Short answer
Both are desktop amplifiers, $2395 against $2499.
The iFi Pro iCAN Signature reaches 100 dB on 567 of the 567 models here, the Bryston BHA-1 on 566.
| Specification | Bryston BHA-1 | iFi Pro iCAN Signature |
|---|---|---|
| Power into 32Ω | 500 mW | 2.4 W |
| Power into 150Ω | 358 mW | 512 mW |
| Power into 300Ω | 445 mW | 256 mW |
| Power into 600Ω | 667 mW | 128 mW |
| Output impedance | not published | not published |
| Output noise | not published | not published |
| Price | $2395 | $2499 |
| Headphones it reaches 100 dB on out of 567 | 566 | 567 |
Not published means the maker leaves it out, so that axis cannot be compared.
| Balanced | Bryston BHA-1 | iFi Pro iCAN Signature |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | balanced | XLR4 + 4.4mm + dual XLR3 |
| Power into 32Ω | 500 mW | 7.0 W derived |
| Power into 300Ω | 445 mW derived | 747 mW derived |
| Output impedance | not published | not published |
| Output noise | not published | not published |
| Headphones it reaches 100 dB on out of 567 | 566 | 567 |
Through the balanced sockets the iFi Pro iCAN Signature reaches 100 dB on 567 of the 567 models here and the Bryston BHA-1 on 566. Derived figures are worked out from the loads the maker did publish.
| Load | Bryston BHA-1 | iFi Pro iCAN Signature |
|---|---|---|
| 32 Ω | Published | Derived |
| 150 Ω | Derived | Derived |
| 300 Ω | Derived | Derived |
| 600 Ω | Published | Derived |
Only one of these two columns starts from a power rating. Bryston BHA-1 publishes one at 32 Ω and at 600 Ω; iFi Pro iCAN Signature publishes none at any of these four loads, so its column is worked out from power it published at other loads. Both are arithmetic on a maker’s own figures rather than guesses, and the method used for the iFi Pro iCAN Signature understates rather than flatters — but at 32 Ω and at 600 Ω are the only loads here at which its maker can be held to a figure.
1 headphone reaches 100 dB on the iFi Pro iCAN Signature but not on the Bryston BHA-1 — Symphonium Titan.
566 of the 567 models here reach 100 dB on both.
Headroom is at a 100 dB SPL peak.
The widest gap on the list is the Shure SE846: iFi Pro iCAN Signature has +48 dB of headroom there against +35 dB. 13 dB is about 19 times the power, which matters for peaks rather than for how loud the music sits.
The hiss columns are empty for Bryston BHA-1 and iFi Pro iCAN Signature because neither maker publishes no output noise figure.
| Headphone | Impedance | Needs | Bryston BHA-1 headroom | iFi Pro iCAN Signature headroom | Bryston BHA-1 hiss | iFi Pro iCAN Signature hiss |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shure SE846 | 9 Ω | 0.04 mW | +35 dB | +48 dB | not published | not published |
| Campfire Audio Andromeda 2020 | 9 Ω | 4.0 mW | +15 dB | +28 dB | not published | not published |
| Audeze LCD-2 Classic | 70 Ω | 0.79 mW | +27 dB | +31 dB | not published | not published |
| Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro (250Ω) | 250 Ω | 0.63 mW | +28 dB | +27 dB | not published | not published |
| HiFiMAN HE400se | 25 Ω | 7.9 mW | +17 dB | +26 dB | not published | not published |
| Audio-Technica ATH-R70X | 470 Ω | 1.6 mW | +26 dB | +20 dB | not published | not published |
| Sennheiser HD 600 | 300 Ω | 6.6 mW | +18 dB | +16 dB | not published | not published |
| HiFiMAN Susvara | 60 Ω | 50 mW | +9 dB | +14 dB | not published | not published |
The iFi Pro iCAN Signature costs $104 more than the Bryston BHA-1. Out of the 567 models here, that difference buys 1 more model driven to 100 dB.
Nothing runs the other way: there is no axis here on which the cheaper of the two does better.
Only published figures count here; blank axes are counted separately.
Each in full: Bryston BHA-1 and iFi Pro iCAN Signature.