AudioCircle

Industry Circles => Bryston Limited => Topic started by: frank1199 on 28 Feb 2024, 11:13 am

Title: B100 SST: How good is a 20 year old DAC?
Post by: frank1199 on 28 Feb 2024, 11:13 am
I wonder what the DAC in a 20 year old B100 SST is still worth. So, I mean, can it keep up with, for example, a current Bluesound node in terms of quality? Or wouldn't it be better to send the signal directly from Bluesound to the amplifier via RCA?

Time hasn't stood still and today's DACs are probably far better than even top products from 20 years ago.



Title: Re: B100 SST: How good is a 20 year old DAC?
Post by: MetalAudio on 7 Mar 2024, 04:37 am
I think you answered your own question at the end.
Title: Re: B100 SST: How good is a 20 year old DAC?
Post by: Highendfool on 7 Mar 2024, 01:26 pm
I think you answered your own question at the end.

Perhaps, but it would be nice to hear from someone at Bryston, on what improvements (if any) we could expect from a current DAC vs the older one in the B100.

Experience has taught me that newer is not necessarily better!
Title: Re: B100 SST: How good is a 20 year old DAC?
Post by: James Tanner on 7 Mar 2024, 01:55 pm
Hi folks

The newer DAC's have lower noise floors and typically can handle higher sample and bit rates with less distortion.
If you are OK with CD quality Digital then the older Bryston DAC's do an excellent job.

As a matter of fax our 7 year old BDA-3 DAC won a performance award last year !

james
Title: Re: B100 SST: How good is a 20 year old DAC?
Post by: GSDaudio on 7 Mar 2024, 03:15 pm
I have a 2007 bp-26 with dac.   Glad I upgraded to bda-3.  It was a great dac in its day but what an improvement in sound the bda-3 gives.    Not subtle!!  Plus I can hook up Blu-ray!!!!

You won't miss the pop associated with the switching between 94/24 and 44.1/16 files.

The old dac is now relegated to the dbx realm that I have.

Just buy the bda-3.




Title: Re: B100 SST: How good is a 20 year old DAC?
Post by: jobiwon on 7 Mar 2024, 04:29 pm
You here it again & again; "Its all in the implementation".  If you got an old DAC thats done right it may be as good or better than a current unit that is cheaply done.   
Title: Re: B100 SST: How good is a 20 year old DAC?
Post by: alexone on 8 Mar 2024, 11:40 am

As a matter of fax our 7 year old BDA-3 DAC won a performance award last year !

james


…7 years is a pretty long time for a dac given today‘s rapidly changing technology.

al.

Title: Re: B100 SST: How good is a 20 year old DAC?
Post by: James Tanner on 8 Mar 2024, 11:44 am
Yes but good is good - stands the test of time ! :thumb:
Title: Re: B100 SST: How good is a 20 year old DAC?
Post by: alexone on 8 Mar 2024, 12:01 pm

…it’s not only the sound. i think it has also a lot to do with the versatility of the BDA3. Lots of inputs like hdmi, usb, etc :thumb:

al.
Title: Re: B100 SST: How good is a 20 year old DAC?
Post by: Armaegis on 21 Mar 2024, 04:08 am
I have a B60R with the built-in dac card (single spdif coax input only), and I used to have the BDA-1 which has the same CS4398 chip which is ancient in the dac world. Funny thing, I actually preferred the integrated dac in the B60 and sold the BDA-1.
Title: Re: B100 SST: How good is a 20 year old DAC?
Post by: gene9p on 21 Mar 2024, 04:43 am
I 'm still using a BDA-1...no problems and the sound is great.. :thumb:
Title: Re: B100 SST: How good is a 20 year old DAC?
Post by: alexone on 21 Mar 2024, 01:33 pm

@Armaegis:

i have a B60 and i love it :thumb: it has the phono built in not the dac. i use it in combination with a BDA2. great sound from a small package!!! this integrated amp is absolutely stunning.WOW!

al.
Title: Re: B100 SST: How good is a 20 year old DAC?
Post by: HifiDan on 21 Mar 2024, 10:48 pm
I also have a bda-1 [10 years] and I still love it.