OPERATING BRYSTON 3B & 4B AMPLIFIERS IN BRIDGED MODE
“Bridged mode” refers to the combining or “bridging” of two amplifier channels into a single ampli-
fier channel. The primary reason for doing this is to achieve a single amplifier channel with much
greater output power. When two 3B channels or two 4B channels are bridged, the combined single
channel will output up to 2 times the voltage and therefore, theoretically, 4 times the power of a
single non-bridged channel. In practice, the actual output power achieved is limited by the capabil-
ity of the power supply as well as the ability of the amplifier to dissipate the increased heat that is
generated. It should also be noted that the load connected to a pair of bridged 3B or 4B channels
should be 8 ohms or greater.
When two amplifiers channels are bridged into a single channel:
• Only one input is used: the LEFT channel (sometimes referred to as channel #1).
• The single input which is connected to the LEFT channel (Ch. 1) can be either balanced or un-
balanced.
• The two BLACK binding post outputs are NOT used. Only the two RED binding post connec-
tors are used. The LEFT (Ch. 1) binding post is the positive polarity connector and the RIGHT
(Ch. 2) RED binding post connector is negative.
• The bridged output is floating or un-grounded. DO NOT CONNECT EITHER OUTPUT TERMI-
NAL TO GROUND.
• To engage bridged mode, put the MODE switch, located on the rear panel, into the BRIDGED
position. Before doing so, however, make sure all input and output connections are correct for
bridged mode operation.
Ltd. 677 Neal Drive, P.O. Box 2170, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada K9J 7Y4
3B-4B-MANUAL-BRIDGED-MODE-INSERT.pdf
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