AudioCircle
Industry Circles => Bryston Limited => Topic started by: James Tanner on 28 Jun 2019, 11:02 am
-
Hi Folks,
Just wanted to know how many of you have a combination DAC/Streamer (as opposed to a separate unit for each)?
The Bryston BDA-3 is a DAC only of course and the BDP-3 is a digital player and streamer currently in our lineup.
james
-
I do ... Lumin S1
-
I have separates: BDA-3 and BDP-2.
-
My Marantz 7702 processor will operate as both a dac and a streamer (plus do a bunch of other stuff).
DACs: TI PCM 1690 (24-bit/192kHz)
-
Separates - BDA-3 & Sonore Signature Rendu SE
-
Answering a different question, but while such a combination appeals to me my natural inclination is to anticipate some compromise on the streamer, the DAC, or both in an effort to keep cost down.
One might argue that sharing a chassis and power supply is a compromise in and of itself due to the possibility of various types of interference.
FWIW, I am a very happy owner of a BDA-1/BDP-1 combo.
-
Thanks for the followup to my thread elsewhere on AC.
I'm looking for family friendliness, getting away from computers, and willing to give up some SQ.
-
BDP-3 & BDA-3, second system BDP-3 & BDA-2
-
Thanks for the followup to my thread elsewhere on AC.
I'm looking for family friendliness, getting away from computers, and willing to give up some SQ.
The BEST upgrade I did in the last 2 years was whole house audio via DTS-Play Fi ecosystem. They have dac/streamers ranging from $30 for a Klipsh Gate to $2000 for a Mcintosh MB 50. Couldn't be more family fun and if you shop you will find major deals. You can run your whole house from your phone.
-
Still shopping for either. Was using a laptop with USB to spdif converter to some older dacs and found the solution less than ideal.
The "mid-fi" streamers didn't give me confidence in their DAC or DAC implementation. Most streamers also lacked the inputs/outputs to use the DAC or streamer as independent units. I want to be able to use the DAC with CD transports or other sources, and send the streamer output to other DACs.
-
I have a BDP-pi and an Emotiva XDA-2 Gen II DAC. If I were to do it all over again, I'd probably buy a combined DAC/streamer. There is a particular product from another manufacturer that I probably should have considered more carefully.
-
Hi Folks,
Just wanted to know how many of you have a combination DAC/Streamer (as opposed to a separate unit for each)?
The Bryston BDA-3 is a DAC only of course and the BDP-3 is a digital player and streamer currently in our lineup.
james
Sorry, james, no combo. Just separates here. Brystons.
-
Hi Folks,
Just wanted to know how many of you have a combination DAC/Streamer (as opposed to a separate unit for each)?
The Bryston BDA-3 is a DAC only of course and the BDP-3 is a digital player and streamer currently in our lineup.
james
[/quot
Separate DAC (Chord) and streamer (BDP3). No interest in one piece.
-
I have a BDA-1 and use my laptop, but looking at upgrading to something like a Simaudio 390 or a one box peice
-
I have a BDP-3 which goes to,
1, Naim ND 555 [DAC/streamer],
2, Chord HMS [upscaler]/Chord TT2[DAC].
D
-
I *had* a single unit until a month ago for streaming Roon and DAC: PS Audio Directstream Jr. Pretty convenient to have stream/dac/pre all in one unit.
-
I have both in the same system. The separate units are the BDA3 + BDP3 and the combo unit is a SimAudio 280D. I prefer the sound of the Bryston units, but the Qobuz interface for the SimAudio is easier to use. Moreover, the SimAudio has additional optical inputs that I can use with my Roku and TV.
Best,
John
-
Hi James!
It would make more sense to make a digital player with a built-in DAC, a combination of BDP and BDA in a single chassis. Consumers who need only a DAC, even if they'll be a minority, will still opt for a BDA but consumers who want a streamer certainly WOULD prefer a single unit rather than two. This new product would outsell the current BDP, I am certain of that.
That said, keep in mind you'd be entering a hot marketplace. From a consumer standpoint, the choics are vast and it is almost impossible to make "the best" one.
Of all the products I'd like to see (a headphone amplifier ina BDP-Pie form-factor), for me, this would not be one of those products.
Hopw this is useful.
Cheers,
Antun
-
BDA & BDP :thumb:
...and the dac-card of the BP17³ still deserves an usb input (with DSD)! can't understand why it should be impossible for Bryston to do it :scratch:. makes me think that it could be more a marketing feature that should be kept out of reach?? maybe it could stop customers to buy a BDA-3 then...???
al.
-
alex,
In another thread a while back, James Tanner spoke of a new Preamp, based on the 17cubed and the BDA-3. Maybe this new preamp will have many of the capabilities of the BDA-3.
-
Yes I remember the same thing that JT made mention of a new DAC/Pre, so that is another reason that I have held off on a purchase to see what new product that Bryston came out with. I like my Bryston sound
-
BDA-2 and BDP-2.
But if Bryston made a BDA/BDP combo unit, I'd certainly prefer that (assuming no compromises in quality).
-
Yes, and Yes. All my streamers are squeezebox's, some are real squeezebox's , and some are Pi H/W and squeezebox MAX2Play S/W . If it is Squeezebox H/W I usually use the built DAC, if it is Pi H/W then I use a Benchmark DAC1, or the the HighFi Berry DAC card/Digital out to the onboard DAC on my surround sound processor.
Scott
-
I have both options:
1) BDP-1 --> DAC --> pre-amp
2) Bluesound Node 2i --> Headphone amp
FWIW, I think a BDP/BDA combo would be very attractive, but I would worry about the price (i.e. the BDP-3 + BDA-3 == $$$ outside of my budget).
Now, a BDP-Pi + DAC combo... that I would be all over.
-
Pi and BDA-3
-
wadia di122 bryston bdp -1
-
System 1: BDP-1, Wyred 4 Sound DAC, 2nd streamer, Sonore microrendu
System 2: BDP-1, Benchmark DAC3 HGC
I had purchased an Auralic Polaris (Streamer/DAC/amp) earlier in the year but had issues with the amp section and returned it.
-
I own the Bryston BDP3 and the BDA3, separates. Together, they make music sound like a reel to reel. :thumb:
-
I still have the BDP-2 + PSAudio PWD II. My desire to simplify and have all codecs supported got me interested in Lumin. Now I have a Lumin T2. Still love the BDP-2 which is used in a different system. The BDP-2 is also being used as a share for Bluesound devices. Only problem I have with the BDP as a NAS for Bluesound, is BluOS does not index the M3U playlists in the BDP.
My ultimate device would be an integrated with built in streamer. Can't find anything like that with the capability to play 24/384, DSD 512 & MQA.
-
My ultimate device would be an integrated with built in streamer. Can't find anything like that with the capability to play 24/384, DSD 512 & MQA.
I think the Matrix Element P (https://matrix-digi.com/en/products/320.html) does what you're looking for, feature-wise. You'd have to make your own judgement about the sound character/quality. Your high sample-rate and native MQA requirements cut out all the other options I'm aware of.
-
How about a BDA-3 DAC combined with a PI digital player/streamer in a single chassis?
james
-
James do it and take it the the next level. Elimination of a AES or USB cord done right. Blow our socks off
-
How about a BDA-3 DAC combined with a PI digital player/streamer in a single chassis?
james
If that's the case, I'm glad I bought the -3.
I like lots of connections, AES, etc. and separates. Noise free. Max flexibility for multiple players upstream.
-
James do it and take it the the next level. Elimination of a AES or USB cord done right. Blow our socks off
Hi Mike
Not sure I understand - elimination of AES or USB?
james
-
Hi Mike
Not sure I understand - elimination of AES or USB?
james
Meaning one wouldn’t need a cable to connect the Pi to the BDA. It’s all one unit.
-
Meaning one wouldn’t need a cable to connect the Pi to the BDA. It’s all one unit.
Ah - thanks for the clarification. :duh:
james
-
Hi Mike
Not sure I understand - elimination of AES or USB?
james
one box solution means eliminating cords. I think it’s a fantastic idea.
-
I like the idea of all in one box if it can match or exceed the current SQ. Furthermore, throw network fiber input on it like Lumin did on their recent model. No more having to worry about differences in cables or digital connections or external noise. All units sounding the same. No further experimentation required.
-
James you can call it DACeiver.
charles
-
How about a BDA-3 DAC combined with a PI digital player/streamer in a single chassis?
james
...James, this is what Bryston should do anyway! Go combined instead of always offering separate products. You guys can do it - no doubt about it. As i said already a few times before: Not EVERBODY wants/needs a box and a box and a box....give them finally the unique Bryston sound quality in a single chassis! More options. More ideas. More fun.
al.
-
I would like to see something along the lines of the Innuous streamers/servers that connect to a Dac. The built in drive makes it backwards compatible for us who still want to store physical media that we own.
-
I might bite if a combo had a true merger of BDA-3 and BDP-3, with equally low(er) jitter/noise specs, and the same massive capacities for external drive playbck (3x 2 TB and more). no loss of AES or SPDIF either, for connecting a CD transport. Make DSD playback happen thru AES too ( I'm dreaming :icon_lol:).
As for streaming from currently available services like Tidal etc., I am just not interested. Until a service can provide access to the full classical music recording libraries of the major labels (DG, Decca, HM, etc etc), I view streaming as more of a sampling mode rather than a way to build a private musik library. Besides, why should I listen to streamed classical musik that I already have ripped from CDs over the past 25 yrs of collecting? Also, in most instances, streaming is a step down in SQ from playback thru a physical source disk, imho.
But if anyone can do it, Bryston can. Wait n see is my stance.
JT: any idea what the price tag would be on a combo with the above capabilities?
Cheers all.
-
The combo of the BDA3 and the Pi would be about $4200 list.
james
-
Ah...so it's the Pi, not the full BDP-3. :duh:
Thanks.
-
As for streaming from currently available services like Tidal etc., I am just not interested. Until a service can provide access to the full classical music recording libraries of the major labels (DG, Decca, HM, etc etc), I view streaming as more of a sampling mode rather than a way to build a private musik library. Besides, why should I listen to streamed classical musik that I already have ripped from CDs over the past 25 yrs of collecting? Also, in most instances, streaming is a step down in SQ from playback thru a physical source disk, imho.
I listen to classical music most of the time and I can't cope with the amount of classical on Qobuz alone. And then there is Primephonic, classical only, which also has an endless stream of music and recordings new to me. After 55 years of listening to classical music I find I am extending my knowledge of it faster and deeper than ever via streaming. And once network foibles are sorted it sounds good too.
-
AS REQUESTED
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=197963)
MEMO: To All Bryston Customers
SUBJECT: Bryston Introduces the BDA-3.14 Multi-Function Streaming DAC
August 2019
New DAC includes built-in music player, onboard digital volume control and updated user interface, creating a world class digital entertainment hub from Bryston with unparalleled performance
Bryston (bryston.com) has introduced the BDA-3.14 multi-function DAC (Digital to Analog Converter) that adds an array of impressive features to the much heralded BDA-3 DAC platform. The BDA-3.14 delivers the performance and unmatched build quality that music aficionados have come to expect from Bryston. The BDA-3.14 will be available from Bryston dealers beginning Q4, 2019 and carry an MSRP of $4195 USD.
