BrainPass (aka Pornstar Network)
Category: Site Networks
Additional Keywords: Porn stars, anal, gangbangs, black,
blowjobs, solo girls, lesbian, interracial, latina
Reviewed December 12 2005
(2nd look, April 10 2006, subsequent updates in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2011)
Click here to visit BrainPass
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| Content Quantity: |
20/20 |
Content Quality: |
18/20 |
Updates: |
10/10 |
| Entertainment: |
15/15 |
Navigation & Design: |
10/10 |
Download: |
4/5 |
| Value for Money: |
15/15 |
Reviewer's Tilt: |
5/5 |
Total: |
97/100 |
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Site NetworkIncludes 59 sites, 15 reviewed and listed below |
| Pricing: |
1 month recurring: $29.95
3 months recurring: $59.95
12 months non-recurring: $89.50 |
Update, July 23 2011:
Once upon a time BrainPass was my favourite porn site network - only in recent years beaten by 21Sextury - but some time around early 2010 if I recall correctly, I started getting a bit annoyed with BrainPass as they introduced some sort of tiered membership system where you didn't get access to download everything unless you paid extra to upgrade to a secondary membership (a "Moviez+" service).
(Before I continue my rant, I will point out - this applies at the time of writing, I can't recall if the situation used to be different - that you can stream these extra videos on a normal membership, but you need the paid upgrade if you want to download them.)
What made this particularly annoying - considering that the main package wasn't exactly short on content on its own - was that these extra videos that required additional payment were mixed into the updates and scene lists in pornstar profiles alongside the regular ones.
A few days ago I decided it was time to give the BrainPass network another chance though - something I might not have felt inclined to do if I was just a regular porn costumer rather than a reviewer as well. Unfortunately the two tiered membership is still in effect, which means that if I browse to the model page of, picking a random example here, Katja Kassin, only her scenes on around 25 of the listed 168 Katja Kassin DVDs are actually included as downloadable in my basic BrainPass membership.
This same problem extends to the main video updates page. I just clicked my way through the first ten pages of recent updates, and I think I noticed an embarrasingly pitiful five or so videos - out of 200 on those ten pages! - that weren't labeled "Moviez+".
There are ways - or at least one way - to avoid the Moviez+ content during browsing though. Use the site browsing option as the 59 sites listed there are all a proper part of the base membership.
Some years back BrainPass had some really nice distinguishing features in terms of their then still active solo girl sites, plus a lot of great, semi-exclusive hardcore content on some of the other network sites that couldn't readily be found on competing DVD based sites.
All that content is still available of course - including in the normal membership and downloadable - but looking at the BrainPass network here in 2011, it does look too much like a huge but increasingly generic pile of more or less interesting - and more or less recent - DVD content.
There's not necessarily anything wrong with that - though I most certainly think there's something wrong about asking for extra payments if you want a download option on a lot of it - but if it's a huge adult DVD download archive you're after, you're much better off joining one of the leading DVD download sites, most notably VideoBox and VideosZ.
The sizes of their respective content archives are about on par with BrainPass/Moviez+ (give or take a few thousand scenes, but when we're talking ~60,000 that's not much more than a splash in the ocean), but their user interfaces - particularly VideoBox with their many innovative design choices in the new VB3 interface - are somewhat better equipped to handle searching, sorting, viewing and downloading your way through tens of thousands of scenes. Not to mention that you don't need a double membership to download everything (although VideoBox does have five "premium channels" from the same number of specific porn studios).
As usual - when we're talking a likely downwards direction - I'm not going to change the review scores (mostly because I'm too lazy to manually update a bunch of category and other pages). But if I did I would certainly be lopping a point or two off that Reviewer's Tilt score, and probably the same with Navigation and Design and perhaps even Value for Money (not because you don't get a huge pile of content - you certainly do, but because that two tiered membership really bugs me).
Update, July 29 2009:
Yep, I know it's only been five days since my last update, but the BrainPass members section (or Pornstar Network as it's actually branded, it always has been, once you're past the login) just received a major design overhaul.
