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What You Need to Know
What Is This Product and What Does It Do?
The Bryston 14B³ (say it “14B Cubed”) is a stereo power amplifier. A power amp is the muscle of a two-channel system. It takes a low-level signal from your preamp and makes it strong enough to drive your speakers.
What makes the 14B³ stand out is how much power it has on tap. Each channel puts out 600 watts into 8-ohm speakers. Into harder-to-drive 4-ohm speakers, each channel delivers 900 watts. That’s the kind of power usually found only in monoblock amps.
In fact, that’s basically what the 14B³ is. Inside the chassis, Bryston has built two complete 7B³ monoblocks — each with its own power supply and transformer — and fused them into one case. The only thing the two channels share is the power cord. True dual-mono, in a stereo package.
The 14B³ is the stereo flagship of Bryston’s Cubed Series. It sits above the 4B³ (300 W/ch) and below the monoblock 28B³ (1,000 W). For people who want monoblock-level power without buying two separate amps, the 14B³ is the answer.
Like all Cubed Series amps, the 14B³ uses Bryston’s patented Salomie input circuit. Built to block Wi-Fi, cell, and switching-supply noise, it delivers a very quiet background at any listening level. Total harmonic distortion stays below 0.005% across the full audio band.
The 14B³ is Class A/B. That means the output stage runs in pure Class A — the cleanest mode — for the first several watts, then shifts to a more efficient mode for bigger demands. Cooling is fully passive. No fans, no moving parts.
The 14B³ is hand-built in Canada. Bryston covers it with a 10-year warranty on parts and labor — standard for Bryston’s analog products. The warranty is for the first-time buyer and does not transfer.
What Are Reviewers Saying?
Handy tested the 14B³ with four different speakers. His conclusion: every pair benefited — some used the 600 watts directly, others gained clarity, detail, and control. He noted a wide, deep soundstage across all the speakers tested. He called the 14B³ a “true heavyweight,” both in power and build.
Kramer praised the 14B³ for an “extremely quiet, black background” — crediting the Salomie circuit’s noise and distortion reduction. He said the silence lets low-level detail and micro-dynamics come through cleanly. His overall take: “total control of whatever speaker is being driven,” with “excellent tonality and timbral balance.”
Holding ran the 14B³ through Newport Test Labs’ measurement bench. His verdict: “one of the best-performing amplifiers I have ever evaluated — maybe even the outright best — with no weak spots anywhere in its performance.” High praise from a reviewer with two decades of bench-testing experience.
Who Is This Best For?
You own — or plan to own — speakers that need serious current. Low-sensitivity designs, hard 4-ohm loads, or big floor-standers in a large room.
You want monoblock-level power but prefer a single chassis. The 14B³ saves you a box, a shelf, and a cable run.
You drive planar-magnetic or electrostatic speakers (Magnepan, Martin Logan) that come alive with lots of current on tap.
You want hand-built Canadian gear with a factory test sheet in every box and a 10-year warranty.
You want a stereo amp you won’t need to replace — the kind of gear that stays in your system for decades.
If your speakers are easier-to-drive models, or your room isn’t large, Bryston’s 4B³ (300 W/ch) or 3B³ (200 W/ch) will serve you well at a considerably lower price.
How Does It Connect to Your System?
The 14B³ accepts a signal from any preamp or processor with line-level outputs. Each channel has both balanced (XLR) and unbalanced (RCA) inputs — select between them with the rear-panel switch. The balanced input also accepts a 1/4” TRS (phone) plug, which is useful if you’re coming from pro gear. Balanced is the preferred connection for long runs and the lowest noise.
For speakers, the 14B³ has heavy-duty binding posts. They accept spade lugs, banana plugs, or bare wire.
A low-voltage DC trigger input lets the 14B³ power on automatically when you turn on a compatible preamp. Handy if the amp lives behind a cabinet or in a dedicated rack.
You can also pick between two gain settings — 23 dB or 29 dB. That lets you match the amp to your preamp so the volume control sits in a normal range, not stuck near the extremes.
The 14B³ is a power amp only, so you’ll need a preamp (like Bryston’s BP-19 or BR-20) to drive it. For a full system you’ll also need a pair of speakers. Building a system from scratch? Call us at 800-942-0220.
Earned Recognition
Category: Stereo Power Amplifiers
Everything Audio Network’s Stellar Sound Awards recognize products the editors consider reference-grade standouts. John Gatski’s review also named the 14B³ a candidate for Amp of the Year.
Category: Stereo Power Amplifiers
Steve Holding’s bench-tested review at Newport Test Labs concluded the 14B³ is “one of the best-performing amplifiers I have ever evaluated — maybe even the outright best.”
