AudioCircle
Industry Circles => Bryston Limited => Topic started by: James Tanner on 13 Apr 2016, 07:05 pm
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Hi Folks,
Working on an idea for a Bryston Turntable:
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=142760)
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=142761)
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=142762)
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=142763)
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=142764)
james
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Custom Bryston Power Supply:
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=141102)
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The motor would be outboard.
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=141100)
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The motor would be outboard.
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=141100)
HI
Sorry you mean not on the table? The motor is attached to the chassis but the power supply is external.
james
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….it was just a matter of time…bravo! All the bases covered…speakers, CD player, turntable, digital and all the supporting electronics. Can tubes be far behind :D :D
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HI
Sorry you mean not on the table? The motor is attached to the chassis but the power supply is external.
james
Yes not on the table to avoid motor-cartridges resonances.
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Hi James,
Is it possible to tell us more about your product. Where the arm comes from, the turntable (Clearaudio???), the materiel of the platter etc....
It looks like my Rega P3-24 with the TT-PSU.
Thanks
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Hi James,
Is it possible to tell us more about your product. Where the arm comes from, the turntable (Clearaudio???), the materiel of the platter etc....
It looks like my Rega P3-24 with the TT-PSU.
Thanks
Hi
Its a custom table for Bryston by GoldNote in Italy. We are designing and building the Power Supply and they are doing everything else.
I will try and get you some tech info as well regarding arm and bearing and platter etc.
I have it playing in my system now and boy it is sounding good even if I do say so myself.
james
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Ooh Italy, does it come with da meatballs?
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Approximate price point Bryston is shooting for?
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Approximate price point Bryston is shooting for?
$4000
James
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When?
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When?
Hi
If we move forward I would say 2 months.
james
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Hi James,
Can you inform us what the reason was to select gold note to partner with for this turntable? I have 2 gold note turntables and the customer service has been terrific.
Good luck with project.
Cheers Rod
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So cool James. When do you start mastering and pressing vinyl? :wink:
Love the switchable speed on the power supply. Does that mean the speed is regulated by the power supply for better stability?
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James,
Will a user be able to level the turntable using the feet on the turntable?
Also, will a user be able to replace the tonearm cable or will it be hard wired from cart to RCA plugs?
BTW, I really like the all black look in your first pic! :thumb:
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Yes not on the table to avoid motor-cartridges resonances.
Looks like its independent from chassis as just sits in the plinth cutout without touching chassis.
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Hi James,
Can you inform us what the reason was to select gold note to partner with for this turntable? I have 2 gold note turntables and the customer service has been terrific.
Good luck with project.
Cheers Rod
A friend I have had for 40 years is the importer for GoldNote and he and I have been discussing the possibility of a Bryston proprietary turntable for a while now. He is really an expert on all things 'turntable-ish' so I asked him to put together a value priced turntable (great bearing, platter and tonearm etc.) and we approached GoldNote with the idea and they liked the idea. The commitment to the number of tables is fairly large though based on the fact that it is not a model they currently manufacture so I want to make sure this works before I jump in with both feet.
I have the prototype unit at home now comparing t to a few tables I have and I have a dealer friend that is into really exotically priced tables which I am going to audition against as well. The one area the table seems to excel at is dynamics and quietness between the cuts.
james
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Very nice. I might finally have the chance to support Bryston! Great to see!
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So cool James. When do you start mastering and pressing vinyl? :wink:
Love the switchable speed on the power supply. Does that mean the speed is regulated by the power supply for better stability?
Yes we are looking at ways to really provide a real state of the art transformer based power supply rather than the typical wall-wart units currently used.
james
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James,
Will a user be able to level the turntable using the feet on the turntable?
Also, will a user be able to replace the tonearm cable or will it be hard wired from cart to RCA plugs?
BTW, I really like the all black look in your first pic! :thumb:
Hi
Yes the silver feet are screw adjustable.
Yes the tonearm cable can be changed - it has a custom 5 pin din whereas the other GoldNotes I am told use a more proprietary 4 pin din.
james
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….it was just a matter of time…bravo! All the bases covered…speakers, CD player, turntable, digital and all the supporting electronics. Can tubes be far behind :D :D
CLAPTON'S NEW ALBUM ON VINYL 45 RPM AND TUBE USB! (for real)
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=141149)
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Yes not on the table to avoid motor-cartridges resonances.
Hi
From engineering:
This might have been a concern in the seventies (especially with Garrard and Thorens turntables which were idler friction-drive designs), but with today's quiet DC motors, this is not an issue.
Even if todays DC motors were vibrating (which they're not), the plinth is design to dissipate that vibration before it gets anywhere near the platter, or the cartridge.
External motors are only important when they are high-torque AC motors, but this is not the case with the Bryston table.
If you leave the motor external, every end-user would place it differently, hence stretching the belt differently, hence introduce incorrect or fluctuating speed.
Having the motor in the plinth also makes handling and packaging much easier and minimizes user-error when it comes to setup.
