The BHA-1 is mostly a headphone amplifier but, as you'll see, it could also serve as a minimalist two-chael preamplifier. On the back, you will discover three stereo inputs - one particular balanced XLR, one single-ended RCA and a single single-ended mini-stereo input. There's also a single pair of balanced XLR outputs that can be used to drive an amplifier. The balanced XLR output's level is controlled by the big volume knob on the front panel, which in essence tus the BHA-1 into a preamp. As opposed to merely passing a fixed-output line-level signal, the BHA-1 has a variable output level, producing it suitable for pre-amplifier duties. The only limiting aspect for pre-amp use is there's only one pair of outputs, so should you often use a subwoofer, as I do, you will either have to use a splitter to obtain a second output, run your signal first for your subwoofer then to your speaker's energy amplifiers, or use a second pair of speaker cables from your amplifiers for your subwoofer. All 3 schemes perform - it merely is determined by your ancillary gear's inputs as to which will function best.

 

The front panel from the BHA-1 has a three-way toggle switch for input selection, plus a two-way acquire switch that delivers either 14 or 20 dB of gain. Other front panel controls consist of a big volume control knob, a smaller sized balance control knob, a on-off toggle switch, a single-ended quarter-inch stereo headphone output, a balanced XLR stereo output along with a pair of XLR balanced mono L/R outputs. All the front panel outputs are active all the time. The rear output can also be active constantly, even when the headphones are plugged in to the front panel. This really is somewhat unusual, since most DACs with built-in headphone outputs, like the Benchmark DAC-2, April Music Eximus DP-1, along with the Mytek Stereo 192-DSD DAC, mute their rear outputs when a headphone is attached. Whenever you program to listen to headphones alone (which can be how a lot of people listen), you will need to tu off your speakers' (and subwoofer's) amplifiers.

 

Audiophiles who are new for the headphone factor may possibly wonder why the BHA-1 has two achieve settings. This makes the BHA-1 much more useful, because it might drive each high-sensitivity in-ear monitors and lower-sensitivity high-impedance studio headphones. Generally, if a headphone amp is made for high-sensitivity earphones, it lacks enough drive to push high-impedance headphones to sufficient volume levels. If a headphone is made for larger impedance headphones, it typically has a lot of hiss and too higher a volume level to function effectively with high-sensitivity in-ears. The BHA-1 can handle both extremes with aplomb.

The BHA-1's volume control deserves a special mention. Most volume controls do the majority of their perform inside the initial half of their rotation, and the second half does tiny to increase the volume levels. This is usually known as "an audio taper." The BHA-1 does not use an audio taper. Instead the volume level increase for the initial quarter of its rotation is extremely gradual. Only during the last quarter-tu does the volume level get considerably louder. Even though this various taper may take a little of time for you to get employed to (especially should you be also making use of the BHA-1 as a preamp), it allows for considerably finer level adjustments than an audio taper, particularly when combined using the two-position achieve adjustment switch.

 

Offered in either black or silver finish, the BHA-1 is housed in a full-width 19-inch chassis that has provisions for rack mounting. Its depth is only seven inches, which could make stacking half-width 12-inch-deep cabinets, including most Stax headphone amplifiers, rather precarious. But there's an even much better explanation for not stacking elements on best of the BHA-1; it actually demands breathing room for heat dissipation. I identified that unless I gave the BHA-1 at the least two inches of space above and below for adequate ventilation, it could go into thermal shutdown soon after operating for more than half an hour. Tuing the BHA-1 off for a handful of minutes solved the shutdown, but suitable ventilation for the BHA-1 is really a need to, unless you enjoy periodic musical interruptions.

 

The BHA-1 is accessible in two versions. The standard version uses an inteal energy supply, but for an added expense, the BHA-1 is accessible with an exteal energy supply. My review sample was the common version with an inteal energy provide. Offered the overview unit's lack of noise and over 105 dB S/N specification, I identified little explanation to long for the much more costly exteal power supply version.

Provided that many top-quality DAC/preamplifiers include at least a single high-quality headphone output, why would anyone need a committed headphone amplifier such as the Bryston BHA-1? The answer is fairly simple - the BHA-1 is much more robust and flexible than any built-in headphone amplifier I've heard. Even the high-quality headphone amplifiers inside the Benchmark DAC-2, Mytek 192-DSD, and Stello Eximus DP-1 endure by comparison together with the BHA-1, even when asked to drive an "easy" load, like a Seheiser HD-600. Whenever you plug inside a challenging headphone, like the Beyer-Dynamic DT-990 600-ohm version, the sonic differences between the BHA-1 and built-in headphone amplifiers is even higher. The DT-990 sounded more controlled, with considerably better bass extension and detail when tethered for the BHA-1.