RePrint of
DVD & Surround Test
November - December 2003

High Tech from Canada
Noble and robust AV-Chain for the highest multi-Channel requirements

Bryston AV Combination

The Test Software

MONSTERS INC: Still one of the most beautiful animated films. Pixar's Monster AG is a genuine fireworks of gags, while the exemplary picture quality and the terrific soundtrack do the rest.

GANGS OF NEW YORK: Terrific pictures and an ingenious soundtrack are the outstanding features of this immense three hour epic. Ideal for test purposes.

LED ZEPPLIN -"DVD": The generally superseded video and audio materials from the early to middle seventies impressively shows the skills and creations of this famous group.

Modern AV amplifiers often abound in functions and features, "do everything", and (most of the time) are almost impossible to use. Bryston proves with its AV combination how sensible a "shot of purity" can sometimes be.

For more than over 40 years the Canadian Manufacturing Company Bryston has stood for extraordinarily high quality of workmanship and excellent sound. With the 4B power amplifier this Hi-Fi manufacturer has had a genuine best-seller since the mid seventies, but despite this Bryston still occupies a sort of "secrecy status" in our part of the world. The multi-channel line, in comparison to the two-channel components, still has a recent history. That Bryston also wants to compete in the highest domains of the AV arena is evident by the impressive warranty time of 20 years.

Loyal readers will remember that about a year ago we already tested the Bryston SP-1 preamp and the 9B ST power amplifier. At that time we were thrilled with the sound quality of the combination, and had only one point of criticism, i.e. the lack of multi-channel input of the processor. In the meantime the developers have corrected this.

In the actual version the components are denoted as SP-1.7 (6800 Euro), and 9B SST (5800 Euro). The SPV-1 (1800 Euro), a video signal processor which is responsible for video switching, has been added. As far as exteriors are concerned, everything remained as before.

All three components embody front panels of brushed aluminum, and next to a simple display, and a few dip switches, nothing disturbs the stylish appearance. The workmanship of the Bryston equipment is excellent, and appears to be built for eternity. Besides the massive metal cabinets the rugged, thickly gold plated, sockets and screw terminals on the rear panels call attention to themselves. A major advantage of Bryston components is in their discrete architecture. Thus the power amplifier is designated as a "Quint-Mono-Amplifier", and what is meant by this is that in fact all five individual power amplifier modules sit on individual circuit boards. But that is not all, in the massive 40 kilogram cabinet are five separate toroidal transformers each with its own filter capacitors, heat sinks, and all other necessary parts. The five amplifier modules are only connected by means of a single printed circuit board, which also incorporates a power fuse, overheating protection, and the standby control circuitry. There is even a power conditioner hidden inside the 9B SST, which is responsible for "cleaning" the incoming line current.

By means of the three small switches on the back, one can adjust the polarity, the input (RCA [Cinch] and balanced XLR), and the sensitivity for each channel. The last means that one can readily match each amplifier module to the sensitivity of its loudspeaker.

In order to prevent interference, the analog circuitry is kept strictly apart from the digital circuitry, and is built on its own circuit boards. The power supply even occupies its own shielded area inside the cabinet. Additionally there are two independent power supplies - one for digital one for analog.

The SP-1.7 accommodates up to eight channels. Therefore the door is open for expanded surround sound formats like DTS-ES and Dolby Digital-EX. Besides the typical digital formats, the DSP also provides Dolby Pro-Logic II and Neo:6. Incidentally all signals with a resolution up to 24 bits and 96 kilohertz can be accommodated. In order not to adversely affect the sound quality, the digital section of the preamp can be completely bypassed by means of a bypass pushbutton switch. Naturally this only makes sense with stereo sources or with SACD and DVD-Audio.

During testing we were especially impressed by the simple and uncomplicated operation of the SP-1.7 processor/preamp. By means of a row of switches on the front panel one can adjust all the important functions, i.e. one simply chooses one of the six available sources, then the type of signal, and finally the mode (Stereo or Surround) - and that's it! The menu has also been kept simple, since it can be readily operated directly from the front of the processor/preamp.

Excellent workmanship, discrete construction, and the reduction of all functions to only those truly necessary and sensible, serve only one purpose, namely the attainment of the finest and cleanest sound possible. The combination simply sounds superb. Forceful, dynamic, and elegant, are the first attributes that come to mind, and the enormous power makes an immediate impression. The power amplifier naturally profits from this especially in hectic, and full of effects, movie sequences. A chase through the universe? No problem! Giant lizards which roam through New York? Simple! The power amplifier simply doesn't "perspire." No question, the combination offers movie sound of the highest caliber. Softer sounds are also reproduced extremely cleanly and detailed by the Canadian AV combination.

No wonder that this combination with these virtues is suitable without any reservations for every type of music, be it CD, SACD, or DVD-Audio. Both highly resolving mediums specifically reveal the brilliance and outstanding resolution of the combination, and using it is truly enjoyable. Because of the adjustable sensitivity the Bryston combination is not limited to specific room sizes or loudspeakers, since it can be fine tuned for all operating conditions.

carsten.barnbeck@nitschke-verlag.de

Technology which inspires! A completely discrete five channel power amplifier is hidden behind the term "Quint-Mono-Amplifier." As has been mentioned in the text above, there are five separate, not directly connected to each other, power amplifier modules (1-5) in the massive cabinet. Each one of these incorporates a substantial toroidal transformer (T), and filter capacitors (E) which assure the best possible current supply. The amplifiers are connected to large passive heatsinks which are meant to prevent overheating. The amplifier modules obtain their power from a printed circuit board (S) upon which are mounted different assemblies. Besides the On-Off switch and the standby circuitry which permits the amplifier to gradually power up, one finds overheating protection here, which, if necessary, will turn the 9B SST amplifier off. Besides that there is a power conditioner, i.e. a current filter, here, which removes interferences from the line current. Thus the Bryston 9B SST power amplifier is equipped with all the necessary tools which are required for the best possible sound quality. Especially the power and the dynamics of the Bryston components inspired us

Translated from the German by Peter Ullman

We invite you to experience the Bryston SST² Series amplifiers

20 Year Warranty - A Generation of Music