The BDA-3.14 offers streaming capability via a built-in music player that delivers access to network-connected storage and USB drives as well as streaming services such as Qobuz, Tidal, Roon and Internet radio. Digital connectivity between the internal music player and the DAC is managed using the I2S protocol, a premium interface standard used for connecting digital audio devices together that preserves audio and clock data with virtually zero error. The BDA-3.14 also features a digital volume control, enabling users to drive an amplifier directly. An updated version of Bryston’s Manic Moose user interface for phones, tablets and computers provides users with intuitive control over all functionality.
Bryston DAC Technology
The multi-award-winning BDA-3 DAC can decode up to 384 kHz/32-bit PCM music and up to DSDx4 natively. Each format is processed in its native resolution, preserving absolute bit-perfect signals all the way to the analog outputs. Additionally, Bryston’s ultra-precise re-clocking circuit reduces jitter to nearly unmeasurable levels. Bryston’s proprietary analog section is completely free of integrated circuits (ICs) that limit the bandwidth and dynamic range of so many competitive DACs. For maximum flexibility, the BDA-3 has an astonishing ten discrete inputs including four 2-channel HDMI, asynchronous USB, AES/EBU, TOSLINK, and digital coax. It also includes Bryston’s network module, which facilitates control via TCP/IP and RS-232—a must for integration with modern smart home platforms.
“Bryston is excited to be able to deliver the exceptionally high performance of our digital music player and our DAC merged into a single chassis solution,” stated Gary Dayton, VP of Sales & Marketing at Bryston. “Now music enthusiasts can enjoy a sleek, easy-to-use ultimate performance streamer/DAC combo as centerpiece of their digital entertainment system.”
PLEASE VISIT BRYSTON AT RMAF 2019, Gaylord Rockies Resort and Convention Center 4th floor Presidential suite, Room 4-105
DOWNLOAD IMAGES HERE
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=197964)
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=197965)
-
Congratulations Bryston!
-
I listen to classical music most of the time and I can't cope with the amount of classical on Qobuz alone. And then there is Primephonic, classical only, which also has an endless stream of music and recordings new to me. After 55 years of listening to classical music I find I am extending my knowledge of it faster and deeper than ever via streaming. And once network foibles are sorted it sounds good too.
Thanks for this info. Still prefer hard drive playback from an owned library.
Cheers
-
The product I've been waiting for!
-
Cool, James! Waiting for more integrated products :thumb: it just makes sense.
al.
-
Awesome news!
1) Will the remote control be included?
2) How many tracks in the local library can this model support?
-
How about a BDA-3 DAC combined with a PI digital player/streamer in a single chassis?
james
What are the differences between a PI player and a BDP-3? Would there be a sound quality difference? Why not combine the BDP-3 and BDA-3?
-
What are the differences between a PI player and a BDP-3? Would there be a sound quality difference? Why not combine the BDP-3 and BDA-3?
Hi,
It would be much more expensive with the BDP-3 Player
Differences I can think of with the BDP-3:
1. Display
2. Much more capable processor speed
james
-
Do you mean the display on the front of the unit itself? That's probably not much of an issue for most, since we're using a remote device to control it.
That just leaves speed, which really just amounts to how fast the player can display/index music, and time to start up from powered off?
-
Hi,
It would be much more expensive with the BDP-3 Player
Differences I can think of with the BDP-3:
1. Display
2. Much more capable processor speed
james
Was there an IAD inside BDP-3?
Or Was it discontinued when the Pi came along?
-
I seem to recall a volume control was a no no with dacs,noise ect.
Did something happen in the last yr or two where there is no noise :scratch:
-
I seem to recall a volume control was a no no with dacs,noise ect.
Did something happen in the last yr or two where there is no noise :scratch:
Hi
Yes the higher bit rate DAC's allow for much better signal to noise if using a digital control.
The Volume control can be turned on and off if using a preamp.
james
-
That's a great product name :)
-
I'm sure that it was as easy as pi(e) to come up with that name! :P :oops: :lol:
-
Hello James, is it possible to update BDA3 to this? how much will it be the cost in case?
-
Methinks that people who own the Bryston separates (player + DAC) and use an updated version of Moose will not need to update, as they will already have streaming capabilities.
Still, this new product looks like a very nice "entry" for newbies who want a taste of the Bryston house sound without breaking the bank on separates. Also may be suited for a more compact second system in the home or office.
-
Hello James, is it possible to update BDA3 to this? how much will it be the cost in case?
Hi Grant
No sorry the BDA3.14 has a totally different chassis and connection points - also I do not think you would want to if you already have the BDA3 and BDP-3.
james
-
ok thanks James - I have not the BP3 (still) :D
-
Hi James,
Does bda 3.14 have the new Raspberry PI 4 inside?
-
Hi James,
Does bda 3.14 have the new Raspberry PI 4 inside?
HI
No it uses the 3 for now. The PI is a separate board so it would be easy to replace it going forward if the performance warranted it.
james
-
What are the max resolutions thru ethernet like using Roon?
-
HI
No it uses the 3 for now. The PI is a separate board so it would be easy to replace it going forward if the performance warranted it.
james
this is where I respect the Bryston approach only if it warranted it. James, thank you for the honest approach while still expanding you’re catalog.
-
What are the max resolutions thru ethernet like using Roon?
Hi
192/24
james
-
Hi James,
Very excited about this new product offering... :thumb:
A have a few questions:
1) Same DAC chips as in the BDA-3?
2) With an internal CPU, can a hard drive be installed?
3) Can the display be seen on an external attached monitor? Great if it was interactive too...
4) I2S, same as PS Audio format? Can outsource the I2S to external DAC?
5) "Bryston’s ultra-precise re-clocking circuit reduces jitter to nearly unmeasurable levels" - What does this mean vs. BDA-3?
6) With this CPU, there would be three separate power supplies inside this unit?
7) Why call it BDA-3.14, should it be something new like BDPA-1 (PLAYER/DAC combined)
And the tough question; Does it sound better than the BDA-3 and BDP-3 combination?
Regards,
Luigi
-
My reservation in single chassis digital sources such as these is obsolescence. Digital formats/codecs/whatever they’re called come and go seemingly quickly. DVD-A, HDCD, SACD, DSD, MQA... what’s next? Having everything in one box typically means getting rid of the whole box, including the stuff that’s not obsolete.
If the boards are changeable/upgradable as James said, then that changes my view on it. I always think of my father’s old receiver with built-in 8-track. The amplification was fine for quite some time after 8-track was a distant and funny memory. I was contemplating the original Naim Uniti when it came out. It had CD, streamer, DAC, etc. built into it. Having stuff in one box that will go obsolete sooner or later is a big part of why I went with the B60 instead. Not the only reason, but definitely a major one.
I like to keep digital sources as separate as possible. If it’s upgradable, and for a price that’s makes it worth it not to throw the whole thing out, then that changes my view.
-
Hi Grant
No sorry the BDA3.14 has a totally different chassis and connection points - also I do not think you would want to if you already have the BDA3 and BDP-3.
james
Hi James
Have you, or anyone at bryston tried an A/B test with the new BDA3.14 vs. BDP3>BDA3 setup?
cheers, TJ
-
Hi James
Have you, or anyone at bryston tried an A/B test with the new BDA3.14 vs. BDP3>BDA3 setup?
cheers, TJ
Hi TJ
I have not yet done the comparison as there is only one 3.14 in existence and Gary has that one at the show.
That being said there were 2 major reasons we developed the BDA3.14.
1. I wanted a lower price point for those customers wanting to purchase a Bryston ... Preamp and Streamer and DAC.
2. There seems to be a going market now for integrated components over separates.
Technically and feature wise the separate BP17/BDA3/BDP3 have superior measured performance. Whether that translates to the listening experience will be interesting to see.
james
-
...exciting times, James :thumb:.
makes me really curious what's next in the Bryston lineup talking about integrated components :drool: :drool:
i always knew you guys can do it!
al.
-
Hi
Yes the higher bit rate DAC's allow for much better signal to noise if using a digital control.
The Volume control can be turned on and off if using a preamp.
james
How will the volume be controlled, remote or front panel or do you have to use a pre-amp
-
How will the volume be controlled, remote or front panel or do you have to use a pre-amp
Hi mav
You have the choice - the remote GUI for volume so you are using the Pi as a preamp as well or you can connect the 3.14 to your preamp.
james
-
Thanks James
-
James,
the BDP Pi can put out DSD up to 128 via its usb connections ?? :scratch:
al.
-
James,
the BDP Pi can put out DSD up to 128 via its usb connections ?? :scratch:
al.
Hi Al,
The 3.14 using the Pi can do DSD 128 but converts it to 192.
james
-
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=204308)
MEMO: To All Bryston Customers
SUBJECT: Bryston 3.14 DAC/STREAMER/PREAMP REVIEW
Music and movie streaming is becoming increasingly popular at an astonishing rate.
Introducing Bryston BDA-3.14 Streaming DAC
Streamers and streaming services have been here a while but are really now taking hold of the music and movie delivery to consumers at home and anywhere they are located using their phones or tablets.
I put off setting up streaming because (1) I have all my music on hard drives connected to OPPO BDP-105 and UDP-205 players, using a phone and tablet app that shows me a directory of the music which I can play by simply tapping on an album or track; and (2) I am not very proficient with manipulating my wireless network. This article is Part 2 of my project on showing our readers how easy it is to set up music streaming.
Bryston has released their new BDA-3.14 Streaming DAC. As the product name implies, it has a streamer combined with a built-in DAC which is capable of up to 32/384 PCM and DSD-256. For streaming, the highest resolution available is 24/192 FLAC, but you can use the separate DAC inputs for higher resolution files input from other sources.
The Bryston 3.14 hardware sounds superb with the music that I listened to from the Qobuz streaming service.
I will have a full review of the BDA-3.14 soon.
John E Johnson Jr.
-
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=204309)
MEMO: To All Bryston Customers
SUBJECT: Bryston 3.14 DAC/STREAMER/PREAMP REVIEW
Bryston BDA-3.14 Renderer+DAC
CHRISTIAAN PUNTER 1 February 2020
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=204310)
RTFM (Read The Friggin Manual). Yeah, but that doesn’t go for me, right?
After fiddling with the BDA-3.14 for quite some time and getting no sound out of it using any of its inputs I was convinced that it was not functioning as it should. So, I reached out to the distributor via email, only to reluctantly pick up the manual while waiting for a response. Upon browsing it, I found the below A4 print…In my defense: the unit does not have any volume control buttons nor does it indicate its volume status on the front panel, and so, I was not aware that it even offered a volume control.
