Bryston Preamps - What do they sound like?

Greg 7:

I think the Acurus LS11 is a very good value. Acurus was a great company back then. It has a balanced sound and is a great example of a good sounding solid state Pre and an even better value. Acurus stuff is well made and lasts. I think the Pre is better than their amps - the amps are a bit bright. I actually like the Acurus LS11 better than an older Aragon Pre (model 28 K) I recently bought used altho the Aragon was far more expensive back in the day (Acurus and Aragon were sister companies - Aragon was the more expensive stuff). They actually still are sister brands (Indy Audio Labs)

I was just reading the review of a new speaker line on Stereophile. Check out the preamp used used here. 

Perlisten S7t loudspeaker Associated Equipment | Stereophile.com

The Topping pre90.

I have a BP25 with MPS2, it's actually a warmer sounding preamp. My newest preamp is a STP.SE.STG2 and by comparison the Bryston is colored, not in a bad way its very musical. I enjoy both preamps, I think some people mischaracterize some of the bryston preamp based on older Bryston amps being somewhat sterile. If I had to summarize the BP25 I would say slightly warm and musical. No deal breaker, it's a nice preamp.

I just got a later model BP-20 with the BP-PSR power supply. I would agree that it is a warm pre, tilted to the low mids, but in a very smooth and even handed way. I quite like the presentation. I did not expect to like it as much as my EAR 864. In fact, I found it more satisfying for long listens. The longer I listened the more I liked it. The EAR could be characterized in contrast as having a stronger upper mid response. It’s a little clearer as a result.

The Bryston was the most noise free preamp I have ever heard. Not a hint of noise. Deep black backgrounds. Bass was very deep, clear and nimble. High frequencies sparkled and soared. Quite beautiful and reminiscent of early Mark Levinson.

I suspect that the recessed high mids were designed into the pre to offset the aggressive highs of the matching Bryston amplifiers of the time. The 4B, 4BSST and 4BST.

I got this pre for very little. It had some of the labeling worn off, so I got it for a song. I plan to recap it. Perhaps relabel it for fun, get a little creative. It’s got me thinking a lot more about Bryston and what I have been missing all these years.

My current question is, should I buy an amp that is it’s contemporary. I could get one of those pretty cheap. Maybe a 4B SST. Or should I get the new 4B3? For a lot more money. Hmmmmm.

Either way, consider me very impressed with this old $385 bargain. And inspired.

I've got a BP25 and BP26 in two different systems.  I'd describe them as transparent.  The BP25 is 20 years old this year and there is zero noise in the knobs.  It works as well as it did when I got it around 2009.  The 26 also works perfectly and neither adds nor subtracts from the sound.  There's no hint of warm or bright to me, everything sounds like it was recorded.