Bryston SP4 16-channel Surround Processor Preview

See the complete review of the Bryston SP4 16-channel Surround Processor

Now presenting a SECRETS scoop: the Bryston SP4 16-channel surround processor with Dirac Live room correction and SphereAudio binaural immersive headphone processing!

Bryston developed the $13,995 16-channel SP4 in collaboration with StormAudio. The SP4 decodes all three immersive audio formats (Auro 3D, Dolby Surround, DTS:X) and includes their respective upmixers for stereo or surround content. Its 16-channel preouts can be configured into an astounding number of speaker layouts. Here is a small sample.

Notably, the SP4 is one of the few processors with Dirac Live room correction that supports on-wall front and side/rear height channels for the immersive layer.

In addition to the SP4’s 16-channel primary output, it features two balanced “stereo downmix” outputs that can feed an external headphone amp. This output incorporates SphereAudio binaural immersive processing.

The Bryston SP4 offers a browser-based setup and control app and an iPad (though not iPhone) control app. The SP4 is also sympatico with Control4 and Creston home automation systems. Support for IR remotes (such as Harmony) is coming as well.

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On the video side, the Bryston SP4 supports 4K resolution and HDR color.

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Check back in shortly for my full review of Bryston’s SP4 immersive sound processor.

See the complete review of the Bryston SP4 16-channel Surround Processor

Jay Haider

Jay is an attorney by day, and a musical omnivore by night. Jay seeks out multichannel recordings, with or without video accompaniment. He also enjoys 2-channel music on digital and vinyl, as well as TV and the odd flick. Jay picked up his love of music from his mother, who was cool enough to go to Woodstock…but square enough to actually buy a ticket for it. Jay approaches audio and home theater from a music-first perspective. His main interest audio-wise is gear that pushes the boundaries of realism in the home, especially speakers and room correction systems. However, he is also very interested in products that expand the possibilities for music lovers on modest budgets, and gear designed to provide a well-balanced sound in spaces where a full-bore audio system is impracticable. Jay has a special interest in correlating subjective impressions of speakers and room correction systems with acoustic measurements. A Washington DC native and die-hard Washington football fan, Jay lives in Atlanta (ITP) with his wife, daughter, and their two ferocious mini-lions.