Pairs Well With
The 14B³ is the stereo power-amp piece of a reference system. Here’s what fits around it:
- A reference-grade preamp — required. Bryston’s own BP-19 (analog) or BR-20 (with built-in DAC and streamer) are the natural matches. Shop preamps »
- Heavy-gauge speaker cables. A 600 W/ch amp pushes serious current on musical peaks. Quality speaker cable matters more here than in most setups. Shop speaker cables »
- Balanced (XLR) interconnects. Best for the preamp-to-amp connection, especially with high-end gear. Shop XLR interconnects »
- A power conditioner. The 14B³ can pull real current from the wall at full tilt. Clean AC matters. Shop power conditioners »
- A quality DAC or streamer. To bring the 14B³’s clarity to your digital library. Shop digital audio »
Features & Specifications
Amplifier Performance
600 Watts Per Channel into 8 Ohms — 900 watts per channel into 4 ohms. That’s monoblock-grade power from a single chassis. Enough headroom for any speaker in any normal room.
Very Low Distortion — Total harmonic distortion plus noise stays below 0.005% from 20 Hz to 20 kHz at rated power. The 14B³ reproduces your signal with almost no added color.
Wide Bandwidth — Frequency response runs from below 1 Hz to above 100 kHz (–3 dB). Flat across the entire audible range and well beyond.
Very Quiet Background — Signal-to-noise is –118 dB on RCA and –122 dB on the balanced XLR input. Low-level musical detail comes through without being masked.
Topology & Design
True Dual-Mono Build — Each channel has its own power supply and toroidal transformer. The only shared part is the power cord. One channel under load can’t affect the other.
Patented Salomie Input Circuit — Developed with Dr. Ioan Alexandru Salomie. Uses 12 active parts and handles the first 6 dB of gain. Bryston says its distortion is less than 1/1000th of 1%. Built to block RF and EMI noise.
Quad-Complementary Output Stage — Bryston’s Class A/B output topology is designed to deliver Class A harmonic character with Class A/B efficiency.
Fully Convection Cooled — No fans, no moving parts. The big aluminum chassis and passive heatsinks carry thermal load silently.
Connectivity & Control
Balanced (XLR) and Single-Ended (RCA) Inputs — Both on the rear panel, selected via switch.
Switchable Gain (23 dB or 29 dB) — Matches the amp’s sensitivity to your preamp.
DC Trigger & SoftStart — Auto power-on from a 12 V source. The microprocessor-controlled startup sequence keeps the big inrush from tripping a household breaker.
Less Than 500 mW in Standby — Energy-efficient at rest; wakes via the DC trigger.
Build & Finish
Hand-Built in Canada — Every 14B³ is put together at Bryston’s Ontario factory. Each unit runs 100 hours of burn-in before it ships — and every one includes a printed test sheet showing how your specific amp measured.
Silver, 17-Inch Faceplate — This SKU is the silver model with the clean 17” dress panel (no rack handles). The 19” version with rack handles is sold separately in both silver and black.
Power & Warranty
10-Year Factory Warranty — Bryston covers the 14B³ for 10 years on parts and labor — standard for Bryston’s analog products. The warranty is for the first-time buyer only and does not transfer. Save your bill of sale, or register your purchase on bryston.com.
Quick-Reference Specifications
| Type | Stereo power amplifier (true dual-mono build, 2 channels) |
| Amplifier Class | Class A/B (Quad-Complementary output) |
| Power Output (per channel) | 600 W (8 Ω) | 900 W (4 Ω) |
| THD+N (20 Hz–20 kHz, rated power, 8 Ω) | < 0.005% |
| IMD (60 Hz + 7 kHz, 4:1) | < 0.005% |
| Frequency Response / Bandwidth | < 1 Hz – 100 kHz (–3 dB) |
| Slew Rate | > 60 V/µs |
| Damping Factor (20 Hz, 8 Ω) | > 300 |
| Noise (Bryston product page) | RCA: –118 dB | XLR: –122 dB |
| Noise (input shorted, 22 Hz–22 kHz, per Owner’s Manual) | Single-ended: < –115 dB (high gain) / < –119 dB (low gain) Balanced: < –116 dB (high gain) / < –120 dB (low gain) |
| Gain (switchable) | High: 29 dB (28.28 V/V) | Low: 23 dB (14.14 V/V) |
| Input Sensitivity (into 8 Ω) | High gain: 1.0 V for 100 W · 2.5 V for 600 W Low gain: 2.0 V for 100 W · 4.9 V for 600 W |
| Input Impedance | Unbalanced: 7.5 kΩ | Balanced: 5 kΩ per leg |
| Inputs | 1 pair balanced (XLR; also accepts 1/4” TRS/phone) · 1 pair single-ended RCA (rear-panel input select) |
| Trigger | Low-voltage DC trigger input (remote power on/off) |
| Cooling | Fully convection cooled (no fans) |
| Power Consumption | Standby: < 0.5 W | Idle: ≤ 170 W | 75 W into 8 Ω: 875 W | 600 W into 8 Ω: 2,200 W |
| Heat Load | Idle: ≤ 580 BTU/hr | 75 W into 8 Ω: 2,985 BTU/hr | 600 W into 8 Ω: 7,500 BTU/hr |
| Dimensions — 17” version (this SKU) | 17” W × 8.1” H × 16.8” D | 432 × 206 × 427 mm (no front handles) |
| Dimensions — 19” version (sold separately) | 19” W × 8.1” H × 18.4” D | 483 × 206 × 467 mm (with front handles) PRO 19” rack-mount: mounting depth 16.1” · total depth 18.1” |
| Weight | 91 lb | 41.3 kg |
| Finish | Silver dress panel, 17” wide (non-rack-mount, no front handles) |
| Available Options (separate SKUs) | Black or silver faceplate · 17” or 19” width · PRO version with 19” rack-mount black panel and rear channel trim pots (–14 to 0 dB) |
| Warranty | 10 years, parts and labor, non-transferable (Bryston) |
| Country of Origin | Hand-built in Canada |
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the 14B³ compare to the 4B³?
