Bryston Preamps - What do they sound like?

I recently sold a BP-17 (non cubed).

I thought it was very sterile sounding. To my ears the midrange was "thin". There simply was not enough "body" to the music. Clear and transparent - yes. Not bright per se. The music simply was not at all engaging. I could never listen to it long.

My other preamps are a Prima Luna Dialogue Premium, an Eastern Electric MiniMax pre, an old aragon, an old acurus LS-11 and a Music Fidelity A3CR.

I like the Music Fidelity the best. Speakers are older B & W 803D’s

Overall the Bryston was "transparent" but I did not like the perceived freq response - it just did not sound "right". It was very obvious every time I inserted it into the system. I wanted to like it as well but would remove it after a few songs. Hard to describe what I am trying to relate. Perhaps overly "thin" sounding is best with a recessed midrange. It was "thinner" than the old aragon, the LS-11 Acurus or the Music Fidelity. The A3CR is great and was a highly rated Pre (Stereophile) in its day. Dual mono etc, very heavy. 

I am getting away from tube Pre’s. The Prima Luna is not at all thick sounding but does not have the resolution of a good solid state preamp. I very much like resolution but the Bryston simply sounded "wrong" and to my ears it was always very obvious every time I inserted it (at least that model - I bought it used sight unseen and had never heard one prior). I am certain it has a ruler flat freq response when measured but nonetheless it sounded disjointed and not at all "musical" - altho this sounds "corny" there was no emotion to the music - I always wanted to remove it quickly and replace it with another Pre.  My amps are an NAD C-298 (very nice), a very old Aragon 2004 and a Quad Artera.  The bryston did not play with any of them well - always the same "nonmusical/flat" sound. 

Hope that helps. I am not dogging Bryston - they make bullet proof stuff. I hear their latest stuff is somewhat warmer sounding.

To each their own I guess. The person that bought the BP-17 from me was glad to find one (he was going to use it in a hunting cabin in northern wisconsin - a true audiophile if there ever was one!)

Very good preamp. I can't imagine the Topping pre90 sounding better, but never compared those two, Another of my favorites are Pass and Parasound. If the price is as good as you say, I'd jump on them.

I own a BP25 built in '98. To me there is no sound to it at all, it adds or takes nothing from what is fed through it. Current amp 4B3 and before that had a Classe C-201. The polarity/invert phase switch is a big plus to have. Here's one review.

Generally older Bryston products seemed to be voiced to the cool side of neutral. From what I've read it seems like that sound signature has warmed up in more recent releases.

Just had to comment on what someone said about the BP17 and the Topping pre90. These 2 are just not in the same ballpark, the Topping pre is for a nice computer setup in the office. Also maybe the system he listens to them sounds "thin" to begin with because that particular Bryston pre is transparent.

To be fair most Bryston equipment gets a bad rep for being clinical, because the equipment simply doesn’t add anything to the sound. If you want the truth in your recordings, Bryston is your company, however if you want to add warmth, buy a nice tube pre.

You can so easily hear why Bryston is a recording engineers pick.