Aside from a very slick new look and improvements to overall navigation (which was already very effecient), seemingly all videos can now be watched in an integrated Flash player in addition to the usual download options. Based on what I've tried so far this even applies to the videos from before the video quality upgrade back in 2006, which means that eg. all the great videos from the old solo girl sites can now be streamed as full videos rather than forcing you to deal with segmented video downloads.
All the content from the individual sites is now also integrated even more tightly into the main network interface than before, so you're no longer moving from site to site, but watching, downloading, browsing, rating, bookmarking, tagging or commenting (a few of the last ones are some of the new "community features") everything from a central interface.
It also appears that the new ten videos a day update pace I mentioned five days ago is permanent, or at least they are advertising it as such.
I think one of my two favourite site networks just got a fair bit better - and that's certainly saying something.
(The new member area design)
Update, July 24 2009:
I mentioned the Big Wet Asses site in one my updates from last year below, and I finally decided to do a review. As described at the end of the review, this site really feels like it's worth more than the fairly modest 83/100 score I gave it, but given particularly the very slow updates (impossible to avoid with a site that's based on a single, albeit long running DVD series) I didn't really have a choice but to keep a few of the sub scores on a low or medium level. The content on the site is absolutely top notch though.
In the process I also noticed that there's a new price option for the network, 12 months non-recurring for $89.50. While that might be a bit more than most people will be willing to pay at once for porn, at only $7.45 a month it's obviously excellent value if you plan on sticking around.
And if you need any more incentive to do that than all the praise I've already given the BrainPass network over the last almost four years, I can mention that the amount of daily content updates the last four days is up to a pretty massive ten from the usual impressive 4-6. Though whether or not they plan on keeping up this new pace I can't say of course.
Update, May 25 2009:
I'll be updating the individual site reviews in the network over the next couple of days - something I haven't done in over two years (and it was basic info updates only back in 2007).
As already mentioned in some of the updates below, not all the sites are still getting regular, or even any (the solo girl sites in particular), content updates - it's a very large network these days after all - but some of the ones I've reviewed have grown significantly, Lex Steele's official site for instance, which has got to be one of the largest (if not the largest, and in my opinion probably the best) interracial hardcore sites out there with almost 450 videos at the time of writing.
I wasn't really planning on adding this update to the main review - it hasn't been that long since my last one after all - but since I was going to be looking at the network again anyway, I figured I might as well mention that the total number of videos across the network is now up to 8,402 (almost three thousand more than 16 months ago when I did my January 2008 update) plus 910 photosets. And an extra site (milf hardcore) has also been added since my last visit.
Update, October 11 2008:
A few more niche sites have been added to the BrainPass network and the total number is now up to 53 (only 48 of them are listed on the main BrainPass tour page though, if I counted correctly, but the rest are in there). The most interesting of those recent additions is almost certainly Big Wet Asses (direct site link), based on the AVN award winning anal DVD series of the same name from Elegant Angel.
And as for the BrainPass network as a whole, it's still growing just as quickly as it used to, with as much as seven new videos a day on occasion (though usually "only" four or five) as well as a few new photosets now and then. The total number of videos across the network is now up to a massive 7,700+ compared to just under 5,600 ten months ago.
Update, January 9 2008:
Has it been another year already? Well, I guess it might be time for another quick update about my favourite site network then (really, I promise it will be quick this time, check the previous updates and the original review if you want more details).
There's now a total of 50 sites included in the network - versus 38 on my last visit and "only" 26 when I did my original review 25 months ago. New video (and occasionally photo) updates are still coming at a brisk pace, around 3-5 a day spread out (though not entirely evenly) across the network.
The total number of updates listed is, as of right now, 5,579 - though as mentioned in my last update, that number may or may not be entirely spot on, as it seems to have fluctuated a bit back and forth (you would think a computer should be able to handle something as simple as a counter). Whatever the total number of videos and photosets available with the membership is at this time, let's just say that it should most definately be large enough (and the content varied enough) to keep you entertained for a very long time (I think I said that the last time as well - but it's certainly no less accurate now).