Its startup volume setting is around 50% and that’s attenuated enough to appear as silent with a regular volume setting on the CH preamp. After a restart, it returns to this setting even if it was raised before. This is a necessary safety feature that prevents heart attacks and damage to speakers but that nevertheless also always annoyed me when using any Wadia product. Fortunately, contrary to those Wadias, the BDA-3.14 allows the user to define the default startup level via its dashboard that is accessible via any web browser.
Functionality
The BDA-3.14 is Bryston’s current reference DAC and with its many inputs, streaming capacity and built-in volume control, it is meant to perform the central role in a multiple-digital-source system. If I explain that the BDA-3.14 contains the BDA-3 DAC as well as the contents of the BDP-Pi, can you guess what inspired the model number? Indeed, it’s mathematical constant Pi! Containing the contents and functionality of these two boxes in one for only 430 euros more than the basic BDA-3 DAC is a very good offer. The streaming component is not just slapped on either but properly connected via I2S which is the best possible connection. The BDA-3.14 has an unprecedented amount of inputs among which are two USB ports (jay!), 4 HDMI ports, AES/EBU, SPDIF on coax, SPDIF on BNC, TOSLink and a network connection. The built-in firmware has advanced a lot since the last time that I used a Bryston streamer and the current Manic Moose version looks modern, solid and intuitive while offering a wealth of configurable options.
Accessible via any web browser on any network-enabled device by typing my.bryston.com, the user is able to access all of the front panel functions in addition to a very wide range of other functions, including volume control. Just like with Antipodes servers, the BDA-3.14 offers user-selectable compatibility with a range of playback methods such as MPD, RoonReady, Shairport-Sync, Squeezelite, DLNA/UPnP as well as access to a Samba share.
The unit plays back PCM and DSD from the network as well as from USB thumb drives. For its simplicity and stability, for many users, the built-in Bryston Media Player will be the interface of choice. While I found that it works intuitively, quickly and very well indeed, I’m afraid that I am intertwined too much with the Roon interface to much like any other interface anymore.
Importantly, I found it is 100% stable also when using Roon. Besides local sources, the unit also offers an internet radio directory named bRadio and works with Tidal and Qobuz.
The manual also contained a leaflet that indicates that a nice remote control will be included later. As I noticed too late, the picture of that unit also contains volume up and volume down buttons. This is great for minimalistic systems that contain no analog sources but I still feel that the front panel should have an indication of the volume level for this to work on a level that I would be comfortable with.
As I wanted to compare the BDA-3.14 to other DACs in a similar price class that do not have volume control I did not further investigate this possibility but I have no doubt that it will work well. From Roon interface, the BDA-3.14’s volume level can be controlled directly.
Bryston notes that the maximum output from the BDA3.14 RCA connectors is 2.0V and 4.0V on XLR balanced and that an amplifier with a gain of 29dB can generate 100 watts with only 1-volt input. The manual does not state how the volume leveling is implemented but I would assume it is done digitally. Now, some people might be hesitant with respect to digital volume leveling but I use a digital volume control with the CH Precision C1 myself every day and can honestly say that it is often a better solution than an analog level control. The DAC stack above was only for quick initial comparisons. The final judgments were made with each DAC sitting by itself directly on the Artesania platform.
Review Context
The BDA-3.14 will be assessed in a system comprised of the CH Precision L1 preamplifier and A1.5 power amplifier with Martin Logan ESL15A and Magico S1 MkII loudspeakers. The digital source, as always, is the Antipodes CX+EX music server. For further comparisons, I also have the Aqua Formula xHD, Jay’s Audio DAC-2 Signature and the Denafrips Venus DACs as well as the Jay’s Audio CDT-II MkII and Aqua La Diva CD transports at hand. The interlinks used are Vermouth Reference between the DACs and the preamplifier and CH Precision Balanced Link between preamp and power amp. Finally, the speaker cables are Jorma Design Trinity and the power cables all Belden with Bals schuko- and Oyaide C-004 IEC connectors.
The BDA-3.14 was a demo model that had already seen use but I also allowed it plenty of time to come on song. That was more as a “just in case” than a necessity as I don’t feel that Bryston products need much if any warming up.
Listening
I started my listening to the Bryston BDA-3.14 after a long day at work without any prior comparisons. Connected at this time were the Magicos with the Aqua La Diva CD transport as a source. That’s because I am currently in a kind of CD-mood and as a result am comparing various CD spinners.
Anyway, the BDA-3.14 sounded really great!
There was absolutely nothing standing out that I could pick at and nothing obviously missing and it all seemed just perfectly proportioned. There was great resolution, perfectly natural timbre (no artifice) an overall solid sound with lively dynamics and without any hardness or edge. Along with the propulsive liveliness, there was also a subtle
smoothness and fluidity that prevented the sound ever becoming dry. And, as I have found out during earlier Bryston tests, if a product sounds fluid and smooth with the Magicos, then you can certainly trust that this really is the case. Now, certain products achieve a forgiving sound by sounding overly smooth but with the BDA-3.14 this is absolutely not the case. It is slightly smooth but also propulsive and lively.
Now it was time to switch to the Antipodes CX+EX music server with the aim to compare USB sound to Streaming sound, as well as to make a generic comparison between the Music Server and the CD transport. After having set the BDA-3.14 to RoonReady in the dashboard (it was in UPnP mode when I got it), the device was found by Roon immediately. Starting with the EX as the renderer, connected to the BDA-3.14 via Final Touch Audio Callisto USB cable, the sound was even more sonorous and spacious but less articulate and less spritely. The sound was still dynamic but more static than with the CD transport. This has nothing to do with the BDA-3.14, though, it is a difference that I have noticed with any DAC. The Aqua transport is just that spritely. Switching the USB cable from the EX to the CX so that the server and renderer are on the same device makes for a more nimble and articulate sound closer to that of the La Diva but I’m not sure if I prefer this leaner sound to the room-filling fullness of the EX. For more in-depth descriptions of these options please refer to the Antipodes review.
Streaming input
When bypassing the EX and CX’s renderer function and the USB cable and using the CX as a server only (just as I do with the CH Precision C1’s RoonReady ethernet input board) the BDA-3.14 all of a sudden strongly reminded me of the Bryston BDP-3 media player. Now, the sound was very close to that of the La Diva transport. Tighter, nimbler and more articulate as well as more direct, the Aqua transport remains the most energetic source but there is also a lot to say for the server sound. It seems that the physically more direct connection really also results in better sound. It’s always good to have lots of options, especially when talking about digital inputs. As the CD transports clearly illustrates, the DAC portion of the BDA-3.14 is really great. But especially when compared to the Antipodes server, it’s with its built-in streamer section that the BDA-3.14 is most impressive.
Speaking of options, I also have the 2500-Euro Jay’s Audio CDT-II MkII CD transport (top right) which is really interesting because unlike the La Diva and any other transport still available that I am aware of, it uses the famous Philips CDM4 swing-arm mechanism. This mechanism has a unique sound and the Jay’s player proper implementation of it results in a sound that is very fluid and utterly free-flowing combined with a big and rich bass. In terms of the latter, the Jay’s CD transport has a sound that is closer to the Antipodes EX sound and less similar to the La Diva transport.
In practice, when choosing between these two CD transports, this means that the user has a choice for a fuller, more relaxed and more free-flowing sound or a more urgent and more spritely sound. The former is more forgiving, the latter less so. The Aqua is more audiophile to a level where I even prefer it to the music server but at almost 8000 Euros it is also considerably more expensive than the Jay’s.
In any event, the BDA-3.14 clearly demonstrates the differences between these sources meaning that there is nothing wrong with its transparency.
Yes, there are more transparent DACs. The Aqua Formula xHD and the Denafrips Venus are both more highly resolving and more transparent. Both DACs use a discrete NOS R2R topology which gives them a cleaner, higher-res and more direct sound than most other DAC topologies. On an absolute scale, I would say that both these components offer more insight into the recordings and as such can be considered to be more high-end than the Bryston. In the case of the Aqua, there is no shame in that because the Formula xHD costs 13.670 euros. In the case of the Denafrips, the situation is more competitive as the Venus is more or less in the same price range as the Bryston. But here it becomes a matter of choosing between a pure DAC with more audiophile sound and a DAC that includes a ridiculously good sounding streaming endpoint as well as the largest selection of inputs that I have seen on a DAC yet. While both the Aqua and Denafrips DACs are more transparent and refined, as I mentioned at the start of this review, this is only evident upon comparison and that makes it a little bit more relative. The Jay’s Audio DAC-2 Signature, finally, also offers a very interesting perspective. At 3000 euro, it costs less than the Bryston so the question begs: how does it compare? As I already noticed during the Jay’s review, the DAC has an unusually solid and chunky sound, reminiscent of the classic Wadia DACs. When compared with the Bryston BDA-3.14, itself certainly not feeble or thin sounding, this still remains so.
The Jay’s has an appealingly lifelike midrange that makes for a very communicative sound and in comparison, the Bryston is smoother and even a little creamy through the mid-bass and lower midrange. While the other DACs confirm that the Bryston is slightly on the smooth side of neutral it is also true that the Jay’s is a little dry, just like the classic Wadias. Its dry treble goes hand in hand with more articulate bass and so this is a benefit as well as a potential pitfall. But this also makes that the Jay’s DAC works so very synergistically with the Jay’s transport. With the Martin Logans, I find that all the DACs have their perks and none of them have any obvious flaws. With the Magicos, however, it became clear that the Bryston DAC has slightly better resolution and a wider soundstage than the Jay’s.
Conclusion
Clearly, the BDA-3.14 is a great DAC with a truly excellent streamer section on board. The latter is not just slapped on but implemented so well that the result is an even better sound than via the Antipodes CX+EX server. When used as a standalone DAC using its SP/DIF input with any source, it holds up strong, even in comparison with much more expensive DACs. The BDA-3.14 has a solid and immediately likable sound with great resolution, perfect natural timbre (no artifice) and lively dynamics and without any hardness or edge. Along with the propulsive liveliness, it also has a subtle smoothness and fluidity that makes the end result revealing yet forgiving.
-
Hi Folks,
Please have a look at this excellent in depth review of our new BDP-3.14 Preamp/Streamer/DAC from Secrets of Home Theater & High Fidelity Magazine.
As PMC would say - "It's a real Corker"
Please note the extensive measurements John took and the excellance of the results - especially the noise floor and rejection of jitter.
james
PS - warning - It's 11 pages!
HI Folks - email me if you want the PDF - jamestanner@bryston.com
james
-
It appears I am a bit late to the party. That's what you get when you loose interest in a forum that bans the people reacting to bullies.
Anyway...
https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=93193.msg931366#msg931366
I guess I'll see one of the Mafico guys here with my complementory one? I prefer a black one.
