BDA-3 DAC

fbny71 · « **Reply #1360 on:** 14 Apr 2021, 05:44 pm »

Quote from: James Tanner on 4 Apr 2021, 01:25 pm

Hi fbny

I am surprised there is a demo unit available?

Anyway yes Mike would be the guy - it is not an easy job and it may be a while before we have extra faceplates but give Mike an email - mpickett@bryston.com

james

Same question to you James:

How difficult is switching blue LED to green in a BDA-3?

James Tanner · « **Reply #1361 on:** 14 Apr 2021, 08:13 pm »

I believe it is just an internal pin change - Mike would know for sure.

mpickett@bryston.com

james

fbny71 · « **Reply #1362 on:** 14 Apr 2021, 08:32 pm »

Quote from: James Tanner on 14 Apr 2021, 08:13 pm

I believe it is just an internal pin change - Mike would know for sure.

mpickett@bryston.com

james

Thanks, I've emailed him.

fbny71 · « **Reply #1363 on:** 23 Apr 2021, 06:21 pm »

Quote from: James Tanner on 14 Apr 2021, 08:13 pm

I believe it is just an internal pin change - Mike would know for sure.

mpickett@bryston.com

james

I've got another question James: I have a BDA-3 coming soon, is there any benefit to keeping my BUC-1 in between the BDA-3 and my Mac mini?

James Tanner · « **Reply #1364 on:** 23 Apr 2021, 09:47 pm »

Quote from: fbny71 on 23 Apr 2021, 06:21 pm

I've got another question James: I have a BDA-3 coming soon, is there any benefit to keeping my BUC-1 in between the BDA-3 and my Mac mini?

I would say no the BDA-3 will outperform the BUC

james

fbny71 · « **Reply #1365 on:** 24 Apr 2021, 12:17 am »

So the straight usb connection from my Mac mini isn’t helped by some Rendu type
Device?

James Tanner · « **Reply #1366 on:** 24 Apr 2021, 01:51 am »

Quote from: fbny71 on 24 Apr 2021, 12:17 am

So the straight usb connection from my Mac mini isn’t helped by some Rendu type
Device?

HI

You can try it both ways but I think you will prefer the BDA-3 on its own.

james

fbny71 · « **Reply #1367 on:** 24 Apr 2021, 01:54 am »

Quote from: James Tanner on 24 Apr 2021, 01:51 am

HI

You can try it both ways but I think you will prefer the BDA-3 on its own.

james

Noted, thank you.

fbny71 · « **Reply #1368 on:** 26 Apr 2021, 09:32 pm »

I've received my BDA-3 and I'm loving it so far.

Working my way through the entire thread now as I am having the pop issue described by others when going to DSD from PCM. I'm also realizing that Mac will not play DSD natively only DoP at least not through Roon. And, I'm hoping Mike's answer, when I do receive it, informs me that it is easy to switch the LEDs from blue to green! Otherwise, for now, I'll keep playing music through my lovely new piece of kit!

bokko · « **Reply #1369 on:** 26 Apr 2021, 10:58 pm »

Good Day.

Believe you need to check with bryston about doing firmware update.
With my BDA-3 I don’t remember having problem with my Mac Mini while the DAC was running version
u2018.05d with pops

fbny71 · « **Reply #1370 on:** 26 Apr 2021, 11:07 pm »

My unit is a very recent unit, see photo below. My system is off right now so I can't verify the firmware version but I did go to the unit's internal website and it did say the firmware is up to date.

bokko · « **Reply #1371 on:** 26 Apr 2021, 11:34 pm »

Correct you are running the newer interface mine is about a year older.
When I tried that newer version on my DAC had some problems with DSD playback.
Reverting back to version posted I have had no issue due to DAC

Mine is connected to Lumin U1 Mini, native DSD works fine when connected USB. Just breaking in the AES connection. Very enveloping, warm, analogue sound.
When connected to an Allo Digione Sig mids are more in your face, the sound-field collapsed. Then we are comparing 400/ 550 cdn vs 3k retail.

I did not try Rendu stuff at all paying for software updates is where they lost me. I have a Roon server already so the Mini was best price point for me.

jcn3 · « **Reply #1372 on:** 7 May 2021, 08:55 pm »

@James Tanner -- i've been waiting for a black bda-3 for some time now. i've been told that a backlog on black faceplates is the issue. do you know when those are expected?

thanks!

James Tanner · « **Reply #1373 on:** 7 May 2021, 10:46 pm »

Quote from: jcn3 on 7 May 2021, 08:55 pm

@James Tanner -- i've been waiting for a black bda-3 for some time now. i've been told that a backlog on black faceplates is the issue. do you know when those are expected?

thanks!

Hi jcn 3

We are locked down for 6 weeks so not sure we can get faceplates - please email Mike at Bryston - mpickett@bryston.com

jcn3 · « **Reply #1374 on:** 8 May 2021, 11:34 am »

Quote from: James Tanner on 7 May 2021, 10:46 pm

Hi jcn 3

We are locked down for 6 weeks so not sure we can get faceplates - please email Mike at Bryston - mpickett@bryston.com

Wow -- somehow I had missed that! Please take care!

spartana · « **Reply #1375 on:** 11 May 2021, 03:57 pm »

Hi,
did anybody ever try a reclocker between source and BDA 3? I am thinking something like the Mutec MC3+.

See here: https://www.mutec-net.com/product_mc-3-plus.php?lng=en

Can that have an effect on the BDA 3?

Thanks,

Holger

audioMirror · « **Reply #1376 on:** 18 May 2021, 12:53 am »

I haven't tried it, but my experience with the BDA-3 is that my BDP-2 (with latest output card) sounds excellent over AES/EBU, and almost as good over S/PDIF.

However, other sources like a Blu-Ray player via S/PDIF do not sound very good. So, the source matters. I expect this would improve most sources, but may not improve on the BDP-3 as a source.

If you get a chance to try it, let us know.

spartana · « **Reply #1377 on:** 18 May 2021, 05:00 am »

Will do. My concern was mainly that if the BDA 3 was internally reclocking the signal (which I just guess it is but do not exactly know) then an external reclocking should not make any difference, right?

But then again it would mean that all sources would sound the same.

I am not using the BDP by the way. I got a minidsp SHD as streamer and use the Dirac live software on it.

audioMirror · « **Reply #1378 on:** 18 May 2021, 01:37 pm »

The BDA-3 does reclock the signal, though I don't know the details.

But with these types of connections, the master clock is still in the source. The DAC has to recover the clock. In the old days this used to be via a phase locked loop. There are better technologies today that are considered "reclocking", but they don't fully decouple from the source's clock. They can't, or they would risk data-under-run problems.

This may be why asynchronous USB is becoming more popular (plus the extra data rate and ability to send DSD). In that case, the master clock is in the DAC. However, I find AES/EBU has a deeper more natural soundstage, with less etched highs, in my BDA-3.

Xrm473 · « **Reply #1379 on:** 7 Jun 2021, 01:08 pm »

James,

What’s Bryston’s view and position on DSD x8 / DSD 512?

Thanks

Michael