Arthur.
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Hi James,
Is it possible to tell us more about your product. Where the arm comes from, the turntable (Clearaudio???), the materiel of the platter etc....
It looks like my Rega P3-24 with the TT-PSU.
Thanks
Bryston Turntable Features
• Mass-loaded rigid turntable design
• Titanium tonearm with tapered arm-wand and tungsten bearings
• Vented, non-resonant plinth
• 35mm Delrin platter
• Modular bearing system
• Low-noise low-speed 33/45 motor
• Separate power supply with pitch control
• Adjustable brushed aluminum feet
• Premium tonearm cable
• Hinged dustcover
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Hi
From engineering:
This might have been a concern in the seventies (especially with Garrard and Thorens turntables which were idler friction-drive designs), but with today's quiet DC motors, this is not an issue.
Even if todays DC motors were vibrating (which they're not), the plinth is design to dissipate that vibration before it gets anywhere near the platter, or the cartridge.
External motors are only important when they are high-torque AC motors, but this is not the case with the Bryston table.
If you leave the motor external, every end-user would place it differently, hence stretching the belt differently, hence introduce incorrect or fluctuating speed.
Having the motor in the plinth also makes handling and packaging much easier and minimizes user-error when it comes to setup.
Arthur.
Thanks James and Arthur.
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wow, a Bryston tt ?!? nice step :thumb: NEVER thought this would happen...
al.
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HI James,
A wonderful new path, congrats to you all.
You embark on a journey with a lot of stiff competition, with loads of experience. Exciting!
I certainly hope this will work out for you. the BTT-1 will be a great experiment.
Though, given your pricepoint, maybe rather a costly one, considering many of your colleagues build spinners with comparable specs for at least half the price. How did your market analysis justify this?
But, not the moment to immediately start seeing bears on the road, as we say over here. Have fun and all the succes we all feel Bryston has coming to it.
Cheers,
Marius
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HI James,
A wonderful new path, congrats too you all.
You embark on a journey with a lot of stiff competition, with loads of experience. Exciting!
I certainly hope this will work out for you. the BTT-1 will be a great experiment.
Though, given your pricepoint, maybe rather a costly one, considering many of your colleagues build spinners with comparable specs for at least half the price. How did your market analysis justify this?
But, not the moment to immediately start seeing bears on the road, as we say over here. Have fun and all the succes we all feel Bryston has coming to it.
Cheers,
Marius
Hi Marius
This table will be well worth its price and the performance is exceptional. I did not go into this lightly and honestly you get what you pay for. Quality bearings, quality motors and platters as well as an excellent power supply does not come cheap. The Tonearm alone on this table is in the $2000 price range. The Bryston power supply on its own would sell for $1000 as well.
Plus one of the major advantages we will have is we will be able to offer cartridges and phono stages which will match identically (impedance, loading, capacitance, gain requirements etc.) to provide our customers with predictable performance.
james
PS - I agree that most people will see this as a bad decision but most of the feedback I got on my speaker idea was negative as well and that has been a huge success. I think if you have the passion for audio like I do and the means to bring quality high value products to the market you should do so. I am very proud of what Bryston has accomplished and I am blessed to be involved in an industry that brings pleasure to other people's lives.
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Do you plan to make it work with MPS-2 power supply?
Will be a good use for it with pre and phono..
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Hi Marius
This table will be well worth its price and the performance is exceptional. I did not go into this lightly and honestly you get what you pay for. Quality bearings, quality motors and platters as well as an excellent power supply does not come cheap. The Tonearm alone on this table is in the $2000 price range. The Bryston power supply on its own would sell for $1000 as well.
Plus one of the major advantages we will have is we will be able to offer cartridges and phono stages which will match identically (impedance, loading, capacitance, gain requirements etc.) to provide our customers with predictable performance.
james
PS - I agree that most people will see this as a bad decision but most of the feedback I got on my speaker idea was negative as well and that has been a huge success. I think if you have the passion for audio like I do and the means to bring quality high value products to the market you should do so. I am very proud of what Bryston has accomplished and I am blessed to be involved in an industry that brings pleasure to other people's lives.
Congratulations James on this bold and clever idea.
As a full-system customer I am also proud of Bryston for being such a fantastic Canadian company. So great to see (and hear) such wonderful innovation and product development. Keep 'er coming JT!
cheers,TJ
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Do you plan to make it work with MPS-2 power supply?
Will be a good use for it with pre and phono..
+1! Fingers crossed. As a Mps-2, BP-26 and BP 1.5 phono user, I strongly emphasize that wish...
Cheers Marius
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Do you plan to make it work with MPS-2 power supply?
Will be a good use for it with pre and phono..
