The Bryston BHA-1 headphone amplifier was launched back in 2012 and immediately gained a standing as a solid high-end performer. Unlike most brands, Bryston has not bothered with releasing new versions of an already great product. The downside to this approach is that since most reviews naturally are made close after the initial launch, “old” products get less attention. However, The Headphoneer has never been chasing news, and since I have always wanted to give this amplifier a thorough listen, here comes a Bryston BHA-1 review – anno 2019.
The BHA-1 is not a small amplifier, mostly because the chassis is in the standard 43 cm standard hifi-component width. It seems very solidly built and given that Bryston offers a 20-year warranty that is no surprise. The BHA-1 has three analog inputs: RCA, XLR, and 3.5mm minijack. It has a high and a low gain setting. There are 4-pin and dual 3-pin balanced XLR outputs and a standard 1/4 inch TRS jack.
The amp is powerful but still dead silent, even with sensitive headphones and earbuds. It has some pot leakage: There is very low music playing even if you turn the volume control all the way down. Further, you almost never need to turn the volume wheel up much even with quite hard to drive headphones.
Now, I will as usual jump straight into the comparisons with selected amplifiers. The Violectric V200, Kinki THR-1, and Audio g-d Master 9 are a bit below the Bryston´s price point, the Questyle CMA800R, and Auralic Taurus quite close, and the Woo WA22 (with upgraded tubes) is a bit higher in price.
Bryston BHA-1 vs Auralic Taurus
Beyerdynamics T1 mk2
The 600 ohm T1 is difficult headphone to drive, and amplifier matching is essential. It is not only about power, and I never liked the Taurus with the T1. I find the combination thin sounding and lacking in the bass. The Bryston is another story. Great bass, great punch. No thinness. The Bryston is a way better amp for the T1.
Hifiman HE-560
The 35 ohm/90dB HE-560 is quite demanding and requires a powerful amp.
Wild Nothing – Drive: Even though the Taurus is great, the Bryston feels a bit clearer and a bit more dynamic.
Tomasz Stanko – Terminal 7: The Bryston is a bit clearer and feels more spacious, however, the Taurus has a nice enveloping feel to it.
Montague Grant – Prins Thomas: There might be a bit more thump in the midbass drums with the Taurus, but generally they sound quite similar.
Spring 1 – Max Richter / Vivaldi: On this string piece, the differences are small. The Taurus is a tad “meatier” in its presentation, the Bryston feels a bit crisper.
Never Mind – Leonard Cohen: Again, they are very close, but the Bryston is a bit more spacious and slightly more articulated.
Grålysning – Thomas Thonstrup: As with the Stanko-track, the acoustic jazz highlihts the Brystons advantage in spaciousness, but they are definitely not miles apart.
Audeze LCD-3
Grålysning – Thomas Thonstrup: I always regarded the LCD-3 a great match for the Taurus. Again the Bryston is a bit clearer, but it also loses some of that enveloping magic touch I feel the Taurus has on the LCD-3. The Taurus feels more well-rounded in a subjectively better way.
Azzaharat – Eple Trio: I get the same impression as above. The LCD-3 sounds more pleasing to me with the Taurus. The Bryston gives it a bit of a sharper touch.
Moving through some more music, I keep finding the LCD-3 more pleasing with the Taurus, but even though my preference is clear, the differences are not huge, and I can easily imagine myself reconsidering preferences.
Audeze LCD-X
In general, I get the same impression as with the LCD-3. The Bryston is crisper and offers a bit more space, but the Taurus feels a tad more pleasingly rounded. Still, for some reason, I now tend to prefer the Bryston more often for its added clarity.
LCD-2 rev.1.
The LCD-2 responds quite similar to the two amps as the LCD-3 and LCD-X. The Bryston is a tad clearer, whilst the Taurus is slightly warmer and fuller sounding.
Hifiman HE-1000v2
A thousand lies – Machine Head: The two amps are very similar, but the Bryston has a tad more punch in the bass region.
Montague Grant – Prins Thomas: Again, very similar, this time also in the bass.
Terminal 7 – Tomasz Stanko: They still similar, but the Bryston reveals a tad more three-dimensionality, but as with the LCD-3, the Taurus is a bit less intense in its presentation, which can be a good thing depending on the listener.
Grålysning – Thomas Thonstrup: Similar experience as above.
Beethoven: Chamber Music for Winds – Les Vents Francais: Again, the Bryston is a tad clearer, but also more upfront. The Taurus has a pleasant, warm feel to it.
Surprisingly, with the HE1000v2, the perceived difference was generally smaller than with some of the less resolving headphones I tested before. Both amps do a good job.
