BDA-3 DAC

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James Tanner

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Re: BDA-3 DAC
« Reply #560 on: 4 Sep 2016, 10:13 am »
James,

the review shows the BDA-3 with a digital output :scratch:

any changes there with this dac??

al.

Hi Al

That was an early prototype and not used in the current version

james

James Tanner

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Re: BDA-3 DAC
« Reply #561 on: 4 Sep 2016, 10:17 am »
Hello,

I am new here and I am looking for some information on the BDA-3.

At present I own a NAD M51 and I think about moving on to the BDA-3.

As here in Germany, in the Bamberg Area, it is not that easy to find a Bryston dealer, so I just wanted to get some first impressions by BDA-3 owners who might have compared it to the NAD M51.

Especially the use of the HDMI input is of interst to me, as I wish to connect an OPPO 103 and a satellite receiver (for TV, european based ASTRA sat) to the DAC.

With the M51 using the HDMI connection here at home was of higher sound quality than the connection of an Esoteric X-05 (used as transport) connected via SPDIF to the M51.... I was astonished, indeed.
Is that to be expected with the BDA-3 aswell?

Would I gain anything in sound quality with moving from the M51 to the BDA-3?

Greetings from Germany,
Alexander  :)

P.S.: Many years ago I owned a 3B power amp and was very satisfied (early to mid 1990ies).

Hi Alex

Its funny you mentioned the HDMI input as sounding quite good. I have always been told that HDMI was the worst possible connection based on higher jitter rates and the fact that it was designed as a video connection and adding audio was an afterthought. 

I am experimenting at home now with our new Pi Digital player which has an HDMI output into my BDA3 HDMI input and I have to say I am quite taken with how good it sounds.

james


The Rang

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Re: BDA-3 DAC
« Reply #562 on: 4 Sep 2016, 04:39 pm »
I see mention of a price increase on the BHA-1, but the question of a possible BDA-3 increase isn't really answered.

Is such an increase in the cards, if so I may be tempted to order now.

A 15% increase (if that's what it is) amounts to over $500, a tough pill to swallow

James Tanner

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Re: BDA-3 DAC
« Reply #563 on: 4 Sep 2016, 05:12 pm »
I see mention of a price increase on the BHA-1, but the question of a possible BDA-3 increase isn't really answered.

Is such an increase in the cards, if so I may be tempted to order now.

A 15% increase (if that's what it is) amounts to over $500, a tough pill to swallow

Hi

No increase on the BDA-3.  The BHA-1 was underpriced based on the parts cost.  There are are lot of proprietary parts and the suppliers increased our costs on a fair number of them so we had to make adjustments or stop building the BHA-1.

james

The Rang

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Re: BDA-3 DAC
« Reply #564 on: 4 Sep 2016, 05:21 pm »
Thanks James,

That gives me little more time to save, plus I still need to figure out what I'm doing about speakers which ties into it.

alex-mayer

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Re: BDA-3 DAC
« Reply #565 on: 5 Sep 2016, 09:41 pm »
Hello James,
Thanks for your first impression.
I am quite curious what your tests will show.

With the M51 I asked a NAD technical specialist at the Munich High-End show 2015 about thr HDMI connection, and the answer was, that when using the OPPOs 103 "audio-out-HDMI" connection with the M51 input, a I2S connection is established with a minimum of jitter in contrast to the SPDIF or AES dig. connection....

So at least as I did unterstand it (I am no technical expert....).

Greetings from Germany,
Alex

P.s.. the HDMI connection is "nice" for transmitting SACD, BLU-RAY..... if it does sound good.

vegasdave

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Re: BDA-3 DAC
« Reply #566 on: 19 Sep 2016, 06:36 pm »
what exactly does the upsample feature on the bda-3 do with redbook cd?

srb

Re: BDA-3 DAC
« Reply #567 on: 19 Sep 2016, 06:49 pm »
what exactly does the upsample feature on the bda-3 do with redbook cd?