Hi
I do not think I can do that as the supply is a dedicated 32 volt supply and the speed buttons etc. are part of the power supply but I will ask engineering.
james
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Hi
I do not think I can do that as the supply is a dedicated 32 volt supply and the speed buttons etc. are part of the power supply but I will ask engineering.
james
ahh Please James think of your customers, this would certainly be of major design advantage, just as the technical advantages, you mentioned..... ("the major advantages we will have is we will be able to offer cartridges and phono stages which will match identically (impedance, loading, capacitance, gain requirements etc.) to provide our customers with predictable performance")
Have Bryston system, designed to sound And look good, and make use of earlier investments, of high quality system parts. Which per design have spare room for utilization. (since you keep developing new devices that use their own power source and won't have them use the Mps-2...)
What would fit better to the Mps-2/BP1.5 combo than the BTT-1!
Hope you can do it,
Marius
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I don't mean to splash cold water on the love-in here, so I will be brief.
I love Bryston. You guys make the best amps in the business. Tons of experience there. I also believe in specialization when it comes to building a two-channel audio system. Bryston for amps. Bryston for digital (so far). Another company for analog cartridges (e.g. Ortofon, Koetsu, etc. come to mind). Yet another for TT (Clearaudio, Rega, VPI, to name a few) and speakers (Focal, Sonus Faber, B&W, Magnepan, Vienna Acoustics, etc.). These companies make one thing -- and they do it superbly.
Not saying Bryston's TT won't be successful. I just think it's far better to specialize and maintain that 1% top-of-heap excellence in one niche (or two), than be a jack-of-all-trades.
Good luck with the TT. I will stick with my Clearaudio Ovation and wood MM cart.
cheers
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I don't mean to splash cold water on the love-in here, so I will be brief.
I love Bryston. You guys make the best amps in the business. Tons of experience there. I also believe in specialization when it comes to building a two-channel audio system. Bryston for amps. Bryston for digital (so far). Another company for analog cartridges (e.g. Ortofon, Koetsu, etc. come to mind). Yet another for TT (Clearaudio, Rega, VPI, to name a few) and speakers (Focal, Sonus Faber, B&W, Magnepan, Vienna Acoustics, etc.). These companies make one thing -- and they do it superbly.
Not saying Bryston's TT won't be successful. I just think it's far better to specialize and maintain that 1% top-of-heap excellence in one niche (or two), than be a jack-of-all-trades.
Good luck with the TT. I will stick with my Clearaudio Ovation and wood MM cart.
cheers
Hi Canadian
I share your concern with how some people view this as a lack of expertise with specific products but I think like the Bryston speakers if you offer your customers real value in a product that performs as well as the best and better than most you are doing the right thing for the customer and the company. Like the Bryston speakers this turntable is based on real science.
As with the Bryston Speakers or our BIT Isolation Transformer products I have gone to the experts in the respective fields and based on their extensive knowledge to help me design a product that would perform at the highest level without all the marketing hype or cosmetic jewelry in the mix. I wanted a state of the art turntable that us mortals could afford and if you start adding up all those extraneous features (IMO) you end up with exotic prices and not necessarily better performance.
These folks I have collaborated with have many years of turntable design experience and like the speakers I have learned that there is a lot of misinformation about vinyl playback and the mechanics involved. For instance, I have found during this research that there are a number of myths and even some outright misinformation that is an accepted part of the turntable market which simple does not fly when you look at the real mechanical facts. For example using anti-skate actually impairs performance rather than helps.
Time will tell if I am totally wrong or right of course and I have not jumped in with both feet yet and may not but I have a one of a kind great sounding turntable at home now - LOL.
James
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This Saturday, from Toronto’s June Records to Vienna’s Supersense to Ulaanbaatar’s Dund Gol, thousands of retailers around the world will participate in Record Store Day.
........Annual U.S. sales of new vinyl records have grown from 1.88 million to twelve million.
Good article in today's New Yorker:
http://www.newyorker.com/business/currency/new-hope-for-record-store-days-vinyl-supply-troubles?intcid=mod-latest
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Hi James,
Have you decided on the type of finish that you want for the plinth? I have a Blue note Valore 'Italian Job' which has a nice red leather finish which looks quite classy imo.
Just an idea of course. This bodes well for vinyl's future I think as many manufacturers are coming back to this format.
Cheers Rod
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ha ha will be spinning the table at home this WE for sure.
:dance: :dance: :dance:http://www.audiocircle.com/Smileys/audiocircle/sm_dance.gif
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I share your concern with how some people view this as a lack of expertise with specific products but I think like the Bryston speakers if you offer your customers real value in a product that performs as well as the best and better than most you are doing the right thing for the customer and the company. Like the Bryston speakers this turntable is based on real science.
Let me suggest that coming from the outside affords an opportunity to challenge the assumptions and so-called institutional knowledge that can sometimes stifle innovation and improvement. As an engineer, I see that all the time.
I really like the understated look. Though it's out of my price range, I'll be interested to hear it. Maybe there will be some trickle down the road to a lower price point, like the speaker line.
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Hi James,
Have you decided on the type of finish that you want for the plinth? I have a Blue note Valore 'Italian Job' which has a nice red leather finish which looks quite classy imo.
Just an idea of course. This bodes well for vinyl's future I think as many manufacturers are coming back to this format.