Sennheiser HD800
Going through my playlist, it becomes clear that these two amps have a lot in common. They sound so close, I struggle to find differences that are significant enough to articulate. They are not identical, but I do not find a single track where I prefer one over the other. Both have a good grip on the HD800 and keeping it from being overly bright.
Focal Elear
Montague Grant – Prins Thomas: This bouncy sounding track becomes even more bouncy sounding with the Bryston. Both amps do a great job, but the Bryston is a bit more dynamical.
Ginsterweg – Hauschka: Hauschka´s prepared piano is a bit crisper and livelier with the Bryston, but both do well.
Endalaus – Olafur Arnalds: The bass is a bit more three dimensional with the Bryston.
Grålysning – Thomas Torstrup: Similar impression, the Bryston is crisper and more dynamical, but the Taurus has a pleasant warmth to it. Still, they are more similar than different.
4:30 – Solveig Slettahjell: Again, they are very similar, but especially the bells in the background have more of a “zing” to them with the Bryston.
Sennheiser HD650
Both amps kick some serious life into the 300 ohm Sennheiser classic. They are very similar, though the Taurus sometimes feels a tad meatier and fuller.
Hifiman HE-6
The legendary HE-6 is one of the ultimate tests of power. The betters the Taurus in clarity, control, and dynamics. It definitely seems to have more power resources than the already powerful Taurus.
Concluding, the Bryston BHA-1 and the Auralic Taurus have much in common. Sometimes they sound almost the same, but when they do exhibit apparent differences, the Bryston tends to be a bit clearer, crisper as well as more dynamic and spacious, whilst the Taurus has a slightly warmer and more full-bodied sound.
Bryston BHA-1 vs Questyle CMA800R
Audeze LCD-X
As when comparing the Bryston to the Taurus, the Bryston comes out generally a ta clearer, the Questyle a tad fatter – most noticeable with voices. They often sound quite similar, and it is difficult to pick a winner for me here. Both are great with the 16 ohm LCD-X.
Hifiman HE560
Same as above – they are very similar. However, the Bryston is a tad clearer/thinner sounding. But they are both very dynamic and the differences are very small.
Hifiman HE1000v2
Also the HE1000v2 performs very similarly with these two amps.
Sennheiser HD800
With the HD800 the two amps perform surprisingly similar, and honestly there is not much to share.
I continue with the Oppo PM1, Focal Elear, and HD650. They all sound great on both amps and in a similar manner.
Concluding I must say that to my surprise I feel the Questyle and the Bryston are more similar than the Bryston felt similar to the Taurus. This is despite I the case that tend to think of the Questyle as a tad meatier than the Taurus, a reminder that comparing side by side is necessary to get the real impression. That being said, the three amps compared so far are in the same ballpark, with similar (but not identical) sound signatures and performance.
Bryston vs Kinki THR1
Sennheiser HD650
Quite similar performance, but Bryston a tad crisper.
Focal Elear
Both are dynamic and articulates well. Again, the Bryston again a tad thinner and crisper, but not much. The Kinki has a nice extra dose of warmth to it.
Sennheiser HD800
The Kinki holds up very well against the Bryston. They have different characters. I occasionally, like with Phanta du Prince´s “Photon” find the Bryston to have slightly better bass control and separation, but mostly the difference is about presentation rather than one being objectively better. The Kinki is generally warmer and fuller sounding. I tend to prefer the slightly toned down presentation of the Kinki for the HD800, but trying to be objective, I can imagine others would prefer the extra clarity of the Bryston. Still, they are not that different.
Hifiman HE560
Nevermind – Leonard Cohen: The Kinki has more presence in the mids here, it is slightly warmer and feels fuller and more satisfying than the Bryston, without losing any noticeable fine detail.
Tres Notas Para Decir Te Quiero – Vincente Amigo: Also here, the Kinki offers that needed dose of warmth, making the Bryston feel a bit thin.
The HE560 has a slightly drawn back midrange and can benefit from a dose of warmth. Even though the Kinki feels quite neutral, it indeed brought out the goodness a bit more than the Bryston with the HE560.
Hifiman HE1000 v2
With the HE1000, I experience the same as with the HE560, but my preference is not as one-sided. The Bryston offers a thinner, but also slightly more transparent sound, making it more of a trade-off. Also, the bass is a bit tighter with the Bryston. Both amps are doing a good job, but with different advantages.
Audeze LCD-3
With the LCD-3 they perform quite similar. They sound more alike than with the other headphones, but I notice that the Bryston delivers slightly tidier bass performance, like on Smashing Pumpkin´s “ Cherub Rock”.
Fostex TH900
The Kinki sounds great with the TH900. It has a dose of warmth that the Bryston lacks. The Kinki has a tad less precision but a bit fuller bass and midrange. Now, the TH900 does indeed usually benefit from some extra fullness in the mids, so a neutral amp like the Bryston might not be the best choice.