44.1KHz and 88.2KHz are upsampled to 176.4KHz and 48KHz and 96KHz are upsampled to 192KHz.  CDs are increased from 16-bit to 24-bit, but the extra 8 bits are just padding placeholders.

Steve

CanadianMaestro

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Re: BDA-3 DAC
« Reply #568 on: 19 Sep 2016, 09:37 pm »
I hardly hear any diff with upsampling on my BDA-1. Really subtle if anything.

Servingthemusic.com

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Re: BDA-3 DAC
« Reply #569 on: 19 Sep 2016, 10:03 pm »
wow. that is interesting. With both the BDA-1 I had and the BDA-3, the difference was anything but subtle.

CanadianMaestro

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Re: BDA-3 DAC
« Reply #570 on: 19 Sep 2016, 10:33 pm »
^ no worries, everyone hears differently.
My system is probably maxed out on resolution ceiling.  :duh:

Grit

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Re: BDA-3 DAC
« Reply #571 on: 20 Sep 2016, 08:02 am »
I wish we could get everyone to understand that.

My best friend can't hear a difference in some things I play for him, where i can hear (to me) a world of difference. And, as you pointed out, not everyone's system or room acoustics are the same. Personally, I could never tell if the upsample on my BDA-2 is on during a blind test. While I'm pretty confident in my system/equipment, my room is just the living room and totally untreated for acoustics.

- Garrett

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Re: BDA-3 DAC
« Reply #572 on: 20 Sep 2016, 11:11 am »
I wish we could get everyone to understand that.

My best friend can't hear a difference in some things I play for him, where i can hear (to me) a world of difference. And, as you pointed out, not everyone's system or room acoustics are the same. Personally, I could never tell if the upsample on my BDA-2 is on during a blind test. While I'm pretty confident in my system/equipment, my room is just the living room and totally untreated for acoustics.

- Garrett

Same here. My LR is my listening room; imperfect for studio-quality reproduction (if that's the aim  :scratch:). Based on Bryston's brochure description for BDA-1 upsampling, the process is a mathematical one that makes it easier for the digital processer to "do its thing", while bumping certain noise up into the inaudible regions of the freq spectrum. To me, that probably explains why I cannot hear a diff -- it's a very subtle thing. Anyways, I don't obsess about this. Too much musik to hear.   8)

vegasdave

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Re: BDA-3 DAC
« Reply #573 on: 20 Sep 2016, 08:05 pm »
44.1KHz and 88.2KHz are upsampled to 176.4KHz and 48KHz and 96KHz are upsampled to 192KHz.  CDs are increased from 16-bit to 24-bit, but the extra 8 bits are just padding placeholders.

Steve

nice...hopefully i can get my greasy fingers on one...sooner rather than later! lol :D

James Tanner

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Re: BDA-3 DAC
« Reply #574 on: 27 Sep 2016, 10:53 pm »
Hi Folks,

I have been informed today that the Bryston BDA-3 DAC review will be in the December issue of Stereophile.

james

The Rang

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Re: BDA-3 DAC
« Reply #575 on: 29 Sep 2016, 03:39 am »
Do you know which reviewer is doing the honours?

James Tanner

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Re: BDA-3 DAC
« Reply #576 on: 29 Sep 2016, 09:49 am »
Do you know which reviewer is doing the honours?

Hi

Yes I have seen the review - John Atkinson and Larry Greenhill

james

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Re: BDA-3 DAC
« Reply #577 on: 29 Sep 2016, 11:28 am »
^ Are these two any good?

Tympani

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Re: BDA-3 DAC
« Reply #578 on: 29 Sep 2016, 12:30 pm »
^ Are these two any good?

Depends on the review :wink:

James Tanner

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Re: BDA-3 DAC
« Reply #579 on: 29 Sep 2016, 12:43 pm »
^ Are these two any good?


Yes they are very seasoned and experienced reviewers.  John tends to be measurement driven and Larry just listens.

James