Skip to content
View in the app

A better way to browse. Learn more.

www.Head-Case.org

A full-screen app on your home screen with push notifications, badges and more.

To install this app on iOS and iPadOS
  1. Tap the Share icon in Safari
  2. Scroll the menu and tap Add to Home Screen.
  3. Tap Add in the top-right corner.
To install this app on Android
  1. Tap the 3-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of the browser.
  2. Tap Add to Home screen or Install app.
  3. Confirm by tapping Install.

Bryston BHA1 Headphone Amp

Featured Replies

  • Replies 101
  • Views 44.4k
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Most Popular Posts

  • Noise cancellation of COMMON MODE noise happens wherever the phases of the signal are compared. If the phases are compared at the inputs, noise cancellation happens there. If the phases are compared a

  • No, it means that there should hardly be any difference at all. Which is very cool. Ooh, unless the output impedance is different running SE and BAL. People put WAY too much importance on Bala

  • Thanks for the explanations, all. It is much appreciated. My balanced cable came in and is now connected to my LCD-2s, and I'm enjoying it quite a lot, design issues notwithstanding. Semi-ignora

They did choose male xlr outs for headphones, instead of female. So they're going their own path completely (and following the standard the non-headphone community has always followed).

They did choose male xlr outs for headphones, instead of female. So they're going their own path completely (and following the standard the non-headphone community has always followed).

They're jumping on the recable bandwagon?

"Bryston will also provide modifications to some headphone models to make them compatible with a balanced output configuration, along with an adapter cable assuring backwards compatibility to all traditional (unbalanced) headphone outputs."

I assume it has that Canadian sound.

As an ex-Canuck I am afraid of this thing now

They're jumping on the recable bandwagon?

"Bryston will also provide modifications to some headphone models to make them compatible with a balanced output configuration, along with an adapter cable assuring backwards compatibility to all traditional (unbalanced) headphone outputs."

Complimentary business lines? How shrewd.

I'm unfamiliar with the Canadian sound. What are their traits? How does it differ from Mexican?

Edited by blessingx

I like the gain options. Super high, and Stupidly super high.

  • Author

Definitely a dynamic amp.

That thread linked by Grahame is interesting. The design process of this thing seems odd. They are prepared to release, pull it to change design, then apparently pull again to tweak circuit. All good if they get it right, but still. Then Bryston acknowledges that they are aware most balanced HPs are male XLR, which is the main reason for the retermination service. WTF? Why not just go with female?

Definitely a dynamic amp.

That thread linked by Grahame is interesting. The design process of this thing seems odd. They are prepared to release, pull it to change design, then apparently pull again to tweak circuit. All good if they get it right, but still. Then Bryston acknowledges that they are aware most balanced HPs are male XLR, which is the main reason for the retermination service. WTF? Why not just go with female?

My guess is they are targeting the speaker crowd familiar with the Bryston brand and are new to headphones. So they buy the headphones and amp at the same time and send their phones off to Bryston who make some money off the recable.

I gotta agree with Beefy that gain is insane. Even crazier if you have a 4v balanced source. Unless they are using some non-standard attenuation curve pot.

The Bryston guy says in the thread that they're thinking of doing a recable for free with purchase of the amp. Customer just pays shipping.

How about just put the right jacks on it? They should make the female jacks standard.

I'm not real familiar with balanced jack conventions, but the initial pic looked wrong to me...

How about just put the right jacks on it? They should make the female jacks standard.

I'm not real familiar with balanced jack conventions, but the initial pic looked wrong to me...

At the very least, safety first. You should not be able to touch 'high' voltage, high current pins, which you can do with male panel connectors.

How about just put the right jacks on it? They should make the female jacks standard.

I'm not real familiar with balanced jack conventions, but the initial pic artist rendering looked wrong to me...

FTFY

At Audio Advisor you can order it with either male or female XLRs.

Edited by morphsci

Still don't think any output should use male pins, too much chance of shorting them. But I guess if this is industry (commercial sound) standard for XLRs it is kind of hard to change at this point. At least they didn't go with some goofy video camera connector or other.

BYBHA1_HERO-Large.jpg

Seems they go both ways.

ec83b044_BrystonBHP-1prototypeblackfrontwithMPS-2.jpg

Did they keep or lose the balance knob?

Last I checked the balance knob is still there. I would never have a use for such a thing (software can do it more precisely), and it is one more thing that is in the signal path. Looks really nice though.

I wonder about the topology though, because the mW into a high impedance is higher (667mW @ 600ohm) than into a lower one (500mW @ 32ohm). I have never seen such a figure. I always thought it was the other way around for pretty much any amp.

http://bryston.com/PDF/brochures/BHA1_BROCHURE.pdf

anyone else see BHA1 & think SHA-1?...

missing my Melos, missing my Grados...

Last I checked the balance knob is still there. I would never have a use for such a thing (software can do it more precisely), and it is one more thing that is in the signal path. Looks really nice though.

True, though relying on software knocks out a lot of source options (or you're back to adding more hardware in the path).

Edited by blessingx

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in

Sign In Now

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.

Account

Navigation

Search

Search

Configure browser push notifications

Chrome (Android)
  1. Tap the lock icon next to the address bar.
  2. Tap Permissions → Notifications.
  3. Adjust your preference.
Chrome (Desktop)
  1. Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
  2. Select Site settings.
  3. Find Notifications and adjust your preference.