Beyerdynamic T1 v2
My first impression of the T1 mk2 with the Kinki was mesmerizing, and to be honest I didn´t listen to anything else for weeks. The Bryston does a fine job, but to me there is a special magic in the Kinki/T1 combo. The Kinki delivers a spacious, yet enveloping and full-bodied sound. The Bryston is sharper, brighter, and a bit thinner sounding. Compared to the Taurus, the BHA-1 did great with the T1, but it cannot match the Kinki.
Concluding, both amps are capable performers with all headphones tested. The Bryston is a bit crisper sounding with a bit more resolution and dynamic capability, but the Kinki often weighs that up with a smoother and warmer sound signature.
Bryston BHA-1 vs Violectric V200
Audeze LCD-3
Terminal 7 – T.Stanko: The V200 has always been good with planar magnetic headphones, and it does not disappoint now either. With the LCD-3 it to me has a slight advantage over the Bryston because it is a bit warmer sounding, without losing spaciousness and detail.
Edmond – Prins Thomas: This bass-heavy track reveals how impressively well the Bryston handles bass; the V200 gets a bit looser own below in comparison.
Violin Concerto D maj. Op 35.1 – Tchaikovsky/Hahn: The Bryston certainly has a brighter presentation. However, both feel equally spacious and detailed.
Generally, I tend to prefer the V200 for the LCD-3 for its warmer feel, but the Bryston has better bass control.
Hifiman HE1000v2
4:30 AM – S.Slettahjell: The Bryston sounds quite a bit more open and resolved when I have the V200 at normal gain. Adding 6 dB helps, and narrows the gap, but still the Bryston is a tad better.
Edmond – Prins Thomas: Both do very well, the bass performance is great.
3 Madrigals for Violin and Viola – H313.1 – Martinu/Emerson String Quartet: With this string trio, the Bryston reveals more of the recording, there is more space between the strings, the background feels blacker and there is a bit more detail in each stroke.
Sennheiser HD800
The Bryston does very well with the HD800, and even though the V200 is good, the Bryston is a step up. With string music, the treble is more lively. Moving through other music the Bryston is more dynamic and fun. There is not always too much of a difference, but sometimes it is quite apparent.
I continue with the Focal Elear, Fostex TH900, Beyerdynamics T1. The pattern continues: Even though the amps are close, the Bryston is generally a tad clearer and cleaner, with a bit better dynamics and tighter bass control. The V200 slightly fuller sounding.
Bryston vs Master 9
Hifiman HE1000v2
I consider the Master 9 a very good solid state match for the HE1000v2, which can sound a bit flat with some amplifiers. The Master 9 is a neutral amp, though, so it’s not as straightforward as simple amp coloration, but it drives the HE1000 v2 very well. There is something special about that combo. So I expected the Bryston to lose this one. And it does. In direct comparison, the Master 9 is fuller sounding and feels more dynamical, whilst the Bryston is flatter and thinner. It is crisp and clear, but lacks that magic feeling. It makes the HE1000v2 feel less spectacular and less alive.
Sennheiser HD700
I find them both to play very well with the HD700, I do not find the Bryston thin or clinical here at all.
Sennheiser HD800
The Bryston feels more dynamical than the Master 9. The master 9 is slightly warmer sounding. The Bryston brings out more detail and seems to have a slightly tighter grip on the HD800, but the Master 9 has (to me) a more appealing sound signature, being slightly more laid back. To the Bryston´s advantage, however, it makes the background percussion more lively and organic, and it makes the listening space open up even a bit more. Thus, I tend to favor the Bryston, especially at lower listening levels.
Hifiman HE560
Again, the Master 9 has a slightly fatter sound signature, and like with the HE1000v2, I tend to prefer it more than the Bryston – though with a lesser margin. The Bryston plays well with the HE560, and many might prefer its more forward-leaning style with the HE560, but for me, the Master 9 makes the music a bit more magical.
Audeze LCD-3
Also with the LCD-3, the Bryston is a tad livelier than the Master 9, making it a trade-off between the appealing extra dose of fullness from the Master 9 and the slightly snappier character of the Bryston. Both are great, though they are of different flavors.
Hifiman HE-6
The Master 9 is one of few headphone amplifiers that get close to giving the HE6 justice – to reach the full potential most people use a speaker amp. The Master 9 is not optimal, and I have the normal, not the “high gain” version, but for me, matching the Master 9 is some sort of a minimum level performance test for the HE-6. And the Bryston does pass. It is quite snappy, more so than the Master 9, but can sound a bit thin. So, like the Master 9, it does drive the HE-6 OK, but not to its full potential.