Dunno if this was posted already.
https://www.hifi-advice.com/blog/review/digital-reviews/spdif-dac-reviews/bryston-bda-3-14/
-
deleted
-
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=204609)
-
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=205327)
MEMO: To All Bryston Customers
SUBJECT: Bryston 3.14 Customer Feedback
February 2020
Hi James,
I need to pass on to you a message from a customer. - Stan in Engineering
Name: Walter
He seems to have very extensive experience in high end audio. His main message after running a series of test in the last few days, was that we need to patent BDA3.14 as soon as possible because we came up with something that is unbeatable in performance, which no other DAC+streamer producers are able to match and thus are bound to rip us off, if we won't file a patent (software and hardware) as soon as possible!
He was testing BDA3.14 with BP17 and very high end 40k$ speakers against other DACs and streamer, such as MSB Tech. DAC, and others.
I am paraphrasing but he said that nothing sounds as BDA3.14. The difference between the other high end DACs and streamers is more than a class above, it is in an entirely new category that he said redefines the way digital audio will be measured.
He said what we have done in reclocking the Pi digital signal is a class better than any other DAC. He said that, in his perception, it seems to regenerate the clocking removing the jitter from the original contents to the extent that even old digital sources sound astoundingly better.
He used terms like the 3.14 is an 11 on a scale of 10!
-
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=205327)
MEMO: To All Bryston Customers
SUBJECT: Bryston 3.14 Customer Feedback
February 2020
Hi James,
I need to pass on to you a message from a customer. - Stan in Engineering
Name: Walter
He seems to have very extensive experience in high end audio. His main message after running a series of test in the last few days, was that we need to patent BDA3.14 as soon as possible because we came up with something that is unbeatable in performance, which no other DAC+streamer producers are able to match and thus are bound to rip us off, if we won't file a patent (software and hardware) as soon as possible!
He was testing BDA3.14 with BP17 and very high end 40k$ speakers against other DACs and streamer, such as MSB Tech. DAC, and others.
I am paraphrasing but he said that nothing sounds as BDA3.14. The difference between the other high end DACs and streamers is more than a class above, it is in an entirely new category that he said redefines the way digital audio will be measured.
He said what we have done in reclocking the Pi digital signal is a class better than any other DAC. He said that, in his perception, it seems to regenerate the clocking removing the jitter from the original contents to the extent that even old digital sources sound astoundingly better.
He used terms like the 3.14 is an 11 on a scale of 10!
Maybe you need to patent the BDP-3 and the BDA-3 too. :)
-
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=205421)
MEMO: To All Bryston Customers
SUBJECT: Bryston 3.14 Best of Show (Preamp/Streamer/DAC)
The Best of Florida Audio Expo 2020
Bryston BDA-3.14 DAC
Bryston’s BDA-3 digital-to-analog converter has long been praised by audio reviewers for offering state-of-the-art sound quality and a host of features for a very reasonable price. Those features include a plethora of digital inputs -- four HDMI, two USB, one AES/EBU (XLR), one S/PDIF (RCA), one S/PDIF (BNC), and one S/PDIF (TosLink) -- as well as user-adjustable upsampling for some inputs, and resolutions of up to 32-bit/384kHz PCM and DSD512 (both via USB).
Now, for just $400 more, the new BDA-3.14, which Bryston demonstrated at FAE 2020, adds to the BDA-3 an Ethernet port, built-in streaming (Qobuz and Tidal are supported), and a digital volume control that lets you bypass a preamplifier altogether and connect the BDA-3.14 directly to a power amp -- something Jeff now does in his home system.
For me, what most matters is the BDA-3.14’s built-in streamer. As I listened, I began mentioning obscure albums to Bryston’s Gary Dayton, who immediately turned to the computer screen behind him and cued them up to play via the BDA-3.14’s browser-based interface. That convenience of streaming is a handy thing to have built right into a DAC – GOOD JOB, BRYSTON , for taking the BDA-3 to a new level for not much more retail cost.
Doug Schneider
Soundstage Magazine
-
Unfortunately you won't get praise like this from the Audio show in Alkmaar, Netherlands (https://www.audioshowalkmaar.nl/) last weekend. The 3.14 was hooked up to a 4B3 and played through Driade loudspeakers, and it sounded really bad. As a bonus the visitors had to get up from a demo with different gear and actually physically turn their seats 90 degrees to listen to the Bryston demo every 30 minutes.
Quite some Bryston gear was present, but all just placed on tables, nothing was on or even connected to mains.
When asked why the 4B3 was hooked up to such an abysmal set of loudspeakers (no low end whatsoever, mid sounded like a cardboard box, high was just shrill, even in a room full of people), the reply was "I agree, but orders..."
I suggest that next year Bryston shares a room with Daudio loudspeakers.
-
Unfortunately you won't get praise like this from the Audio show in Alkmaar, Netherlands (https://www.audioshowalkmaar.nl/) last weekend. The 3.14 was hooked up to a 4B3 and played through Driade loudspeakers, and it sounded really bad.
Driade is Dutch for dreadful?
Who decides what's hooked up to what at these shows? the mfr or the show's room monitors?
-
Driade speakers:
https://allhomecinema.com/review-driade-premium-model-2/
-
(https://www.alpha-audio.nl/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/AudioShow-Alkmaar-2020-47-1024x768.jpg)
https://www.alpha-audio.nl/achtergrond/verslag-audio-show-alkmaar-2020/
-
Driade is Dutch for dreadful?
Who decides what's hooked up to what at these shows? the mfr or the show's room monitors?
I’d imagine the people who booked the room. Distributor?
-
Hi Folks,
Yes the distributor runs the show.
james
-
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=205584)
MEMO: To All Bryston Customers
SUBJECT: Bryston Demo Florida Audio Expo 2020
POSITIVE FEEDBACK MAGAZINE
Florida Audio Expo 2020:
Better the Second Time Around,
By Maurice Jeffries
The Bryston room knocked the ball out of the proverbial ballpark with a system fronted by the superb new Rega P10 turntable and matching Apheta 3 cartridge.
Rega Aria phono stage, a Bryston integrated amp (B135 Cubed) and a Preamp/Server/DAC combo unit (the BDA-3.14),
Chord Sarum cabling, and Fyne F205 speakers (these using coaxially mounted drivers like those employed by Tannoy).
My notes described the superb sound as "full-bodied and transient rich. Great staging and overall clarity. Stunning overall musicality and coherence. Beck's Morning Phase LP, various pop and jazz digital streams, and just about everything else we played sounded really swell, with great dynamic expression and laser focus."
This was among the two or three most entertaining systems I heard all weekend.
A Best Of Show contender.
-
Hi Folks,
I have a PDF of the Bryston 3.14 DAC/Streamer/Preamp from StereoLife Review Magazine in Europe.
Warning its 9 pages!
jamestanner@bryston.com
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=206472)
-
HI Folks,
The Bryston BDP 3.14 DAC/Streamer/Preamplifier gets PRODUCT OF THE YEAR in Germany!
james
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=207298)
-
...very nice :thumb:
al.
-
For sure nice piece of kit.
My problem is,anything digital screws up and I’ve had it happen with my dac and player.
Me being pessimistic I like separates as at least if one screws up I have my dac or player and NOT having to send that unit in for repairs.
I have had to send my dac in and my player in on separate occasions before.
Love my Bryston gear but will never do all in one no matter how convenient it seems.
Separates for me ,no 6 week turn around :wink:.
-
Hi Folks,
Sneak Peek on a very extensive review coming May 1 on the Bryston 3.14 DAC/Streamer/Preamp.
Favourate quote:
Listening
When I began listening to the Bryston BDA-3.14, my first thought was,
“Wow, this sounds really nice.”
Among its immediately obvious virtues was that it was extremely quiet -- at normal volume levels, with no music playing and my ear next to a tweeter, I heard only a very faint hiss. From a foot away, I heard nothing.
And as soon as I began listening attentively, it was obvious that the BDA-3.14 had amazing dynamics and fluidity -- the combination drew me into the music in a way I’ve rarely experienced.
-
Hi Folks,
A major magazine is doing a review on our Bryston 3.14 DAC/Streamer/Preamp and asked me a few questions.
Hi James
Thank you for your time. Because the interview must be carried out via email, below you will find questions. Please write your answer under each of them. If I can advise you, please try not to read the next and next question - then the finished interview is a bit more like a real live conversation. To enable you, we have left some space under each question. If any of the questions do not suit you or you think that there is no point in answering them (it may happen that "inadvertently" you already answer them by adding the answer to the previous one), please leave a free place - then we will remove such a question. At the end, the interview will undergo a minor language correction and of course it will be translated into Polish, so please do not worry about any minor mistakes - we will correct it so that it works out well.
For starters, could you please introduce yourself? This is not a question - we would only like to know something about you, please give me a short bio, which will be used to introduce your person in the introduction to the interview.
Hi, James Tanner here from Bryston. I believe you have the interview I did recently so at this point you probably know more about me than I do myself. I am the VP of Bryston but I do not tell the company exactly what I do – that way they can not fire me because what I do may be important.
In one of the interviews I read that you come from a really large family, and in the pictures you willingly pose with your grandchildren. But immediately I started wondering - is hockey like a compulsory thing in Canada?
Yes when I joined the Fire Department one of the questions the job interviewer ask me was at what level did I play hockey!
Bryston's story begins unusual. Not from amplifiers welded on the kitchen table, not from speakers built in the garage, but... Medical equipment?
Yes Bryston was a Canadian company owned by 3 individuals who’s initials where put together to provide the company name Bryston. We were a notable engineering firm specializing in medical electronics. We had a patented blood analyzer. When John Russell Sr. retired from work as an engineer in the USA with NASA (space agency), he bought Bryston. One of his son’s, Chris, was able to explore his interest in music and audio by taking advantage of the facility’s tools. While modifying existing amps of the time, he designed his own which won a sound quality competition at a local major recording studio. The studio ordered some amplifiers from Bryston and that began our rapid transition to an audio engineering firm.
Professional audio gear is a slogan that attracts audiophiles not from today. For some reason they are very interested in loudspeakers and amplifiers that are used in recording studios, or rather - their amateur counterparts. From your point of view, are these two completely different worlds or maybe two markets that can coexist to some extent, and do not interfere with each other?
I think in the past having a product that was accepted in the PRO market was a negative and was not accepted by audiophiles because they consider them a ‘tool’ for the pros to use for accuracy of the recording mix and not necessarily a pleasant sound to listen too. So they were perceived as different worlds but I believe that is changing today due to audiophiles being more educated into what happens at the recording end of the music business as well and how that translates to what they hear at home.
Rarely the company that produces professional equipment offers exactly the same models also for the amateur market. Most often it is a sharp division - loudspeakers manufacturers make active loudspeakers for professionals and passive loudspeakers for audiophiles, with electronics they are practically two different catalogs. And at Bryston these are the same devices that you can simply order with a wider front with holes for rack mounting. Wouldn't it be better to separate them completely?
Maybe … but we have always been an Engineering company first and a Marketing company second. So building the most accurate amplifiers and gear available given the current state of the art has always been our holly grail. We have always felt that a linear amplifier tells the truth – good or bad – and that is the best way forward for both the Audiophile and the Studio as anything else just takes you in a big circle.