Cheers Rod
Hi Rod,
Yes I got a sample in white leather but felt that the standard black and silver should be our starting point.
james
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Plus one of the major advantages we will have is we will be able to offer cartridges and phono stages which will match identically (impedance, loading, capacitance, gain requirements etc.) to provide our customers with predictable performance.
james
Very cool!!!!! :thumb:
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Nice looking turntable!
Do I upgrade my 7BSST/2 to the cube or buy the turntable?
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Hi James,
Just an idea of course for you to consider for an alternative finish. I would say though that the leather finish looks very nice. I also have a clear perspex finish on my other turntable quite nice as well.
I think you will be happy with Bluenote if you decide to go ahead as I've been happy with their after sales service.
Good luck
Rod
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Hi,
For this years Recordstore day, What Hifi's record special edition: http://links.em.whathifi.com/servlet/MailView?ms=MTQyNDExODgS1&r=MjI0MTUxNTU5NQS2&j=NzYxMTE2MDY2S0&mt=1&rt=0
Of special interest of course since Bryston's announcement : How a (Rega) turntable is made: https://youtu.be/IxdGdyVD6cw
have a great RSDay!
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=141310)
Cheers,
Marius
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Nice looking turntable!
Do I upgrade my 7BSST/2 to the cube or buy the turntable?
My bias: Go for the amp upgrade! Bigger system-wide impact. :thumb:
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Can't wait to see a pic of an all Bryston TT only system. :thumb:
Heres mine waiting for the new Bryston TF2-20 Step up Transformer:
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=141333)
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Hi Big Audio
What table and arm and cartridge?
james
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Hi Big Audio
What table and arm and cartridge?
james
Hi James,
Its the VPI Classic 1 in piano black with the 10 " JMW Memorial arm.
Clearaudio Talisman cartridge.
Spinning Rush Power Windows from the 40 year reissue series!
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As I can see I'm a little late to this discussion, did you look at any direct drive tables or manufacture of parts and build your own plinth. http://www.langer-audio.de/Page8.html. I still have and enjoy an old Technics SL-7 linear tracking table, the only problem with it is the cartridges are a P mount and very limited in what you can buy for it. Also on a separate note, is the MC/MM in my BP-26 up grade able .
Barry
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Hi James,
Its the VPI Classic 1 in piano black with the 10 " JMW Memorial arm.
Clearaudio Talisman cartridge.
Spinning Rush Power Windows from the 40 year reissue series!
Very nice :thumb:
james
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As I can see I'm a little late to this discussion, did you look at any direct drive tables or manufacture of parts and build your own plinth. http://www.langer-audio.de/Page8.html. I still have and enjoy an old Technics SL-7 linear tracking table, the only problem with it is the cartridges are a P mount and very limited in what you can buy for it. Also on a separate note, is the MC/MM in my BP-26 up grade able .
Barry
HI
Yes I was looking at working with Stanton but decided on belt drive.
When you say upgradable do you mean if you change your MC cartridge we could change the loading characteristics of the step-up transformers. We could replace them when a diffeernt version but they come in 2 version currently 20 dB and 30dB of gain.
james
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So it would only change the gain in the pre-amp not necessarily the sound? Or would the sound change also? Is there any other changes in your newer updated tranformers?
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So it would only change the gain in the pre-amp not necessarily the sound? Or would the sound change also? Is there any other changes in your newer updated tranformers?
Hi
To match the cartridge you have to look at the output impedance of the cartridge and the gain because you do not want to overload the MM phono stage.
For example I have a Benz MC on my prototype table. It has .8mv of output and wants to see more than 200ohms as a load and 56 DB of total gain through the total system. So I have setup our new TF2 MC transformer to reflect that requirement.
James
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Hi Folks,
The new 1/3rd size phono stage is based on the BP 1.5 - a review below.
http://www.tonepublications.com/analogaholic/review-bryston-bp-1-5-phonostage/
james
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MEMO: To All Bryston Customers
SUBJECT: Bryston TF-2 Moving-Coil Step-Up Transformer
December 2015
Most Moving-Magnet phono stages expect to receive a signal between 3-6 mV at their input from the cartridge.
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=141403)
A step-up Moving-Coil transformer is designed to accept the lower voltage output from the MC cartridge and increase the voltage to a point which is acceptable to the input stage of the standard MM phono section.
The Bryston TF-2 Moving-Coil step-up transformer is available in two versions...with a 20dB or a 30dB gain option.
Your choice on which unit is most appropriate will be determined by the voltage output of your chosen cartridge.
• From .1 to .2 mV we would recommend the 30dB version
• At .3 mV we would say either version would work fine
• From .4 to .5 mV or more we would recommend the 20dB version
An important point to consider when choosing which Step-up to use is you do not want to over-power or under-power the MM phono stage.
Under-powering results in not having enough GAIN in the system and over-powering can result in voltage overload and the resultant distortion.
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Hi James
I've only heard a phono stage with an active headamp.
