Bryston BD-225 Multi-Channel Digital Amplifier

Install amplification without the compromises

The Bryston BD-225 Multi-Channel Digital Amplifier is the 225W member of Bryston's Class D range, built to order with one to six independent modules in a single 3U chassis. Each channel delivers 225W into 8Ω and 450W into 4Ω, fed by a linear toroidal power supply rather than a switch mode design. It shares the BD-325's chassis and layout, so the choice between them is about power, not space.

Why You'll Love It

• Right sized for most rooms. 225W per channel is more than enough for the majority of installed speakers, and it costs less per channel than stepping up to the BD-325.
• Linear supply, dynamic bass. A toroidal transformer with 108,000µF of storage supports 3750W dynamic output across all channels, so the amplifier holds together on peaks.
• Fits the cupboard. A single chassis for up to six channels, passively cooled with no fan required in most installations, keeps the rack tidy and silent.

Under the Hood

• Bryston's proprietary Class D modules with a linear toroidal power supply and 108,000µF of storage capacitance.
• Balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA inputs, 29dB voltage gain, 1.5V sensitivity, and a 12V trigger input.
• Frequency response 1Hz to 45kHz into 6Ω at -3dB, signal to noise 103dB at full power, 1250W continuous RMS across all channels.

CHT Insider Verdict

For most installed systems this is the one to choose, and the extra power of the BD-325 only earns its keep with genuinely insensitive speakers or very large rooms. The all-channel continuous rating of 1250W sits below six times the per-channel figure, so match the channel count to how the system will actually be used. Worth knowing that the BD-225 and BD-325 have different input sensitivity, so mixing the two in one system needs a level check.

Pro Tip: If you are running long cable to in-ceiling or in-wall speakers, use the balanced XLR inputs from your processor. It costs nothing extra at the amplifier end and it is the simplest defence against hum in a big installation.