Brennan B3+

Like a previous reviewer (vangord) I have been chewing over buying a B3+, I tried the EAC software etc thru laptop and the rip speed was really poor so I thought sod it lets go for the Brennan, if I don’t like it Amazon will always take it back. I did however have serious reservations after reading vangord’s review ( hence really reviewing cos I don’t very often) but hey ho off I went.Out of the box looks nice piece of kit… BUT instructions for B3, nothing I could find of any use on web re B3+ …. This, for me, is an issue cos I’m really crap with tech … but I want my CDs more accessible so I bit the bullet. Took me ages to link to wifi …. Wrong dongle I was using Bluetooth one not wifi one (802.11N) would have been nice for instructions to mention this ….. so an hour later linked to wifi via clumsy old fashioned Brennan interface …. Starting to have doubts now!!!! Perservered and ripped some CD,s …. Speed absolutely Stella …. Couple of minutes each CD ..really pleased. Next hurdle playback!!! No help whatsoever from Brennan……. My amp is Marantz 40N, for info, so tried optical lead (old one from a mini disc player) no joy … up into attic for cables to try line out etc… no joy, tried many permutations…. Then inspiration tried fiddling with old fashioned interface … the default factory setting turns out to be “speakers” changed it to “Dac & speakers” DAC on its own doesn’t seem to be allowed. IT WORKED, and used the old optical to boot….and the house filled with perfect lossless sound… wall to wall sabbath …awesome. A happy camper. The Brennan app is basic but does everything I want. The rips are faultless, so accurate and ooze quality… all the hassle has evaporated and I’m enjoying my CDs just flicking thru them….. well the 100 I’ve ripped and good few more to go. So there are real issues with the Brennan but the rip speed, accuracy and quality of playback mean a 5 star is easily justified…. Just persevere and deal with the frustration .. it’s worth it.

I have been considering a Brennan product for some time. I thought it would help me to reduce my CD collection and make my music more accessible. WRONG! I cannot get a single sound from this hard to use product. I have tried Bluetooth to multiple speakers, connecting through my amp with a lead recommended by a local audio specialist. Nothing! I've even tried connecting directly to speakers. Still not a whisper. At over £700 this product is a disgrace and l am returning it. lf you are thinking if ripping your CD believe me, the best option is to rip them either to a hard drive or directly into a cloud service and play them through your system wired or by Bluetooth. Simple, effective and much cheaper. The only success l have with this has been to connect it to my WiFi and phone, but without sound, what is the point. Save yourself the agony and disappointment of a Brennan B3+

Over complicated, over priced. No instruction manual with it, you have to go on a Brennan owners’ forum to get any sense. Heavily reliant on using a mobile via bluetooth. A remote would be much easier and more sensible. The screen died after a week or so, so I sent it back. I won’t be replacing it with a like-for-like.