Alright, so maybe this update really wasn't all that quick either. I really gotta learn to get to the point one of these days. More importantly right now though - BrainPass is still a really fantastic network and excellent value for money.
Update, January 11 2007:
Final update on the BrainPass network for at least the next 6-8 months - this may still be the cream of the crop when it comes to site networks in this reviewer's opinion, but as I said in my last update, it's probably only fair I dedicate some time to updating some of the many other reviews here at Mike's Porn Site Reviews rather than just a select few.
So what am I doing here again? Well, fair or not, I would probably be lying if I said some sites don't tend to draw (and keep) my attention a lot more than others, and besides, I left out something in my previous updates that is probably worth mentioning, and it's the fact that some of the individual network sites I originally reviewed, particularly the solo girl sites (Sweet Amylee, Christine Young etc.) seem to be getting only very sporadic or in some cases even no content updates these days.
Some of the girls like Amy Lee and Melissa Doll are obviously still working as models for the company though, as they are occasionally featured on some of the various niche sites in the network, and Real Squirt with leading lady Kream is apparantly still updated regularly (I won't be taking the time to update the individual reviews though, so the content numbers are a tad outdated on most of those pages).
But moving on from the possibly somewhat disappointing news (depending on whether the solo girl sites are a big draw for you with the BrainPass network) to the good news.
First of all the total number of sites is up a couple more since last time, from 36 to 38. And second and more importantly, you aren't just getting two new daily video updates (and the occasional photoset) across the network anymore, but no less than four to six videos (some network sites are still getting more attention than others though), and of course the nifty and very featureful centralized site interface I talked about in my 2nd look below, makes it a snap to download or watch the new videos, as well as preview what's coming in the next 6-8 days.
The total number of videos across the entire network is currently 4,055 (or 5,700+ depending on which page you look at, I actually have a feeling this last number is the correct one as it's listed on the main page while the other one is from the updates page and appears to fluctuate a bit). That should keep most of you busy for a while.
And as mentioned in a previous update, all the latest several hundred videos are available in a spectacular looking 720x480, 2000 kbit format. Unfortunately they haven't yet followed through on their earlier promise to add this quality for all their older videos, and personally I don't think I would be too optimistic in regard to that. Reencoding several thousand videos (and updating the sites) probably takes more than a little while, so I guess there's a fair chance they decided against that afterall.
So overall I still love the BrainPass network then? Yep, sure do.
But I'll try to keep my mouth shut about it anyway for a while? Yep, I'll try.
Update, October 7 2006:
It appears as though the BrainPass network keeps growing steadily. Since my last update note below from May, the total number of sites in the network has grown from 27 to 36. The new video sites include outdoors anal action, big natural tits, a couple of cum shot sites and a "behind the scenes" site.
As I already have a pretty full schedule with many other sites lined up for review, and it additionally doesn't seem entirely fair to dedicate a lot more time to the BrainPass network than most of the others - even though it is without a doubt one of the absolute best and most varied networks - I won't be doing a full "3rd look" or review of any of the new sites for now.
I've had a look inside the member sections of the main centralized site though, and with two new videos (and the occasional photoset) added every single day, it looks like the BrainPass network just keeps getting better, and at a pretty brisk pace.
2nd look, April 10 2006:
Since the original review was written a few changes have taken place with the BrainPass network.
A number of new sites have been added, including a new solo girl site, an Asian video site, a foot fetish site and a cum shot/cum swallowing site.
The total number of sites remain at 26, and I'm sorry to admit this, but I can't for the life of me figure out which sites have been dropped in favor of the new ones. Obviously they can't have made too much of an impact during my last visit.
There have also been huge improvements to the central "hub" site (BrainPass). Rather than just providing links to the 26 individual sites, there's now a load of centralized and quite advanced search and browsing features that load up neat and complete lists of all the relevant videos and photosets (niches, models, studios, upcoming content or whatever you've searched or filtered for) from across the entire network.