When audiophiles look for hi-fi equipment, read reviews, visit exhibitions, arrange auditions, etc. And what about professionals? How does it happen that they decide on Bryston? Recommended? Due to the fact that some other producer of recordings equipped themselves with this brand's equipment?
Yes the Pro market is a reasonably small community so if you are accepted by the leaders in that field then others tend to follow. Bryston from day one has been well accepted in the studio market because it represented excellent accuracy and most of all high reliability – a must – time is money in studios.
Many customers also appreciate our scientific engineering approach to product designs. We can prove the accuracy and performance of our equipment scientifically instead of just telling people to buy what they think they will like. But, I think Pro customers buy Bryston because it happens to sound fantastic. It stands up really well against competing products in a demonstration.
You are famous for the fact that your company provides a 20-year warranty on analog devices. Does it work? Is it worth it? Is it not so that this warranty is really included in the price of the product and the customer pays for it at the start?
We implemented the 20 year warranty in 1990 when we were 18 years old. Even though back then we had a 5 year warranty we had never charged for a repair. So after 18 years we were still seeing our original amplifiers operating without issues so we decided to make it official and offer a 20 Year warranty.
So the warranty was never about who pays for it – it was the outcome of building a product with the best possible parts and with the long-term reliability in mind. Many people assume that we just build in the cost of inevitable repairs, but we don’t. We work really hard to design robust gear that will outlast us all. Furthermore, our electronics go through a 100 hour test cycle at our factory before shipping to ensure quality.
Why not extend the warranty to 20 years for digital products? Where does this division come from?
The problem with digital is it changes too quickly, and we feared that some parts would not be available going forward. We are seeing how this goes and may extend the warranty but so far all our digital products have been very reliable with very few warranty issues.
At some point, relatively recently, you decided to change the finish of the fronts - from brushed to satin. Why? Some regular customers will certainly not be happy with it, because suddenly the whole concept of the tower breaks down...
Well I guess it’s one of those issues where you are dammed if you do and dammed if you don’t. The main reason for the satin finish was it was much better liked when we showed prototypes at shows and it is much easier to get a more uniform finish from product to product and with less problems with scratching and discoloration over time.
One of our favorite Bryston devices is the BDP-3. The game is sensational, but inside is a prehistoric computer. Is it not strange, especially considering its price?
To oversimplify, any digital music player is just a purpose built computer. Our BDP-3 includes a fully linear power supply, Bryston designed and built digital audio output device, and of course our own logic board and casework. The ‘computer’ itself is a motherboard we source from a company that specializes in high reliability long-term-support hardware often used in critical care and industrial applications. Music playback does not require an enormous amount of power or the latest Intel processor. In fact, big fast processors are at greater risk for radiating high frequency noise. Finally, the more powerful the processor, the more heat it generates. We very much like to avoid fans if possible for a variety of reasons. Our firmware and hardware were developed to work with each other, and the internal computer is the right choice for this digital player. Would state of the art processors and tons of RAM enable more advanced features? Probably, but it would add a tremendous cost, decrease reliability, and quite possibly sacrifice sound quality.
When we connected the 4B3 power amplifier during the test, we had a problem running it. Only later it turned out that this is the whole procedure - you need to turn on one button on the back, insert the power cable, then the device measures the current parameters and only then can be fired with the button on the front panel. Is that necessary? Do you think that hi-fi equipment sounds worse if the supply voltage is a bit too low or if the polarity of the plug in the cable is incorrect? If so, how do you explain it logically? The key argument of opponents of such solutions is "there is a transformer, rectifier and capacitors inside".
Yes in order to get all the safety and hydro requirements and clearances we have to provide these safeguards. Every product has to go through a very extensive and expensive test by the safety authorities before we can sell our equipment. The supply voltage can change quite a bit with our products without issue as most of our source gear runs Class A. With the amplifiers the lower or higher voltage will allow for slightly lower or higher power but there again there is a fairly wide envelop as to where it will perform without issue.
There are plenty of power conditioners in Bryston's catalog. I counted 16! Are they used by audiophiles or mainly professionals? How does this affect the sound?
We sell them about equally to pro’s and audiophiles. These are not power conditioners – they are Isolation Transformers. The basic idea is to Isolate you from the outside world. It’s like having your own little power station inside your music room. The transformer has a primary and a secondary section and you are working off the magnetic field between these two sections. So the outside world (primary) never see’s the inside world (secondary) thereby isolating your system from all the noise and crap on the hydro line outside your listening environment.
Recently, we tested the BDA-3.14, which looks a bit like a device invented in five minutes, with a combination of two others. Are you not afraid that the implementation of Raspberry Pi in such expensive equipment looks a bit frivolous?
Not really – the Pi is a great and low cost piece of gear so it is a very cost effective way to add a computer to our BDA3 DAC. The one design parameter we have implemented though is we use the I2S output from the Pi to drive our DAC. This is the most accurate way to transfer digital signal and I think you will agree the 3.14 sounds superb as a result. Also using our DAC – which is the same as the BDA-3 DAC – eliminates any downside to the Pi itself. The Pi is being updated and improved upon as we go along and is retro fit-table to the 3.14 so customers will be able to upgrade going forward if required. Finally, Raspberry Pi devices have proven to be extremely reliable and versatile over many years now. We feel very confident in our decision to use them.
And if I can make a point – quality engineering is not about using the most expensive parts available. It’s about understanding the complexities of the circuit and implementing solutions that improve the performance of the product.
Bryston's loudspeakers are manufactured by Axiom. Or only partially? What is the purpose of having Bryston speakers, since Axiom also produces loudspeakers under its own brand that look very similar?
I am often asked why Bryston decided to partner with Axiom on our loudspeaker project. Yes some of the products look similar but thats an economic advantage and some are totally different – for example we use 8 inch woofers they do not. But here is the complete story.
Axiom is more capable of producing a quality loudspeaker than 99% of the companies out there:
• They have their own on-site anechoic chamber (same size as the NRC’s chamber in Ottawa).
• They have the latest and greatest test gear.
• They have two superb engineers that have been in involved in speaker design for over 30 years each.
• They have on on-site tower for testing subwoofers in a true anechoic environment.
• They make their own, (and our), drivers to suit each model independently,
• They make and test all the speakers in Canada. (Drivers are made in Axiom’s factory so they maintain all aspects of quality control).
• All Cabinets are made in their factory in Ontario using high quality CNC machines.
Also they do this at a price point that mere mortals can afford.
There is also a striking symmetry between our companies:
• We have known each other for over 30 years, since our days at the NRC in the early 80s
• Both Bryston and Axiom are still controlled by their founders and built on a passion for audio. There are very few audio companies left that are not now controlled by a conglomerate.
• We are geographically very close to each other in small towns in northern Ontario.
• We both share a passion for doing real research and staying on the leading edge of our areas of expertise.
• We both share a belief in manufacturing the products we design and sell and we both have extensive manufacturing facilities located in Canada to ensure the best product quality.
So I chose Axiom to work with me because they are the most qualified to help me with this project and because we share a passion for audio. If I tried to tackle this project on my own the capital costs would have been horrendous and the speaker would be 3 times the price, with the initial ship date still in the future. I was also starkly aware of the abysmal track record of electronic companies entering the speaker market. Having a speaker company as a design and manufacturing partner eliminated the reasons this happens so often.
Did you ever think about moving your production to China? With Canadian labor costs and taxes later, such a device on the shelf is much more expensive than the competition, which has comparable parameters, and even sound. Is it important who and where solders capacitors and screws enclosures?
No - we are keeping the jobs in Canada. Most of our factory staff have been with us for many, many years – decades in some cases. Building precision electronics isn’t a job for just anybody. It takes care, patience and skill that isn’t easy to learn. Sure, there is some nice sounding gear coming from low-cost labor countries, but there’s more to high quality gear than just sound. We want our casework to be elegantly machined, we demand high reliability. In the event of a repair, we want it to be serviced quickly and effectively – how would you feel about having to ship a 40 kilogram amp all the way to China for service? We can provide rapid turnaround on repair either at our factory or by providing parts quickly to our distributors worldwide all of whom are properly trained in service.
You have a very large and very nice system, many of Bryston's employees probably also use your devices. Are there situations when the idea for an improvement arises not in the company, but at home, when, for example, you connect a new model, listen to it and comes to the conclusion "hmm, we should do it differently"?
Yes in fact one of my main jobs is to assess the product before we go into production. I have the facilities to do blind tests as well … which believe me removes a lot of – gee it looks great so it must sound good! And yes it usually takes a few tries before I am happy – as an example I went through 5 prototypes of the Model T speakers before we decide to go to market with it.
Huge home theater systems and installations in which a dozen or several dozen devices work, from sources and processors to five-channel power amplifiers, are still popular in Canada and the USA. In Europe, this is hardly seen. Here audiophiles prefer more minimalist stereo systems. At first glance, Bryston's catalog is constructed more for the US market, but maybe I'm wrong? For example, are you seeing huge demand for these largest, most expensive devices in China or in other markets?
It varies depending on the timing. I would agree though that Europe and the Far East tends to be more Stereo motivated but there are areas where surround is still a large market for our distributors. An intesting development though is we are selling more phono stages now than we ever had in all markets so I guess that tells you Stereo is still very much alive and kicking!
You are one of the companies that is clearly not interested in launching one-piece network speakers, wireless headphones, soundbars and other recently fashionable devices. You recently released a turntable, which is no longer on offer. Aren't you afraid that at some point it can work against you, that is - customers will be accustomed to ever better equipment from brands that do these things today, and will never know about something like Bryston?
Actually, we have just introduced a complete line of Wireless powered speakers including a Soundbar. So yes we are aware of trying to establish the Bryston brand in these market segments. I agree that customers starting out seem to prefer a simpler all in one solution so we will be offering more products in that segment going forward.
Our advantage in new audio markets is that we are sound quality experts. The fundamentals of good speaker and amplifier design are still important in wireless audio and all-in-one type devices.
I'm asking about this because I remember how Naim was once treated. It was the equipment for absolute weirdos who like to do everything differently. Even among audiophiles, Naim owners were treated like freaks. Sect inside the sect. Suddenly it started to change. Naim created all-in-one cinema equipment, then quickly entered the topic of streaming, was one of the first companies to play music from files and iPad at exhibitions, then made great Uniti systems, Muso speakers, another amazing streamers, and today is no longer a brand for fanatics, and extremely demanding audiophiles have also benefited, because of, among others, Statement. Don't you think this is the right direction?
We see our place in the market clearly. Bryston is the brand music and movie lovers can turn to when they need 1) Top quality sound that can be scientifically proven and easily heard. 2) Most excellent reliability – nobody cares what it sounds like if it’s broken. If we can apply these principles to more lifestyle oriented products, we will do so. We are not the brand to turn to for “latest and greatest”. Our equipment is built to provide an enormous sense of enjoyment and pleasure for a very long time. We feel very confident in the superb sound quality and timeless design of our powered wireless products.
So what are your plans for the near future? Can we expect something surprising?
