[frank1199]

I wonder what the DAC in a 20 year old B100 SST is still worth. So, I mean, can it keep up with, for example, a current Bluesound node in terms of quality? Or wouldn't it be better to send the signal directly from Bluesound to the amplifier via RCA?

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

[MetalAudio]

I think you answered your own question at the end.

[Highendfool]

I think you answered your own question at the end.

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

Experience has taught me that newer is not necessarily better!

[James Tanner]

Hi folks

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

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

james

[GSDaudio]

I have a 2007 bp-26 with dac.   Glad I upgraded to bda-3.  It was a great dac in its day but what an improvement in sound the bda-3 gives.    Not subtle!!  Plus I can hook up Blu-ray!!!!

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

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

Just buy the bda-3.

[jobiwon]

You here it again & again; "Its all in the implementation".  If you got an old DAC thats done right it may be as good or better than a current unit that is cheaply done.   

[alexone]

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

james


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

al.

[James Tanner]

Yes but good is good - stands the test of time !

[alexone]

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

al.

[Armaegis]

I have a B60R with the built-in dac card (single spdif coax input only), and I used to have the BDA-1 which has the same CS4398 chip which is ancient in the dac world. Funny thing, I actually preferred the integrated dac in the B60 and sold the BDA-1.

[gene9p]

I 'm still using a BDA-1...no problems and the sound is great..

[alexone]

@Armaegis:

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

al.

[HifiDan]

I also have a bda-1 [10 years] and I still love it.