In your experience what are the sound qualities that a passive step up transformer brings to a phono stage?
thanks
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Hi James
I've only heard a phono stage with an active headamp.
In your experience what are the sound qualities that a passive step up transformer brings to a phono stage?
thanks
Hi
A Moving coil cartridge has a very small 'Voltage' output but a very large 'Current' output. So in my opinion what you want to do is work with the large current output rather than the very low voltage output of the MC to optimize the noise floor of your phono system.
So the passive step-up transformer "transforms" the high current output from the cartridge to high voltage which is required by your MM Phono stage. The quality of the transformer is critical of course and the cost is generally much higher than an active headamp but in my opinion it offers the best performance.
If you look at high performance MC cartridge manufactures they generally offer step-up transformers as I believe they are cognizant of the advantages as well.
james
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Hi James,
looks very promising and congrats to Bryston for extending your product line. :thumb:
will there be a wood finish option (burl or cherry etc...) in the future plans of the TT?
any tube gear plans with Bryston in the future? (phono or preamp)
i admire companies like Bryston. who continue to bring great technology to the audio community and their customers
Cheers
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Hi James,
looks very promising and congrats to Bryston for extending your product line. :thumb:
will there be a wood finish option (burl or cherry etc...) in the future plans of the TT?
any tube gear plans with Bryston in the future? (phono or preamp)
i admire companies like Bryston. who continue to bring great technology to the audio community and their customers
Cheers
HI
For the time being we will just be sticking with Black and Silver as we have to buy a lot of tables to qualify for proprietary manufacturing and adding different finishes would be very costly.
No chance of any tube products from Bryston.
james
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Its easy to see why you've picked Bluenote to manufacture your new Turntable as they have always had great quality and engineering in their products.
And then adding your own expertise for a power supply design. :thumb:
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Bryston Turntable Power Supply:
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=141965)
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Bryston Turntable Power Supply:
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=141965)
Hi James
Do you have a picture of the back?
Would that unit regulate speed of the Bryston turntable through controlling the AC power or the DC power?
Thanks
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HI
Should have the back pic soon.
It is a low speed DC motor we are using on the turntable. The motor pulley has a special hour glass shape to provide better speed stability.
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=141990)
james
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Back of Turntable power supply.
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=142018)
james
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Not sure if it's already been asked but what tonearm will come with the Bryston turntable?
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Not sure if it's already been asked but what tonearm will come with the Bryston turntable?
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=142049)
Bryston Titanium Tonearm
Total length: 325mm
Total weight: 380g
Main Details
Typology: 9” Ball Bearing Tonearm
Effective length: 223mm
Overhang: 12mm
Arm wand: titanium with 6 different section of thickness
Shaft: 23mm
Dynamic effective mass: 10g
VTF: 0.186N (19g)
VTA: adjustable on collar
Lift: hydraulic and adjustable
Anti skating: wire
Azimuth: adjustable through 2mm hex-bolt on headshell
Internal cables: AWG36 Hyper Litz shielded 99,9999% OFC
External cables: 1m custom 5 pole DIN/RCA
Special: audio signal cable
james
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Very, very nice :thumb:
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Dear James,
No need to have to burdened you with unorganized inquiries about the new turntable.
I have found everything I need on the Internet, and the outboard power source is really no problem. In fact, it makes beautiful sense, as everything from Bryston does. (And speaking of "beautiful," the 'table is a visual knockout, downright elegant.) Remaining questions:
Would the price you're shooting for--ca. $4,000--include both the 'table and the power source?
Are you aiming for a Bryston-produced cartridge as well?
About when would the 'table become available?
All best,
Richard F.
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Dear James,
No need to have to burdened you with unorganized inquiries about the new turntable. The arm would sell for $2000 on its own and the Bryston power supply about $1000 - so the package deal has excellent value.
I have found everything I need on the Internet, and the outboard power source is really no problem. In fact, it makes beautiful sense, as everything from Bryston does. (And speaking of "beautiful," the 'table is a visual knockout, downright elegant.) Remaining questions:
Would the price you're shooting for--ca. $4,000--include both the 'table and the power source?
Are you aiming for a Bryston-produced cartridge as well?
About when would the 'table become available?
All best,
Richard F.
Hi Richard
1. Yes the $4000 includes the table and arm and Bryston power supply. The arm would sell for $2000 on its own and the Bryston power supply about $1000 - so the package deal has excellent value.
2. We are testing a number of cartridges and will have recommendations to make sure they match the arm and our phono stages.
3. I am hoping end of June.
james
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The arm is very impressive. I would like to give that a listen to be sure.
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Never say Never :thumb:
james
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=143193)
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I was hoping it would be called the BLT. :lol: :green:
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Well there you have it! Very very cool James, congrats on the latest Bryston newborn :thumb: :thumb:
Wishing you all the best with this new iteration.
Will you be changing the hinges on the dustcover and nameplate for final production units? They still seem a bit experimental in the picture.