We are working on new products all the time based on feedback from our customers and hopefully will be able to provide our customers with more superb musically satisfying gear for many more years to come.
Thank you for the conversation and for the time you have devoted to making this interview happen!
-
Great interview! Really a pleasure reading it.
-
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=208164)
MEMO: To All Bryston Customers
SUBJECT: Bryston 3.14 DAC/STREAMER/PREAMP
May 2020
Hi Folks,
Please see the link below for a very in-depth review of our new Bryston 3.14 DAC/Streamer/Preamp from Soundstage Magazine.
Favourate quote:
Listening
When I began listening to the Bryston BDA-3.14, my first thought was,
“Wow, this sounds really nice.”
Among its immediately obvious virtues was that it was extremely quiet -- at normal volume levels, with no music playing and my ear next to a tweeter, I heard only a very faint hiss. From a foot away, I heard nothing.
And as soon as I began listening attentively, it was obvious that the BDA-3.14 had amazing dynamics and fluidity -- the combination drew me into the music in a way I’ve rarely experienced.
https://www.soundstagesimplifi.com/index.php/feature-articles/126
-
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=208252)
MEMO: To All Bryston Customers
SUBJECT: Bryston 3.14 Review – Alpha-Audio
May 2020
Review Bryston BDA-3.14 Renderer – DAC
by CHRISTIAAN PUNTER
Conclusion (for those that can’t wait!
The BDA-3.14 is a great DAC with an excellent streamer section on board. This seemingly simple addition is actually so well implemented that it leads to a better result than with the best server + renderer combo I currently have available. And that says it all!
Listening:
The first listening session with the Bryston BDA-3.14 took place after a long day at work and without prior comparisons. At that time the Magicos were connected with the Aqua La Diva CD transport as source.
The Antipodes combo is still working faithfully but lately your editor is back in the CD mood. That way, you stay busy as an audiophile, huh!?
Anyway, the BDA-3.14 sounded immediately fantastic! We may be accustomed to a DAC from the very highest regions, but the Bryston gave no reason to be cranky. Everything was perfectly balanced and you immediately get involved.
The timbre is also very natural, Bryston never has a synthetic sound at all, and the DAC has a pleasant combination of sonorous robustness, impressive dynamics and a rich midrange with smooth highs without any sharpness.
Although the BDA-3.14 has that Bryston-typical V12 motor-like “drive”, there is also a high degree of refinement and versatility so the sound never gets dry. And when a component sounds smooth and supple with the Magicos, you can be sure that it does. If there is sharpness or a loud edge, they let you hear it right away.
Now it was time to switch to the Antipodes CX + EX music server to compare the USB and RJ45 inputs. Your editor immediately took this opportunity to make a comparison between the server and the CD transport. Starting with the CX + EX combo as server and renderer, connected to the Bryston BDA-3.14 with a Final Touch Audio Callisto USB cable, we immediately recognized the Antipodes-typical sonore robustness. This was a clearly fuller and more colorful sound than with the CD transport. However, the BDA-3.14 also showed perfectly that the server does not have the same level of tautness and impulsiveness as the Aqua CD transport. In comparison, the sound of the server is a bit more static. The CX can also perform both server and renderer tasks on its own and sounds tighter and faster but also a bit less magical. As such it approaches the sound of the CD transport but the sound image becomes more compact and with less feeling of depth image. But what we missed the most is the sonorous and robust fullness in which the EX excels. Which reproduction is the most neutral we leave in the middle but what is certain is that the BDA-3.14 shows these differences in a very fine way.
Streaming input:
After connecting the Antipodes CX directly to the BDA-3.14 with an Ethernet cable, the sound suddenly reminded us of the Bryston BDP-3 media player. Tighter, faster, better articulated and also more direct. Now the server sound came much closer to the sound of the CD transport and while maintaining the lyrical power, call it the magic. It seems that the physically more direct connection actually results in a more concrete (and better!) sound.
Comparison
When judged with the music server via USB or the CD transport via coax, both the Aqua Formula xHD and the Denafrips Venus reach an even higher level of transparency and resolving power. Both DACs use a discreet NOS R2R topology which makes them sound “cleaner”, without the subjectively often pleasant warmth and forgiveness of most other D-A converters.
In absolute terms, we would say that both components expose more of the recording than the comparatively warmer and more robust sounding Bryston. Of course, this is also a matter of taste, but in the case of the Aqua, it’s no disgrace anyway, as this DAC costs no less than 13,670 euros. In the case of the Denafrips it’s a bit different as the Venus is more or less in the same price range as the Bryston. In that case one has the choice between a pure DAC with a strictly speaking more audiophile sound and a DAC with an extremely good sounding streaming input and the largest selection of inputs that we have seen so far on a DAC.
But the most important factor is that with both other DACs you also need a streaming endpoint. And as the tests soon showed, you don’t have one, two, three really top sound with a server/streamer.
This is where the Bryston BDA-3.14 comes into its own, making it perhaps unbeatable as a complete solution in its price range!
-
HI
No it uses the 3 for now. The PI is a separate board so it would be easy to replace it going forward if the performance warranted it.
james
Hi James
Is it possible I could get a Pi 4 replace it bu myself, thanks.
-
Hi James
Is it possible I could get a Pi 4 replace it bu myself, thanks.
The software would have to change and that will take some time.
james
-
Thanks James
I think I should stick with PI 3 for now.
Keith
-
Hi James
Is it possible I could get a Pi 4 replace it bu myself, thanks.
Unfortunately the Pi Foundation hadn't kept the orientation of the rear IO consistent with the release of the Pi 4 so it physically wont fit.
Chris
-
Can the 3.14 PI connect with thhe Idagio classical music streamer?
-
Forgive , but it has been a while since I looked at the Bryston streamer products. Can the Manic Moose S/W in conjunction with this H/W Still be used as Squeezebox player via the squeezelite S/W?
Thanks,
-
The software would have to change and that will take some time.
james
Hi
Does anyone know how to do the factory reset on 3.14, when I try to reset it ask for user name and password but I never set the password on it, thanks.
-
Hi
Does anyone know how to do the factory reset on 3.14, when I try to reset it ask for user name and password but I never set the password on it, thanks.
Hi
Password and User name is --- bryston
james
-
Hi
Password and User name is --- bryston
james
Thank you James
-
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=211500)
MEMO: To All Bryston Customers
SUBJECT: Bryston 3.14 DAC/STREAMER - Review
July 2020
Hello Bryston,
I just started days off and picked up my streamer.
It is truly amazing! … I am astounded by the clarity.
I successfully wired it into the BP26 then with some trepidation went on the “information superhighway” to order Tidal. Whenever I do something like this I have some concern I might accidentally slew Navigational Satellites or possibly Launch against the Chinese. That may have happened but the good news is that I now have Tidal HiFi. I also learned Premium doesn’t mean Premium but is 2 levels down according to the word smiths at Tidal.
I am now a happy Streamer (very, happy) and wonder why I waited so long.
Thanks for all your assistance and guidance on this purchase. I really enjoyed our conversations and am grateful for your advice.
Best Regards
Cal
-
My preference would be the BDA-3.14: for a small difference in price an audio streamer is built-in. The only thing that worries me is the behaviour of the HDMI input. Some users have complained that pops and clicks can occur with their BDA-3 when playing SACD’s. It does not happen with every SACD player, though.
Anyways, here is hoping that Bryston has solved these issues when the BDA-3.14 was developed.
Kind regards,
WillyP
A few months ago I attended a demo of the Bryston BDA-3.14 during an audio show and I was really impressed. That is why I decided to follow my own advice so I traded in my “old” streamer and bought the BDA-3.14.
The sound quality is indeed fantastic. Very insightful without being analytical or even aggressive. Everything just sounds right. Manic Moose has a learning curve, though. On my computer, it is very usable, especially for maintenance, but a big screen is almost a must. With a smartphone, you really miss the bigger screen, everything feels cramped. I will give Rigelian a try, but my first impressions are that it needs a tablet with a reasonable size.
I also like the new remote, the BR4. It is light, lies well in my hand and is a joy to use. To be honest, I like it even more than its far more expensive cousin, the BR2, that I also have. The text is easier to read than with the BR2.
There are some questions I would like to ask.
1. When the unit is switched on, it needs some time to boot, after all, it is also a computer. When it is finished, it is muted. Is this normal?
2. After the unit is switched off, the stand-by LED goes red, but the LED above the Optical/Streaming input is also on (yellow). Is this because there are two devices connected to the BDA-3.14 (a scratch disk and a hard disk with music)?
3. Speaking of yellow, the two LED”s that can turn into yellow, are not completely yellow. You still can see a part of a red LED. I don”t know how to describe it, but it looks like two LED’s that are not completely aligned with each other. I tried to take a photo of it, but then the effect is not visible. It just seems not completely right to me and I can”t remember seeing it with the BDA-3.14 which was on display during the show.
Who has the answers to my questions?
WillyP
-
A few months ago I attended a demo of the Bryston BDA-3.14 during an audio show and I was really impressed. That is why I decided to follow my own advice so I traded in my “old” streamer and bought the BDA-3.14.
The sound quality is indeed fantastic. Very insightful without being analytical or even aggressive. Everything just sounds right. Manic Moose has a learning curve, though. On my computer, it is very usable, especially for maintenance, but a big screen is almost a must. With a smartphone, you really miss the bigger screen, everything feels cramped. I will give Rigelian a try, but my first impressions are that it needs a tablet with a reasonable size.
I also like the new remote, the BR4. It is light, lies well in my hand and is a joy to use. To be honest, I like it even more than its far more expensive cousin, the BR2, that I also have. The text is easier to read than with the BR2.
There are some questions I would like to ask.
1. When the unit is switched on, it needs some time to boot, after all, it is also a computer. When it is finished, it is muted. Is this normal?
2. After the unit is switched off, the stand-by LED goes red, but the LED above the Optical/Streaming input is also on (yellow). Is this because there are two devices connected to the BDA-3.14 (a scratch disk and a hard disk with music)?
3. Speaking of yellow, the two LED”s that can turn into yellow, are not completely yellow. You still can see a part of a red LED. I don”t know how to describe it, but it looks like two LED’s that are not completely aligned with each other. I tried to take a photo of it, but then the effect is not visible. It just seems not completely right to me and I can”t remember seeing it with the BDA-3.14 which was on display during the show.
Who has the answers to my questions?
WillyP
Hi Willy
1. Yes it is normal - it is a computer so it does take some time to boot up. That may improve in the future with software.
2. Yes the Pi is connected as well as the DAC
3. Yes the LED's are tri-coloured so they will 'bleed' a bit.
james
-
Hi James,
Thanks for your quick reply. Much appreciated. Re: my first question, I guess it is also normal that the BDA-3.14 mutes after startup?
WillyP
-
Hi James,
Thanks for your quick reply. Much appreciated. Re: my first question, I guess it is also normal that the BDA-3.14 mutes after startup?
WillyP
I believe so because it needs a signal to un-mute.
james
-
Thank you, James.