The Navigation & Design score has been bumped from 9/10 to 10/10 and the total score is now 97/100.
Additional note, May 2 2006:
Since BrainPass is by far one of my favourite networks and I regularly log in to check the latest updates, I might as well make a mention of another fairly significant improvement they are currently implementing.
In addition to the regular video qualities all new videos are now also available as a single file in a much improved quality - 720x480 (DVD resolution), 2000 kbit. They are saying the same option will be made available for most of their older videos, but with hundreds of scenes spread across their sites that's obviously going to take a while.
Another site has also been added to the lineup, the official site of the black (and wonderfully busty) porn star Vanessa Blue.
Original review:
Given their nature most site networks are not exactly lacking in terms of content quantity and many offer quite a lot of variety as well.
BrainPass manages to surpass most of the other networks I have yet come across in those areas though.
With a very impressive 26 sites (six of them launched recently) covering a range of great solo girl sites, the official sites of male superstars Peter North and Lex Steele, a couple of pretty large sites based on the video releases from two Canadian pornstudios as well as a number of other hardcore video sites (gangbangs, black babes, interracial, latina, lesbian and more) - this package should keep you entertained for a very long while.
The main BrainPass site contains links to all the 26 individual sites as well as an overview of all the recent video and photo updates and what is coming over the next week or two.
All the update information is shown with the site name, a few sample thumbnail pictures and a link directly to the video or photoset.
Speaking of updates, a new video or photoset is added every day, but with 26 sites total that obviously means that you could potentially be waiting a little longer than you would prefer for your favourite site to get new content.
On the other hand, a number of the sites seem to be very rarely updated, a few not at all, so the ones where frequent updates seem most important do in fact get those.
This includes most of the eight solo girl sites, the squirting site Real Squirt (where the charismatic hostess Kream almost makes it qualify as a solo girl site as well), Lex Steele and Peter North's sites along with the video sites Silverstone Videos and Doghouse Digital.
BrainPass offer so much, in such a neat and well designed package that I highly suspect this is one site network I am not likely to get tired of any time soon. Highly recommended whether you are after a mix of excellent hardcore video porn or have taken a liking to one of the adorable solo girls.
Click here to visit BrainPass
(Member area screenshots)
| 93/100 |
Lex Steele |
Individuals, Pornstars, Interracial, Big Cocks |
| 89/100 |
Christine Young (Quick Review) |
Individuals, Teens, Straight |
| 89/100 |
Peter North (Quick Review) |
Individuals, Pornstars, Mixed Hardcore Sex, Downloadable DVDs |
| 89/100 |
Real Squirt |
Squirting, Masturbation, Lesbian, Individuals |
| 89/100 |
Silverstone Video (Quick Review) |
Donwloadable DVDs, Mixed Hardcore Sex, Pornstars |
| 87/100 |
Sweet Amylee (Quick Review) |
Individuals, Straight |
| 86/100 |
Melissa Doll |
Individuals, Teens |
| 86/100 |
I Want Latina (Quick Review) |
Latina, Straight |
| 84/100 |
Fuck That Asian (Quick Review) |
Asian, Mixed Hardcore Sex |
| 83/100 |
Big Wet Asses (Quick Review) |
Oiled/Wet, Anal, Pornstars |
| 83/100 |
Black Reign XXX |
Black, Interracial |
| 82/100 |
Only DP (Quick Review) |
Group Sex, Anal |
| 77/100 |
I Love It Black (Quick Review) |
Interracial, Big Cocks, Group Sex |
| 76/100 |
Girly Gang Bang |
Lesbian, Strapon Sex, Gangbangs |
| 75/100 |
The Lucky Man (Quick Review) |
Gangbangs |
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95+ Excellent
85-94 Very Good
75-84 Good
65-74 Acceptable
-64 Don't Bother
Full rating info here
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