The 4B³ is Bryston’s mid-range stereo amp (300 W per channel into 8 Ω, 500 W into 4 Ω). The 14B³ is the stereo flagship — essentially two 7B³ monoblocks built into one chassis. It puts out 600 W per channel into 8 Ω and 900 W into 4 Ω. If your speakers are demanding or your room is large, the 14B³ is the right pick. If your speakers are easier to drive, the 4B³ saves significant money.
Why a 14B³ instead of two 7B³ monoblocks?
The 14B³ is essentially two 7B³ monoblocks fused into one chassis. Choosing between them is about convenience and your rack: monoblocks give you flexible placement (one amp by each speaker) and shorter speaker cables. The 14B³ is one box with one power cord. Power output is virtually identical.
Do I need a preamp to use the 14B³?
Yes. The 14B³ is a power amp — it has no volume control. You’ll need a separate preamp (like Bryston’s BP-19) or an integrated amp with preamp outputs. Any preamp with XLR or RCA outputs will work. Not sure what preamp to pair with it? Give us a call at 800-942-0220.
Is the 14B³ overkill for my speakers?
It might be. 600 watts per channel is a lot. The 14B³ earns its keep on demanding speakers — low-sensitivity designs, hard 4-ohm loads, big panels, or large floor-standers in a big room. For easier speakers, Bryston’s 4B³ or 3B³ will sound great and save you considerable money. Tell us about your speakers and we’ll help you pick.
Does the 14B³ run hot?
At idle, it’s just warm to the touch. Under heavy use, any 600-watt Class A/B amp warms up — that’s physics. The 14B³ cools itself by passive convection (no fans), so give it several inches of clearance above and on the sides for airflow. It’s a big amp and needs room to breathe.
What’s the difference between the 17-inch and 19-inch versions?
Functionally, nothing — the amplifier inside is identical. The 17” version (this SKU) is a clean dress panel with no rack handles, for standard audio shelves or cabinets. The 19” version is the same width as a standard equipment rack, with front-mounted handles (useful for lifting — the 14B³ weighs 91 lb). The 19” version is 1.6” deeper because of the handles.
Can I put the 14B³ in an equipment rack?
Bryston lists all Cubed Series amps as “non-rack-mountable.” The 19” version’s handles are for lifting and look — they’re not designed to carry the amp’s weight hanging from rack rails. Use a shelf regardless of which version you buy.
What does the Bryston warranty cover?
Bryston covers the 14B³ for 10 years on parts and labor — standard for Bryston’s analog products. The warranty is for the first-time buyer only and does not transfer. Save your bill of sale, or register your purchase on bryston.com.
What physical space does the 14B³ need?
This 17-inch SKU is 17” wide, 8.1” tall, and 16.8” deep, and weighs 91 lb. Make sure your shelf or stand is rated for at least 100 lb of gear. The 14B³ also runs warm — at full output it puts out 7,500 BTU/hr of heat. Leave several inches of clearance above and on each side for airflow, especially if you listen at high levels.
What’s in the Box
- Bryston 14B³ Stereo Power Amplifier (Silver, 17” faceplate)
- Detachable IEC power cable
- Factory test sheet (matched to your amp’s serial number)
- Owner’s manual
- Warranty and registration info
Packing contents may vary by region and revision. If you need a specific item confirmed before you buy, give us a call at 800-942-0220.
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