2022 Editors’ Choice Award - The Absolute Sound
2021 Phonostages of the Year Award Winner - The Absolute Sound
"The Bryston BR-20 is one of the most successful mergers of a solid-state analog preamp with a DAC and built-in streamer that we've seen or heard to date. A hub of the highest order, it operates like a precision timepiece."
- Neil Gader, The Absolute Sound, January 2022
"The BRYSTON BR-20 STEREO PREAMPLIFIER is a terrific addition to the Bryston lineup of analog products."
- John E. Johnson, Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity, December 13, 2021
"The BR-20 is not a device for every music lover because it was designed for high-end systems, the heart of which is a hi-end power amplifier or a pair of powerful monoblocks. On the other hand, if you have such a power plant and you are looking for a way to improve the sound of your system but don't want to purchase a four-piece streamer connected to a tube preamplifier with an external power supply, you should take an interest in Bryston's new brainchild. The Canadians used the experience gained during the design of the BP-17³ and BDP-3.14 (which is a combination of the BDA-3 preamplifier and BDP-Pi transport), then improved each of those modules, added an excellent headphone amplifier and the ability to install optional expansion cards, and packed it all into one box. The best part, however, is that the price of the BR-20 is exactly 2/3 of what you'd have to spend for a set consisting of the BP-17³ preamplifier and the BDP-3.14."
- Tomasz Karasiński, StereoLife, October 18, 2021
"DAC, network streamer and preamplifier combined, Bryston's BR-20 certainly gives you a lot for its ticket price. In an ideal world there'd be a bit more refinement to both its physical appearance and control platform, but it's an astonishing performer able to dig deep into the detail and nuance of tracks across all genres and sampling rates. Lace up to a potent balanced power amp and enjoy the show!"
- Mark Craven, Hi-Fi News, August 23, 2021
"Sonically, I have nothing but positives to say about the BR-20. Quite simply, it’s the most revealing and most musical digital source I’ve ever had in my system."
- Gordon Brockhouse, SoundStage! Simplifi, June 15, 2021