I almost dare not ask, but are you also thinking of a A/D converter attached to/built in the BLP? That way you would really have it all covered, Rip Vinyl to hires, as the new Sony does: http://www.whathifi.com/sony/ps-hx500/review (http://www.whathifi.com/sony/ps-hx500/review). Would be a nice addition to the BTP-1 power supply .
Big Cheers,
Marius
Never say Never :thumb:
james
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=143193)
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Well there you have it! Very very cool James, congrats on the latest Bryston newborn :thumb: :thumb:
Wishing you all the best with this new iteration.
Will you be changing the hinges on the dustcover and nameplate for final production units? They still seem a bit experimental in the picture.
I almost dare not ask, but are you also thinking of a A/D converter attached to/built in the BLP? That way you would really have it all covered, Rip Vinyl to hires, as the new Sony does: http://www.whathifi.com/sony/ps-hx500/review (http://www.whathifi.com/sony/ps-hx500/review). Would be a nice addition to the BTP-1 power supply .
Big Cheers,
Marius
Hi Marius
No the hinge will stay as is and I have been thinking about an A to D as a lot of studios have asked us to build one given the success of our D to A products.
james
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ugh..why does everyone seem obsessed with digital..leave it alone and just keep on working to make the table the best it can be..you know analogue sounding wise. You want digital look elsewhere. This is about vinyl. :duh:
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ugh..why does everyone seem obsessed with digital..leave it alone and just keep on working to make the table the best it can be..you know analogue sounding wise. You want digital look elsewhere. This is about vinyl. :duh:
Sure it is, but the table wouldn't have to be changed would it? Only add a A/D converter on the output somewhere. Since there is an external box already, that would seem an obvious option.
didn't want to upset you though ;) Never really understood the digitizing of LP-recordings in the first place, thought that would only make sense from the original masters, and not from the distorted vinyl readings, which they are per definition.
Anyhow, Cheers,
Marius
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then why make a table at all ..Bryston could just make an AD converter that works for any table on the market. :thumb:
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ugh..why does everyone seem obsessed with digital..leave it alone and just keep on working to make the table the best it can be..you know analogue sounding wise. You want digital look elsewhere. This is about vinyl. :duh:
pure Analogue to digital rips from a turntable can sound better than just all digital chain. If you really need the convenience of digital :thumb:
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Never say Never :thumb:
james
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=143193)
Aha, so you've decided to go ahead with the Turntable James. A momentous day for Bryston!
Its a beauty. 8) I may just add a second table to my basement system :thumb:
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Aha, so you've decided to go ahead with the Turntable James. A momentous day for Bryston!
Its a beauty. 8) I may just add a second table to my basement system :thumb:
Hi
Yes I have to say I was a little hesitant with this project but it has had a huge response since I sent out the announcement the other day - have orders for many tables already!
james
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James,
Is that $4000 Canadian or US? Will there be a way to easily remove the dust cover between listening sessions?
Thanks
Gary
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James,
Is that $4000 Canadian or US? Will there be a way to easily remove the dust cover between listening sessions?
Thanks
Gary
Hi Gary
For now same price in Canada and the USA. You should not really listen with the dustcover down as it may create a turbulence but we have taken that into account as we have designed a vented, non-resonant plinth. The plinth is designed to reduce any turbulence that may build up as a result of having the dustcover attached as well as the turbulence underneath the rotating platter.
james
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Hi James,
Thanks for the quick response. I'd hoped that the US price would be around $3000. Oh well. Best of luck with this new product.
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Hi James,
Thanks for the quick response. I'd hoped that the US price would be around $3000. Oh well. Best of luck with this new product.
No sorry the arm alone sells for $2000 and the Bryston power supply would be $1000 on its own.
James
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Hi Gary
You should not really listen with the dustcover down as it may create a turbulence but we have taken that into account as we have designed a vented, non-resonant plinth. The plinth is designed to reduce any turbulence that may build up as a result of having the dustcover attached as well as the turbulence underneath the rotating platter.
james
I've never actually considered that before. Are there any studies/papers out there that examine the effect of turbulence on playback?
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I've never actually considered that before. Are there any studies/papers out there that examine the effect of turbulence on playback?
i will try and find out if there are any official papers - it is one of the things I was told from the 'experts' when we were designing the turntable that should be taken into account.
james
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James, congrats on a fine looking TT rig. I think at the 4k price point given the components you've assembled you should have a real winner !
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Vinyl makes more than YouTube as format hits 21-year high (http://www.whathifi.com/news/vinyl-makes-more-youtube-format-hits-21-year-high):
How to get the best sound from your turntable (http://www.whathifi.com/advice/how-to-get-best-sound-your-turntable)
Will we see the BLP-1 in the list of best turntables (http://www.whathifi.com/best-buys/best-turntables) next year..
Hope so,
Cheers,
Marius
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what i don't get is that the new technics 1200 is $4000 usd! that's absurd...i meanit is a beefed up 1200, but it's still a 1200 nevertheless. so now the bryston tt looks like a bargain!