WillyP
-
2. After the unit is switched off, the standby LED goes red, but the LED above the Optical/Streaming input is also on (yellow). Is this because there are two devices connected to the BDA-3.14 (a scratch disk and a hard disk with music)?
Hi James,
Some more questions for you, if I may.
It seems that the behaviour of the BDA-3.14 is a bit unpredictable as far as the LED’s concerns. Sometimes the indicator LED above the chosen input is off, after the device is shut down, sometimes it goes on. This also happens when another input was used, for example, the SPDIF 1 input.
1. Is it possible that this has something to do with the software of the BDA-3.14?
How much time does the BDA-3.14 before it is burned-in? Compared to the BCD-3 I would say the sound quality is in the same league, but there is a difference in the sound balance. When I play a CD with the BCD-3 (or with my Blu-ray player) the instruments are evenly divided between my two front loudspeakers. This is not (yet?) the case with the same CD when I use the BCD-3 as a digital transport and the BDA-3.14 as a DAC (with a digital SPDIF cable between the two). The balance is shifted to the right.
2. What would be your advice? Just wait and see if things will improve the next coming days?
Thanks,
WillyP
-
Hi James,
Some more questions for you, if I may.
It seems that the behaviour of the BDA-3.14 is a bit unpredictable as far as the LED’s concerns. Sometimes the indicator LED above the chosen input is off, after the device is shut down, sometimes it goes on. This also happens when another input was used, for example, the SPDIF 1 input.
1. Is it possible that this has something to do with the software of the BDA-3.14?
How much time does the BDA-3.14 before it is burned-in? Compared to the BCD-3 I would say the sound quality is in the same league, but there is a difference in the sound balance. When I play a CD with the BCD-3 (or with my Blu-ray player) the instruments are evenly divided between my two front loudspeakers. This is not (yet?) the case with the same CD when I use the BCD-3 as a digital transport and the BDA-3.14 as a DAC (with a digital SPDIF cable between the two). The balance is shifted to the right.
2. What would be your advice? Just wait and see if things will improve the next coming days?
Thanks,
WillyP
Hi Willy
I have not heard of the LED issue before but they are controlled by software.
Are you using 2 different sources - CD player and another Blueray player? -- If you can I would check with another digital source other than the CD player into the 3.14 DAC to see if the source is the issue. Also try the XLR digtal output as well as the COAX from the CD player to see if things change.
Other wise I am at a loss as I have the same hookup at home and all seems fine.
james
PS - also check the cable?
-
Willy/James
I have the exact same 'issue' with my 3.14, switch it off and the on/off light goes from green to red and the input light goes off and comes back on when the on/off light goes red which looks a bit strange.
Regards
Stuart
-
Hi Willy
I have not heard of the LED issue before but they are controlled by software.
Are you using 2 different sources - CD player and another Blueray player? -- If you can I would check with another digital source other than the CD player into the 3.14 DAC to see if the source is the issue. Also try the XLR digtal output as well as the COAX from the CD player to see if things change.
Other wise I am at a loss as I have the same hookup at home and all seems fine.
james
PS - also check the cable?
Hi James,
Thanks for the suggestion. I have no explanation why, but there was definitely something wrong with the cabling. Everything is fine now, except for the sometimes strange behaviour of the LEDs.
My BCD-3 sounds very good, but my BDA-3.14 is even better. The sound is cleaner, crisper also. Not a difference of day and night, but clearly audible. Needless to say that I am very pleased with both devices.
WillyP
-
To: James and Stuart,
Coincidence or not, but since I removed the Scratch Disk, the BDA-3.14 behaves normally as far as the LEDs concern. When switched off, the standby LED changes from green to red, all other LEDs go off. I will keep you informed.
WillyP
-
To: James and Stuart,
Coincidence or not, but since I removed the Scratch Disk, the BDA-3.14 behaves normally as far as the LEDs concern. When switched off, the standby LED changes from green to red, all other LEDs go off. I will keep you informed.
WillyP
Hi Willy
OK thanks - keep us updated.
james
-
Hi James,
The BDA-3.14 is still functioning as it should, so no issues with the LEDs.
WillyP
-
Hi James,
The BDA-3.14 is still functioning as it should, so no issues with the LEDs.
WillyP
Good to hear - thanks.
james
-
My 3.14 when power off the the Optical/Streamer Led will stay on intermittently, hopes next firmware update would fix it.
-
There is new software available for the BDA-3.14. You could give it a try.
WillyP
PS Do you use a scratch disk?
-
There is new software available for the BDA-3.14. You could give it a try.
WillyP
PS Do you use a scratch disk?
Thanks Willy, I don't use scratch disk, I only connected with Lan and streaming NAS files and Tidal through Roon, updated latest software problem persists, the issue seems like after using Roon.
-
Hi James,
After the two S2.44 updates the problem is back! The LED above the Optical / Streaming button turns to yellow after the BDS-3.14 is switched off.
Hopefully, Chris can fix this in a future update.
WillyP
-
Hi James,
After the two S2.44 updates the problem is back! The LED above the Optical / Streaming button turns to yellow after the BDS-3.14 is switched off.
Hopefully, Chris can fix this in a future update.
WillyP
Hi Willy
I am not sure but that may be a hardware issue - check with Mike - mpickett@bryston.com
james
-
I have the BDA 3 connected to an Oppo UDP 205 and love the result.
Thinking about a streamer now.
-
Hi Willy
I am not sure but that may be a hardware issue - check with Mike - mpickett@bryston.com
james
Hi James,
Mike doen’t respond :(.
Willy
-
Hi James,
Mike doen’t respond :(.
Willy
I will try again - sorry
james
-
Greetings
I had a Cambridge Audio CXN(2015) which packed it in and previously had enjoyed. I am now working with a new BDP-Pi and am waiting for a RME-ADI -2 DAC FS to go with it. It has been a learning curve to understand the BDP-Pi and get music from my NAS onto the BDP. I am sure it will be with the DAC when it comes. To answer the question James posed, I had been a separates guy before the CXN. Unhappy with the thought of sending it to New York to get it fixed I turned to Bryston which builds them in the town where I live and for whom I have affection with an Amp(B60) and a BP-1 Bryston phono stage both bought in 1998, and still going strong and confident that if there is a problem with them they will fix it.. I am over 80 so doubt I will be around in twenty one years to still enjoy the BDP-Pi.
-
Previous system:
Mac Pro >>Ethernet >>Bridge II of PS Audio Directstream (SQ is similar as from CD player)
New system:
BDP-3 >>USB>>PS Audio Directstream
JRiver for Mac constantly has upgrades, too troublesome for me so give it up.
-
Hello James
I found after the latest firmware updated, my 3.14 won't output audio either HDMI or coaxial when Roon ready enable, in MPD works fine, just wondering is my 3.14 defective or something wrong in my setting, thanks.
-
Doesn't appear to be a problem with the most recent test build, installing the current stable build to see if the issue will appear with the current stable build. It doesn't sound like a hardware issue if it works fine with one service over the other. I wonder though if the BDA-3.14 is switching back to the streamer (pi) thinking Roon is asking for control again?
Chris
The most recent stable release appears to be functioning as expected, perhaps confirm the version of the firmware installed on the unit, it doesn't happen all lot but sometimes a customer will say they've installed the most recent firmware update and then wait a month before contacting us, at which time the firmware is no longer actually the latest.
Chris
-
I have no issues with the new software.
Below is my post from December 18, hopefully I will get some response here.
What success have you folks had with direct connections to either USB B inputs from a source other than direct computer or Bryston.
I just purchased a new USB cable, and the results are the same.
I can't get around the fact that DSD from the Sony HAP-Z1es plays perfectly either native or pop, but everything else is loud distortion. I would have expected the opposite to be true.
Any other testing suggestions. I should mention that the replacement 3.14's serial number is one digit newer.
I'm really enjoying the sound . Thank you all.
3.14 Take2
Last Saturday, I received a replacement 3.14 unit. Very great full for the speedy replacement.
Out off the box, no issues with connection with Bryston web. Did software update, configuration and everything went smooth. Attached music and bRadio sounds richer and very satisfying.
The only issue I still have is in getting anything to play on the 3.14 using the usb B input from the Sony Hap-z1es other than DSD, natural or DoP. Tunein radio, internal music of cd quality or hi res all produce an extremely loud electronic distortion.
Again tested the same usb cable (BIS as are the rest of my cables) from the Sony to a MF24/192 output coax and aes worked perfectly on the 3.14. Lumin D1 coax to 3.14 worked perfectly.
Sony usb to Nuprime DAC (4490) works fine with all input and music type.
Has anyone run into a similar issue. Is there anything on the 3.14 set up that I’m missing as far as allowing various types of files as input?
I really want this to work as I’m enjoying the sound.
The reason I want to attach the Sony is to play my DSD music and Tunein radio as I can’t figure out how to get the stations I listen to out of bRadio.
Greatly appreciate any input.
-
Hi Tubegem....I own an HAP Z1ES and a 3.14...same problem as you.....out of USB, plays DSD naively fine....can't get it to play PCM (can hear the track faintly, but lots of noise...useless ....same for TuneIn radio) Tried every setting I could on the 3.14 but no improvement....contacted Sony and spent hours searching discussion boards for people with similar problems (a fairly common problem with many dacs)....Sony was no help at all and my unit is still under warranty.....they basically said too bad, HAP works with some dacs and not others.....I found someone who got a BDA-3 to work with the HAP (PCM and DSD) but using a very old version of the HAP software......I tried to roll back but the HAP unit will only go back 1 version.....contacted Sony asking if they could tell me how to roll back several versions and they wouldn't help...shame as I really like the HAP unit and DSD sounded great into the 3.14.....BP-173 and 3B3.....long story short....I gave up and the HAP will go into a second system analog out.....I bought a BDP-3 (put in an internal 2TB SSD) which is an improvement over the HAP
-
Pert G. Thanks for the reply. Now I can get some sanity back.
How do you find the sound of the BD-3 bRadio & ripped music vs the 3.14 bRadio and attached HD? Does the DSD sound similar to the Sony>3.14?
-
Hi TubeGem.....here's a convoluted answer to your question....BDP3 vs 3.14 radio....have only had the BDP3 for 1 month and just listen to Paradise Radio lossless....sounds very similar to 3.14.....little difference in my system....was a BP-173 and 3B3...Totem Forest Sig speakers.....the HAP Z1ES....tested the PCM analog out vs the pcm out of the 3.14 attached usb drive...both into the BP-173......detail was very similar....3.14 fuller and a little more bottom end..highs/mids same....I didn't test the DSD because out of the 3.14 dsd is converted to 24/192 pcm......just by recall, the DSD usb out of the HAP into 3.14 vs the BDP3 DSD into the 3.14....the BDP3 has yet more fullness and bottom end ...highs/mids similar..a bit less sparkle......with my kids home from school the last month haven't had a chance for enough critical listening...ie comparing 3.14 attached hd pcm with internal bdp3 hd pcm.......also I've just swapped out the BP173 for a BP26 ....the 17 is boxed and will go with the HAP in a second system...therefore won't be able to do more comparisons betw the HAP and the 3.14 because of the diff pre amps....the 173 and 26 are materially different....hope all that helps...any questions ask away
-
Peter G, thanks for the additional information. Please post updates on the differences once broken in.