Bryston BHA-1 vs Woo WA22
The WA22 is the most expensive amplifier in this comparison, it is also the only tube amplifier. It is equipped with the following NOS tubes: Tung-Sol 5998, Philips GZ34 and Sylvania VT231
Oppo PM-1
The WA22 makes the Oppo shine, it feels more alive and dynamic, more fun and organic. The Bryston does a very good job, but that little extra fun-factor makes me prefer the WA22.
Hifiman HE560
The Bryston is a tad cleaner and probably has better control, but the WA22 pushes the midrange a bit more forward, in a very nice way. So it is a trade-off: The WA22 has makes the HE560 tonality sound better, the Bryston feels a bit tighter. However, all inall, I prefer the WA22.
HE1000v2
With the HE1000, the impression is similar to that of the Oppo PM1: The WA22 makes the HE1000v2 come more alive. With the Bryston it becomes flatter and less exciting.
Shure SRH1840
The SRH1840 plays very well with both amplifiers, and it is a very engaging presentation from both amps. The WA22 is bolder and slightly fatter sounding, the Bryston a or maybe neutral is a better word. I like them both very much. I usually tend to favor the extra liveliness I find the WA22 to blow into many headphones, but with the SRH-1840 I feel the Bryston is holding up very well in that regard, and if anything it offers slightly better separation and texture.
Sennheiser HD800
The Bryston is very good with the HD800. It compares well to most other higher end solid state headphone amplifiers I have tried. However, the WA22 brings out a different sonic character, with a fuller and more enveloping sound, and a sweeter tone. All without losing the fabulous detail level and wide soundstage. I might add that I always liked the HD800 with WA22, and believe good tube amplifiers certainly tend to make the HD800 better.
Bryston BHA-1 Conclusion
The Bryston is a beast: It has loads of power, a a good selection of inputs and outputs, and it drives every headphone well. Even the Hifiman HE-6 sounds decent. Generally, it is a very neutral amplifier but is leaning slightly towards the snappier and crisper side, without becoming “edgy” or bright. I was very impressed with it in 2012, end even more so after spending some real time with it in 2019. Highly recommended.
Comments:
The DAC´s used in this test Hegel HD25, Violectric V800 and Audio-gd Master 7, and my impression was that the Bryston BHA-1 can benefit from a slightly warm sounding source.
Manufacturer Specifications:
Features:
Balanced outputs
Balanced dual mono circuitry
Left/Right balance control
Six fully discrete Class A Bryston operational amplifiers
14dB or 20dB gain
10k input impedance
High quality noble stereo volume control (laser trimmed)
Gold plated input and output connectors
Multiple headphone drive capability
Options:
Available with Silver or Black Faceplate (2U)
17” or 19” Faceplate available
Rack Mountable Ears available
Locking mechanisms on Balanced XLR connectors
Physical:
Standard width:
US: 2.75” (2″ W/O feet) H x 17” W x 12.25” D (17″ faceplate)
Metric: 69.85mm (50.8mm W/O feet) H x 431.8mm W x 311.15mm D (431.8mm faceplate)
Extra wide:
US: 2.75” (2″ W/O feet) H x 19” W x 12.25” D (19″ faceplate)
Metric: 69.85mm (50.8mm W/O feet) H x 482.6mm W x 311.15mm D (482.6mm faceplate
13.25 Ibs / 6 kg
Specifications:
- 2 Ohms output impedance for each op-amp driver.
Load @ 600 Ohms
- Hi – 10.9V Out @ 001% Power 200 mW
- Lo – 5.45 V Out @ 001% Power 50 mW
- Lo – 2.50 V Out @ 001% Power 10 mW
- Lo – 788 mV Out @ 001%¹ Power 1 mW
Load @ 300 Ohms
- Hi – 10.8 V Out @ 001% Power 390 mW
- Lo – 5.40 V Out @ 001% Power 50 mW
- Lo – 1.79 V Out @ 001% Power 10 mW
- Lo – 583 mV Out @ 001%¹ Power 1 mW
Load @ 80 Ohms
- Hi – 10.4 V Out @ 002% Power 1.35 W
- Lo – 5.20 V Out @ 001% Power 383 mW
- Lo – 887 mV Out @ 001% Power 10 mW
- Lo – 345 mV Out @ 003% Power 1 mW
Load @ 32 Ohms
- Hi – 9.65 V Out @ 0.150% Power 2.9 W²
- Lo – 4.84 V Out @ 002% Power 732 mW
- Lo – 578 mV Out @ 001%¹ Power 10 mW
- Lo – 185 m V Out @ 005%¹ Power 1 mW
- Lo – 4.00 V Out @ 001% Power 500 mW³
¹ 80 kHz Filter >
² Onset of clipping
³ Rated output
Ref: Bryston website