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what i don't get is that the new technics 1200 is $4000 usd! that's absurd...i meanit is a beefed up 1200, but it's still a 1200 nevertheless. so now the bryston tt looks like a bargain!
That has to do with all the brainwashed 1200 fanboys.
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The turntable is interesting news. If I had known about this a few months ago, I would not have purchased a Rega RP8.
Is Bryston shifting more focus to HiFi? It would be interesting to know the percentage split between pro-audio and home audio.
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That has to do with all the brainwashed 1200 fanboys.
true, and now most of them can't afford this new one....however, i am a 1200 owner, and i feel fortunate to have bought my unit when 1200s were plentiful and cheap.
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ugh..why does everyone seem obsessed with digital..leave it alone and just keep on working to make the table the best it can be..you know analogue sounding wise. You want digital look elsewhere. This is about vinyl. :duh:
agreed. and let's hope bryston sells enough from halifax to vancouver.
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That has to do with all the brainwashed 1200 fanboys.
I tested it at the presentation show at Value Electronics..don't let the look fool you..it is NOT the 1200 you think it is. What Technics did was make a high end table designed around the look of the 1200. They could have made a table with a whole new face but wanted they wanted it to appeal to fans of the 1200 not to turn them away which seems to be the growing opinion. Underneath the hood of that VW BUG sits a Corvette 427 engine. LOL.
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I tested it at the presentation show at Value Electronics..don't let the look fool you..it is NOT the 1200 you think it is. What Technics did was make a high end table designed around the look of the 1200. They could have made a table with a whole new face but wanted they wanted it to appeal to fans of the 1200 not to turn them away which seems to be the growing opinion. Underneath the hood of that VW BUG sits a Corvette 427 engine. LOL.
really. how did it sound?
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Some answers from engineering:
What about turbulence fro dust covers while playing an LP?
1. Critical enthusiast often remove the Dust Covers while turntable is playing. The Dust Cover first of all add some good mass to the plinth of the turntable but if it is made like many cheap turntables feature, by extra light plastic, it may actually introduce some resonance. Our Dust Covers are pretty thick and solid do not have that problem.
The plinth has the ridges (rounded cut around the platter bearing/spindle and the motor to reduce vibrations comeing through the plinth. They are always effective independently of the other design because the stop/stem vibrations go around.
Should you use Anti-Skate?
2. Very good point! The anti-skate is a force to apply to limit the centripetal force attracts the tone arms to the centre of the platter while spinning. But such force is dynamic because it is radial, I mean depending of the position of the arm (the tracks a ray) the force varies and the opposite force (anti-skating) should varies accordingly.
That's not possible possible, at least it is not possible to do it precisely. Most of tone arms manufacturers simply apply a weight that being is a "static mass" works virtually fine in a single position but wrong in all others along the disc.
testing a well balances tone arms we prefer without that with but because we do not want to fight against everybody we supply the anti-skate system with the typical string & weight to anyone ask for it.
Kind regards & ciao
Maurizio Aterini
Production engineer
Goldnote
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really. how did it sound?
Really good. They used an Ortofon 2M Black cartridge. It's limitations was the the electronics used for the demonstration. A Technics integrated amp with phono stage and Technics speakers. Since it was sponsored by Technics we did not get to hear it in a true high end set up. The equipment was no slouch but not what any of us here would use by a long shot. It is beautifully built with a very heavy platter and is simple to set up with loads of features and adjustments. Everyone brought their favorite lps so I ended being the first one there and the last one to leave. So much good music.
I'm the old grey haired grey bearded guy in the photos...LOL
https://www.valueelectronics.com/Technics_SL-1200GAE.php
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Really good. They used an Ortofon 2M Black cartridge. It's limitations was the the electronics used for the demonstration. A Technics integrated amp with phono stage and Technics speakers. Since it was sponsored by Technics we did not get to hear it in a true high end set up. The equipment was no slouch but not what any of us here would use by a long shot. It is beautifully built with a very heavy platter and is simple to set up with loads of features and adjustments. Everyone brought their favorite lps so I ended being the first one there and the last one to leave. So much good music.
I'm the old grey haired grey bearded guy in the photos...LOL
https://www.valueelectronics.com/Technics_SL-1200GAE.php
looks good! true, not nearly a high end system there, but i hope it sounded ok. from the way you are descibing it here, it did.
yeah, i have a Technics 1210m5g...it only cost me 500 bucks. is spending the extra $3500 worth it? i really don't know, but i'm willing to bet probably not, even with all of the new features and upscaled build quality. i think what needs to be done is to compare this new one side by side with a late model 1200 from before panasonic stopped making them. then, people can tell if the extra $3500 is worth it...i think it's a great idea, and if panasonic is up for it, then i'll have reason to believe they have nothing to hide.
in any event, i'll probably be buying the bryston turntable whenever i'm ready to upgrade...
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That there is the problem. Had Technics released it as a whole different table I think it would be better received. Very poor marketing on their part. Too bad as it is quite a table.
