B.audio B.amp with B.dpr EX Streaming DAC
REFERENCE AUDIO – WITHAM ESSEX
BOB’s Review Series - No 44 – B.audio – B.amp stereo/mono power amplifier and B.dpr EX preamp/streamer/DAC
Introduction – My last review (No 43) was of the B.audio B.dac EX and being a believer of system synergy I know from showroom listening just how good the B.audio DACs and Amplifiers work together to provide a cohesive sound. For this review I therefore selected the version of the B.dac EX with built in preamp known as the B.dpr EX together with the B.amp stereo/mono power amp. Both items are from their Reference range which sits above the One range. Having just reviewed the B.dac EX I won’t go into too much detail about B.audio who are based in France again here and would ask instead that you read my review (No 43) to get a better understanding of who they are and how their DACs sound. This review instead concentrates on how the B.dpr EX works as a pre-amp / DAC when connected to their B.amp power amp.
B.audio make two power amplifiers, the entry level B.amp One stereo amp at £9,550 and the B.amp stereo/mono amp reviewed here at £13,530 (at the time of writing). They also make two versions of the pre/dac with the B.dpr EX version tested here coming in at £15,350 and the B.dpr One EX at £10,850.
Technology – The B.amp is B.audio’s top stereo power amplifier that also has the capability of running in bridged mode as a monobloc amplifier with switching on the rear panel to choose between your stereo and mono operation. You then of course need two of them for a stereo system or potentially four of them if you are into bi-amping. The B.amp runs in Class A/B and is a dual mono design including two large and separate transformers which accounts for the 20kg weight of this amp. In stereo mode it outputs 120w into an 8ohm load and when bridged this increases to 300w. The front panel just has the on/standby button and around the back you will find analogue inputs on RCA and XLR, a single pair of high quality WBT speaker connections which are marked for use in bridged mode and three rocker switches for XLR/RCA, Stereo/Mono and Manual Off/Auto Off. It measures 450 W x 385 D x 112mm H.
The B.dpr EX streaming DAC with Preamp has a built-in fully analogue preamp output stage, this is definitely not a DAC with a digital volume control thrown in, volume control is carried out totally in the analogue domain. On the front panel can be found the on/standby button and two large rotary controls both of which in true B.audio tradition rotate the opposite way to what you would expect i.e. anticlockwise. The right hand one controls volume and the left one selects the source. On the rear panel are analogue inputs, 2 on RCA and 1 on XLR also available are the digital inputs comprising 2 RCA Coax, 1 XLR, 2 Optical and a single USB B for connection to a computer or streamer. The DAC which utilises a multi-bit Sigma-Delta chip (make not specified) will handle PCM 16-32 bit and 44.1-384kHz via ethernet or USB and DSD 64-256.
However, the B.dpr EX is also a streamer in its own right and has the necessary Ethernet connection on the rear panel. It is Roon ready but will need to see a Roon Core somewhere on the same network for Roon to work with it, it’s not a Roon core in its own right. It measures 450 W x 375 D x 91mm H and weighs 7.4kg and comes with a lovely aluminium remote control.
System Components used in this Review:
Pre Amp: Gryphon Essence – B.audio B.dpr EX
Power Amp: Gryphon Essence – B.audio B.amp
Streamer: Innuos Statement
Compact Disc: Shanling SCD-T200 CD Player
Music Streaming: Tidal, Qobuz, Roon
DAC: PS Audio Direct Stream DAC
Analogue Sources: Sansui TU-719 Tuner
Speakers: Marten Mingus Quintet
Cables: Jorma Cables throughout
Performance – for the purpose of this review I connected the USB input on the B.dpr EX to the USB output of my Innuos Statement and also used the B.dpr EX as a streamer in its own right using the Statement as a Roon Core connected via ethernet which resolved all the issues with Roon. I also connected a CD Player via analogue and digital connection.
Regular readers of my reviews will know I’m a great fan of monoblocs, but we only had one B.amp available for this review so an understanding of its mono capabilities will have to wait for another day. However it was mightily impressive as a stereo amplifier so for those of you wanting to restrict the box count this might be just the two box solution you have been looking for, just add speakers for a working system.
‘Brothers in Arms’ by Dire Straits on UHQCD was rendered with lots of detail, warmth and dynamics but not the muddy type of warmth often associated with valves. These admittedly expensive CDs are worth looking into for the levels of detail they offer. Played through the B.audio system it was clear and expressive without being overly bright and offered real dynamic bass control. I played this track again, this time on SACD and the B.audio duo gave real insight into the added levels of detail that SACD can provide, not all replay systems can resolve the detail in SACD discs and separate them from standard red book CDs. The B.audio’s created a cavernous sound stage far outside the speakers that was full of energy, vitality and focus. Backing vocals became much more of an important part of the mix on all tracks I played, seemingly becoming a more important part of the overall performance
To hear the pace and power this combo can deliver I listened to the last two tracks on ‘The Cross of Changes’ by Enigma (CD 24c gold disc from 1994) and was bowled over by the dynamics presented. Changing to Tubular Bells, again on CD there is some deep rumbling bass around 5min into the track that some amps and DACs just pass over but not the B.audio duo which presented a detailed and deep sound and separated it from other instruments better than most. To fully resolve the dynamic content of this album and especially the bit when the Bells are introduced an amp needs to have lots of dynamic power in reserve and the B.audio pair were more than capable of giving the Bells the sense real power being released that many other amps struggle to match.
Turning now to streaming I listened to various tracks and was initially spurred on by the recent poor cover version of “You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me’ that’s currently in the charts but if like me you can remember the Dusty Springfield’s 1966 version of this 1965 Italian song you will wonder why anyone would want to listen to another version. Played as a Tidal stream via the B.audio pairing I could imagine her standing in front of me and singing just for me such was the emotion this pairing presented. This was a truly emotional performance. Good amps can make piano sound more realistic but only the very best can make them sound like a real instrument, so I listened to ‘Last Seen October 9th’ by Eleanor McEvoy. This track opens and runs with a piano accompanying her skilled vocals and the B.amp was able to hang onto every note struck and follow it into decay. This is not easy to achieve and the B.amp really excelled here.
I played so much music through this impressive amp and with the added streaming and DAC capability I was never less than encouraged to keep listening. They are like a breath of fresh air in today’s market and have clearly been designed by the Bermann brothers (with support by their father) from a open book starting point without previous design prejudice and history enabling them to take advantage of modern technology and materials to come up with something very special. They say it took them 10 years in research and development to get to the point of launching the brand and I can well believe it from their ability to deliver such a stunning a performance.
Conclusion – I really loved this combination, it has exceptional levels of detail but can also deliver slam, texture and emotion when required to do so and all the time maintaining levels of intimacy that lets you listen deep into a recording. You will hear detail probably not heard before but you will also experience those elusive timbres and textures that give the emotion to music by communication directly with you at all levels. If you are in the market for a pre/power amp around the £30k price point then do come and listen for yourself, you won’t be disappointed. This could be the best pre/power amp around today at anywhere near its price point.
Bob – Team Reference Audio