from my Arcam Alpha 7 integrated amp ($550 retail). I was so shocked by the improvement, I simply laughed at my system - totally new listening experience.

Given its reliablity, build quality, sonic integrity and impecable warranty, I think it would be very difficult to outdo the Bryston at its pricepoint. Highly recommended. I am now ready to upgrade to a BAT tube preamp ($4k retail), but am quite scared that it won't outdo the Bryston.

The rest of my system comprises:
B&W Nautilus 805
Arcam Alpha 7 CD & Bel Canto DAC 1
Bryston 3b-st
PS Audio Powerplant 300
Kimber KCAG & Harmonic Tech Truth interconnects
Interlink House Stealth PC Premier speaker cables

Similar Products Used:

Arcam Alpha 7