James: Can you please confirm that DSD cannot transmit via DLNA to the ethernet port. Can’t find sufficient information in the manual.
Downloaded trial copy of Audirvana and connected via dnla renderer on the 3.14. Everything plays fine other than dsd, just no sound. Might keep Audirvana just as a library replacement for iTunes, lovely interface and very responsive.
Folks, now that I know that the Sony-Hap cannot properly dance with the 3.14, I’m still looking for a solution to get my dsd files to play. Any suggestions other than a BDA3 at this time? Not interested in Roon. :scratch:
-
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=221576)
MEMO: To All Bryston Customers
SUBJECT: Bryston BDA-3.14 Review France Special Award
March 2021
"Diapason d'Or Award”
Take a BDA-3 DAC, add a BDP network platform, communicate them via an I2S link - transport the data independent of clock signals to eliminate jitter, sprinkle a lot of entries and internal Manic Moose software, and you get the BDA-3.14. The 3.14 can also be used as a preamplifier as it is equipped with an adjustment volume by software, add the 3.14 to an amplifier or a pair of active speakers and you're done.
The BDA-3.14 can accommodate ten different sources, including 4 HDMI and 2 USB-B, 1 AES / EBU, 2 S / PDIF RCA and BNC, 1 Toslink. PCM signals are decoded up to 32 Bits / 384 kHz and DSD up to DSD256. The device is Roon ready and compatible with Tidal, Qobuz and stream radios Internet. Digital circuits and analog stages are supplied separately. The DAC works according to a dual mono architecture with AKM AK4490 chips and the output stages are pure class A, optionally unbalanced on RCA or balanced on XLR. In the latter mode, Bryston announces a rejected noise level at -140 dB ... Bryston has been manufacturing in Canada for more than 35 years audio equipment for the professional world as well as for the general public, and it shows. Simple, robust, efficient.
Listening: The BDA-3.14 is delivered with a remote control which combines the main functions, choice of sources, volume, playback controls. A wi-fi dongle is optional with a supplement of 120 €. To see the source files displayed and to control the device more finely, it is necessary to connect an Internet terminal, and to launch the Manic Moose software on this browser. Once "The Manic Moose" is on the screen - everything is under control, file management, play queues, access to Tidal or Qobuz, choice sources, etc. The streamer is not the fastest there is, but it works smoothly.
And the sound: This is THE strong point of this apparatus. Whether in pure DAC or when playing streamed files, the BDA-3.14 makes you completely forget the technology and allows you to concentrate on background and on musical emotion and the multitude of sound elements entering in play. The most astonishing thing is that this multitude is deployed in a grandiose soundscape that completely shatters the classic geometry of the listening triangle, not only in its standardized dimension but also in its tone and dynamic capacity, able to rediscover your speakers as they transposed into a larger world, more ventilated and freer. An ... addictive experience
The perfect streamer + DAC match.
-
James:
Can you please confirm that DSD cannot transmit via DLNA to the ethernet port. Can’t find sufficient information in the manual.
Downloaded a copy of Audirvana and connected via dnla renderer on the 3.14. Everything plays fine other than dsd, just no sound.
Mac mini + audirvana > ethenet cat 6 > 3.14
Thank you
-
James:
Can you please confirm that DSD cannot transmit via DLNA to the ethernet port. Can’t find sufficient information in the manual.
Downloaded a copy of Audirvana and connected via dnla renderer on the 3.14. Everything plays fine other than dsd, just no sound.
Mac mini + audirvana > ethenet cat 6 > 3.14
Thank you
I will have to let Chris answer that but I know the 3.14 Pi does not play native DSD - it down samples it to PCM 192.
james
-
Hi I’m new here so I’m sorry for the newbie questions. First why don’t people just use like an Apple TV box and stream tidal instead of spending thousands on expensive streamers?
-
Does anyone know if Spotify will be available added on Bryston Streamers?
-
I will have to let Chris answer that but I know the 3.14 Pi does not play native DSD - it down samples it to PCM 192.
james
Hi James, i have not heard from Chris.
Can someone please clarify. I believe HDD inputs go to the Pi and get down converted. But there is no mention as to what the ethernet input supports that I can see.
Any ETA on the Moose or at least the bRadio replacement?
Thank you, Ed
-
Any plans for a replacement of the discontinued BDP-pi?
-
Hi cmc
Yes we are looking at some ideas.
james
-
I have asked this question in the BR20 section but I would like to go to the general populace.
I have a BR20 and use Qobuz via an iPad. How do I put in or remove a favourite?
James has told me a way but he use a PC and his method does not work on an iPad. Can any IOS user help?
-
I have asked this question in the BR20 section but I would like to go to the general populace.
I have a BR20 and use Qobuz via an iPad. How do I put in or remove a favourite?
James has told me a way but he use a PC and his method does not work on an iPad. Can any IOS user help?
Hi Clive
It works on my IPAD
james
-
Thank you James, I will keep trying, however I suspect that I’m going to stick to my Auralic Aries G1 and Lightening DS app, as I think it is slick and easy to operate. Down to personal taste in the end which is not taking anything away from the BR20 which to my mind is a brilliant addition to my system.
-
Hi James
I have scrolled the album cover thumbnail left and as it moves over and when I let go it just disappears!
However I have found a work-around. By logging on to the Qobuz app on my iPad I have full control of favourites, then back to My.Bryston and all is sweet. I don’t need to alter favourites daily and sometimes not for weeks. So after nearly a week I’ve found ways of bi-passing my two problems. Using a SSD instead of a NAS and using Qobuz dedicated app for fine control. Viola.
Thank you and others for your help and hope I’m not too much of a PITA.
Clive
-
Great - glad you were able to sort it out.
james
-
Hi Clive
It works on my IPAD
james
Sorry James, not helpful.
I’ve downloaded the Magic Moose instructions, so I’ll try that.
Clive
-
Sorry James, not helpful.
I’ve downloaded the Magic Moose instructions, so I’ll try that.
Clive
Very strange :scratch:
james
-
James:
Can you please confirm that DSD cannot transmit via DLNA to the ethernet port. Can’t find sufficient information in the manual.
Downloaded a copy of Audirvana and connected via dnla renderer on the 3.14. Everything plays fine other than dsd, just no sound.
Mac mini + audirvana > ethenet cat 6 > 3.14
Thank you
DSD was never tested with UPNP so I assume not. I generally don't don't test the feature very frequently and when I do I don't test anything more the a handful of CD quality tracks. It's not a popular service on our platform to and there's a reason why UPNP was an after thought in the first place.
The Digital Player in the BDA-3.14 is unable to play DSD as DSD for the same reason why it's SPDIF inputs are unable to accept DSD via DoP. Between the input and the DAC chip is a piece of hardware that won't recognize DSD and prevents the PCM packets from continuing along.
Chris
-
I’m a little confused. On my iPad the display is different from the display shown in the manual on one line of Magic Moose.
On my iPad Update/Clear/Consume is in the centre of the screen, the buttons for Song Info and Media Player Settings are on the far left and the buttons for Default View, Song View and Artist View are on the far right.
Why is it different on my device, does it make a difference. Have I downloaded the wrong version of Manic Moose?
My iPad uses the latest firmware (14.4.2). My Bryston device is the BR20. Can anybody tell what’s happening?
-
I’m a little confused. On my iPad the display is different from the display shown in the manual on one line of Magic Moose.
On my iPad Update/Clear/Consume is in the centre of the screen, the buttons for Song Info and Media Player Settings are on the far left and the buttons for Default View, Song View and Artist View are on the far right.
Why is it different on my device, does it make a difference. Have I downloaded the wrong version of Manic Moose?
My iPad uses the latest firmware (14.4.2). My Bryston device is the BR20. Can anybody tell what’s happening?
Hi Clive
The app displays differently depending on the device. The one in the manual is how it would look on a full screen computer and the IPAD and IPHONE scale differently.
james
-
Concerning the Diapason award: here in Germany Bryston is somewhat the "amplifier company". Bryston digital equipment does not have the same reputation.
The Diapason d'or was awarded for some nice but exotic stuff like Shindo and Platine Verdier.
I wonder why Bryston digital equipment is not more "aggressively" promoted in German media.
The Diapason d'or for example is something that should be used in ads.
-
Concerning the Diapason award: here in Germany Bryston is somewhat the "amplifier company". Bryston digital equipment does not have the same reputation.
The Diapason d'or was awarded for some nice but exotic stuff like Shindo and Platine Verdier.
I wonder why Bryston digital equipment is not more "aggressively" promoted in German media.
The Diapason d'or for example is something that should be used in ads.
It’s a good question.
More emphasis should be placed on dac power supplies. Bryston built power supplies always give the audio gear it’s powering PRAT in spades, especially dacs.
-
Hi James,
After I updated firmware yesterday mybryston.com and also Roon cannot recognized my 3.14 on my network, is it anyway I could redo the updates or I need to send back for fix?
-
Hi James,
After I updated firmware yesterday mybryston.com and also Roon cannot recognized my 3.14 on my network, is it anyway I could redo the updates or I need to send back for fix?
Please email Chris Rice on this - crice@bryston.com
-
Please email Chris Rice on this - crice@bryston.com
Thanks.
-
Thanks.
Hi James,
Chris help me to solved the issues, very good support by Bryston. Thanks again.
-
Responding to the original question, I have a BDP-2 (with the new output board) and BDA-3 . I like the idea of the streamer and DAC being separate. I feel the shelf-life of a DAC is longer, and I would be willing to pay for that.
However, a single-box has the advantage of better connection between source and DAC (no need for USB, AES/EBU or S/PDIF). This could result in better sound if the rest of the components were comparable.
I love the sound of my system with the AES/EBU connection. I do not like it with USB. I upgraded my speakers recently, and the difference is even more noticeable. The USB is a flatter soundstage. The harmonics are fine, but the sense of space is greatly diminished.
I also notice a difference between Balanced and unbalanced outputs (though of course, that takes into account the preamp inputs and different cable brands as well). That one isn't a better/worse thing, more of a preference. The Balanced sounds a bit disembodied but more full, while the unbalanced has a more focused soundstage, but perhaps slightly less full. Honestly, I've read that this is a common difference on other systems, so perhaps I can't make too much of it.
So for me, I want my separates, but I also want the best sound. I can't help wonder that if Bryston supported the use of an external master clock for the BDP and BDA, we might get even better sound.
-
I agree with separates as I have had two dac give up,
One before warranty and one after.
At least with separates you can quickly replace the dac.
All I one UR F.....D.
I also strive for better sound not at the expense of NO TUNES,never happen.
Don’t like all in one like a receiver ect
Have everything separate amps,pre,dac, player ect.