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Bryston BP-2 MM/MC Moving Magnet / Moving Coil Phono Gain Stage #1

Bryston BP-2 MM/MC Moving Magnet / Moving Coil Phono Gain Stage variant 1

Bryston BP-2 MM/MC Moving Magnet / Moving Coil Phono Gain Stage variant 2

Moving Coil Phono Gain Stage

Name: Bryston BP-2 MM/MC Moving Magnet / Moving Coil Phono Gain Stage
Brand: Bryston
SKU: c
Price: 1995.00 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.5 (8 reviews)

View at Bryston

MC/MM Switching

Phono gain stages are rather un-glamorous. But that's the point. This one trick pony simply accepts analog audio from your turntable's cartridge and amplifies it to a level that your main preamplifier can understand. What makes the BP-2 so special is that it can take such a minuscule signal--2mV or so and amplify it with so little distortion and so little added noise. When switched into MC mode, zero additional noise is added. The transformers are wound so precisely, they are virtually distortion free making the most of your priceless MC cartridge. This is true analog bliss.

Features

MM Mode Applies 41dB of gain from your moving magnet phono cartridge or high output MC cartridge
Swich into MC mode to engage top quality step up transformers to apply additional 20 or 30dB of gain.
Available upon order with 20dB transformers for 0.3-1mV cartridges or 30dB transformers for cartridges less than 0.3mV
Class A discrete operational amplifiers
Ultra precise RIAA equalization
Powered from external Bryston PSU
Very quiet operation and very low distortion
Compact chassis can be placed nearby turntable or preamplifier
Front panel Mute switch
Internally configurable for capacitive loading

Options

Silver or black faceplate

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Overall Score 90/100

Deliciously Crispy

Bryston BP-2 MM/MC Moving Magnet / Moving Coil Phono Gain Stage

The Bryston BP-2 MM/MC Moving Magnet / Moving Coil Phono Gain Stage is a focused, high‑headroom phono stage that delivers ultra‑low noise and exceptionally neutral, musical playback. Reviewers such as Carlo Lo Raso and Audiophilepure praised its silence and fidelity.

Tonally it’s neutral and revealing with a touch of warmth that flatters vocals; bass is deep and controlled, treble clean and detailed, and imaging broad and accurate. The internal two‑stage RIAA architecture and generous ±24V rails produce very low distortion and ample headroom for dynamic, uncompressed playback.

Packaged as a compact solid‑state module that uses Bryston’s PS‑3/MPS‑2 power supplies, the BP‑2 emphasizes rugged engineering and straightforward operation rather than exhaustive front‑panel tweaking. Ideal for serious vinyl listeners using MM or low‑output MC cartridges who want transparent gain and reliability. Reviewers position it as a performance‑first phono stage worth considering at its price point.

HomeTheaterHifi

"If you are serious about your vinyl, you owe it yourself to try one out."

Audiophilepure

"In my estimation, the Bryston BP2-20 MM/MC is a top-flight example of what a phono stage should be."

Pros

Exceptionally low noise floor and near‑silent background, which preserves microdetail and yields very high S/N in both MM and MC operation.
Neutral, revealing yet musical tonal balance with controlled, deep bass and clean, detailed treble—excellent imaging and vocal presence.
High headroom and very low distortion thanks to the two‑stage RIAA topology and robust power rails; handles low‑output MCs without overload.

Cons

MM/MC selector is awkwardly located on the rear panel between jacks, making cartridge switching inconvenient.
Only single‑ended RCA outputs are provided; no balanced XLR outputs for systems that prefer balanced connectivity.

Transparency

93/100

Reviewers repeatedly praised an extremely quiet background: "Background noise was completely nonexistent" and "complete silence" with the system powered up and no music playing. The published noise spec (<-80 dB ref. 5 mV) and reviewers' observations for both MM and MC operation support a very low noise floor and excellent RIAA/headroom behavior for quiet vinyl playback.

Sound Quality

90/100

Reviews describe ample headroom and lively, punchy presentation ("plenty of headroom", "rollicking performance with solid potent bass"), indicating excellent transient response and micro-dynamic retrieval. The reviewer comments that no LP groove will overload the unit support a dynamic, uncompressed presentation.

Cartridge Compatibility

84/100

The unit supports both MM and MC and reviewers confirmed good results with several cartridge combinations, but multiple write-ups note the BP2-20 is focused on clean amplification rather than being a tweaker's dream. Given the lack of explicit mention of extensive front-panel or continuously variable loading controls, this scores in the 'MM/MC limited' band — versatile but not hyper-adjustable.

Build Quality

89/100

Bryston's design requires external Bryston power supplies (MPS-2 or PS-3), suggesting a high-quality power solution and internal architecture; measured specs (THD+N <0.005%) support careful engineering. Reviews emphasize robust, focused operation and low noise, though they do not dwell on cosmetics or mechanical details, so score reflects strong engineering and shielding without extensive explicit commentary on finish or ergonomics.

Value for Money

90/100

At ~$1,995 reviewers call it "not inexpensive" but note its performance is competitive with, and in some cases superior to, more expensive phono stages and even suggest it could be "the first and last phono stage you'll ever need." That language supports a justified-premium assessment — you pay for strong, dependable performance in its class.