This is true of most amps, both outputs should be electrically identical, and I don’t know if it’s just the cabling, but it has made a difference when I’ve tried it on both the Stratus and WA33.
It’s not dramatic to me, but I buy all my cables dual 3 pin at this point, though I don’t usually sweat it if I have to use 4 pin.
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Pretty sure the age is why, folks seem to go after the new shiny stuff or an update to a line. Bryston has made silent revisions but never changed the name to denote an update, one needs to decipher the serial number to get an idea. Then there is the current price of a new unit, which is nearly double the released price in 2012, I’m a sucker and bought mine new in 2020.
I tried the dual XLR out of my other amp, a DNA amp and could not tell the difference. With that I was using an adapter, when I asked the builder about the dual vs. single XLR he indicated there was no difference. He indicated at the time (2012ish), other amps had the dual XLR as a feature so give the people what they want was the mindset.
For the Bryston, I will give it a shot. Need to wire up another adapter since I re-used the 3 pin XLR for a balanced cable.
I’m one of them fools that has both of these amps now, my justification is bass on the Bryston hits harder or maybe lingers, whereas on the Pass it’s cleaner and slaps back faster. 100% agree used Bryston is a deal compared to a used Pass, seen some go for $1k-$1.2k and that is a heck of a deal for the quality and warranty.
I should try a true dual XLR on the end, rather than using adapters as thee cabling could not be ideal for me to pick up the differences
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Yep they just kept bumping it up lol. Although not like you are getting ripped off for that price or anything, imo it’s well worth retail even now, was just an absolute steal in the past.
Gotcha, my theory on why it would be different (at least for me and my setups) was that a lot of the dual 3 pin terminated stuff is literally a separate wire going to each headphone, so theoretically better separation, now have a ground for both sides, more physical cable and shielding per side. Don’t know though, just think it generally sounds better to an extent (also having 2 connectors might matter as well?). But really the bigger difference to me is just getting to balanced regardless of connection, you seriously miss out running that amp single ended
Dual 3 pin was indeed much more common in the past (time of release lol), and it is sorta more a holdover, but even new amps still include it which is interesting
Would agree (not about the fool part though lol). I do think generally imo the pass is a next tier amp, but it depends on the headphones being used and the sonic signature, I can totally see someone enjoying the more slam and macro focus on the bryston over the more polite and nuanced approach of the pass. Also would come down to the dac pairing too of course
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I think a lot of the underratedness of the Bryston is not so much the age of the design but that there’s no one out there reviewing the amp in the main stream so it doesn’t get a lot of the buzz or hype generated as if it was a newer released product.
And I fully agree @M0N given the chain you can make an argument for one over the other based on the DAC and headphones you’re looking to wind up with.
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If the amp was released today and the usual youtube suspects reviewed it, it would be the new hotness and all would be salivating.
Regarding dual vs single XLR, sorry guys, they are identical. Literally the only difference is very slightly (a centimeter or so) longer traces on the circuit board.
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Which makes me think it’s more to do with the difference in cabling between the headphone and the amp rather than anything inside the amp
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Reading through this thread, I’m starting to think I reeeally would have possibly preferred the Bryston over the pass labs when I had bought it. I’ll be seriously considering the bryston as another amplifier as I have being eyeing an amp that works well with different types of headphones over a amp that’s fairly picky with gear. Since for example, with my WA8 there’s a very particular type of headphone I can buy for it, like a Sennheiser, Audio technica type of thing and not much more things. Also price point I really like where the bryston sits at, and I consider myself a “budget” type of audiophile ( a word I didn’t care for, now I’m embracing it.)
Forgot you answered here, sorry didn’t mean for you to repeat.
v280 - Bha1 - Soloist
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This is good and I’m not surprised the question hadn’t been asked/answered before elsewhere here. lol
I don’t think there’s a bad choice in the trio really, just preference leanings.
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Yeah really no bad options, if given the choice out of the three though I’d probably go bha-1 most of the time since it’s generally the best technical performer out of the group and also best value used, although there are cases where I might consider the other 2
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Playing with this combination of equipment all morning; Bryston BHA-1, Eddie Current Black Widow 2, Sonnet Pasithea and ATH-AWAS. I’m currently streaming using an SoTM triple pack and some fancy cabling while using ROON.
I feel like a kid at Christmas time that got too many toys and doesn’t know which piece to play with first 
LOL
My playlists are getting a workout and I’m pleased across the board, you need to get very particular and really drill down into the minutiae details to pick preferences based on exactly what you prefer to listen to, cables & HP preferred and lastly SQ desires.
I’m so happy that you golden-eared fellows take the time to put your thoughts and experiences into words 
Breaking down the fine details on HP equipment is simply too much effort for me and wasted breath considering I’m just not as picky. 
Here is some picture porn to make up for my lack of quantitative breakdowns…
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Nice! I hear you there. I’ve been comparing the BHA-1 and MJ3 and its tough to say which is better. Could take either and be happy.
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In my case the brute lower end weight, power, richer sound signature (mid-band and upper bass) and slightly cruder signature of the EC simply floats my boat and allows me to have more “fun” over the technically superior and much cleaner and quieter operation of the Bryston 
Different strokes for different ears and folks🤗
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Yeah, the BHA-1 is def smoother in this comparison too. Bryston comes off cleaner, I actually said that last night while listening to it. I think it does a tad bit better in the layering and stage vs the MJ3. MJ3 is more forward in its presentation of vocals. The rawness of the MJ3 is what’s addicting to me. Just wish this damn vol pot was nicer. So rough and hard to get it just right at times (Schiit).
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Channel imbalance or the feel? Because the asgard has a channel imbalance at around 7oclock.
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Feel and just getting the vol right
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Whats a good DAC pairing for the bha-1?
Within these ranges:
- 0-1k$
- 1k-2k$
- 2k-3k
Also, why the bha-1 is recommended for the Utopia?
I read M0N list for Utopia dac pairings are Crane, exagonal, and amber3/4
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It gives it some grunt and width.
That is a wide range of price categories, could be 50 different combos.
What are you looking for in the pairing?
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Thanks!
I currently own the Utopia and the soekris 2541.
Trying to see if its worth it to build a chain around the Utopia+bha-1
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