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That there is the problem. Had Technics released it as a whole different table I think it would be better received. Very poor marketing on their part. Too bad as it is quite a table.
agreedl even at 500 bucks, it was no problem for me, as i save my money-and being in vegas, that's hard to do-but for college kids, that in itself is a fortune. so, we'll see what happens. maybe there will be a big outcry and the price will drop...
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http://www.canadahifi.com/bryston-blp-1-turntable/
james
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I like the 1st line of the article "Never say never. Even one year ago, Bryston said that the company would never build a turntable" :)
Perhaps that leaves the door open and gives hope to a new SSP down the road with Dirac room correction and 32 channels :D
Never say never James ;)
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I like the 1st line of the article "Never say never. Even one year ago, Bryston said that the company would never build a turntable" :)
Perhaps that leaves the door open and gives hope to a new SSP down the road with Dirac room correction and 32 channels :D
Never say never James ;)
Hi Rod
No I have plans for another turntable with Dirac room correction built in and a new 9.2 Surround Sound Cartridge I am working on. :lol:
james
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Hi Rod
No I have plans for another turntable with Dirac room correction built in and a new 9.2 Surround Sound Cartridge I am working on. :lol:
james
LOL
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How about one for a car like in the Green Hornet movie...... :green:
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http://www.canadahifi.com/bryston-blp-1-turntable/
james
nice.
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james, what is the weight of this unit. and does it sound better on a heavy table or a light one...also, will your cart be mm or mc.
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Will there be clear set up instructions for the turntable along with whatever cartridge is chosen?
Maybe a video as well posted on your website.... :thumb:
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Will there be clear set up instructions for the turntable along with whatever cartridge is chosen?
Maybe a video as well posted on your website.... :thumb:
Hi
Yes there will be a dedicated protractor and instructions for setup.
james
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Hi
Yes there will be a dedicated protractor and instructions for setup.
james
cool deal...and i heard from alittle birdie that the turntables are selling like hotcakes...true?
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cool deal...and i heard from alittle birdie that the turntables are selling like hotcakes...true?
Yes I have to say I am very happy with the response so far - first order is presold.
james
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Yes I have to say I am very happy with the response so far - first order is presold.
james
ok, so it exceeded your expectations, true?
and how would you say your tt sounds...what stands out the most to you.
will the cart be an mm or mc?
what is the weight of the unit...
does it respond better to low mass or high mass racks, tables, etc.
and is vta easy to adjust...
since bryston has brought back target stands, will you bring back the now famous wall mount tt rack?
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ok, so it exceeded your expectations, true?
and how would you say your tt sounds...what stands out the most to you.
will the cart be an mm or mc?
what is the weight of the unit...
does it respond better to low mass or high mass racks, tables, etc.
and is vta easy to adjust...
since bryston has brought back target stands, will you bring back the now famous wall mount tt rack?
Hi Dave
I would say it sounds very neutral but a lot depends on the cartridge chosen of course. Turntables/Cartridges/Tonearms/ Phone Stages/ provide a real soup of mixtures so you can end up with a variety of sounds depending upon you preference. My preference is really great transient response and quiet grove tracking so my choice of cartridge may be different than yours. It is one reason I want to offer a 'plug and play' system using the Bryston Table/Arm/Cartridge/Phono section in a package already set up and optimized.
I have a number of MC cartridges and the Bryston Tonearm is well suited to these type of cartridges but most MM cartridges are OK and I have an Ortofon Black MM that works well..
Yes we are working on both new Target Equipment Racks with isolated turntable top shelfs as well as Turntable 'on wall' racks.
james
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Hi Dave
I would say it sounds very neutral but a lot depends on the cartridge chosen of course. Turntables/Cartridges/Tonearms/ Phone Stages/ provide a real soup of mixtures so you can end up with a variety of sounds depending upon you preference. My preference is really great transient response and quiet grove tracking so my choice of cartridge may be different than yours. It is one reason I want to offer a 'plug and play' system using the Bryston Table/Arm/Cartridge/Phono section in a package already set up and optimized.
I have a number of MC cartridges and the Bryston Tonearm is well suited to these type of cartridges but most MM cartridges are OK and I have an Ortofon Black MM that works well..
Yes we are working on both new Target Equipment Racks with isolated turntable top shelfs as well as Turntable 'on wall' racks.
james
james, your description of the sound is right up my alley. i just wanna hear what's in the grooves, not the tt, cart, wiring...which is what some audiophiles get their kicks out of.
well, yes of course...absolutely many variables, and you have to be careful in terms of matching cartridge to arm and setup in general.
more than a few people don't really have the patience to do tt setup after over a quarter century of cd, so plug and play is a great idea. i'm all for it, really. now will the arm and cart be set up there at the factory, or?
i've never owned an mc due to the cost of retipping or having to buy a whole new cart. but they do sound great, though. the ortofon black is 1 of the best mms on the market. i prefer the top audio-technica's, and while some say they're thin and bright sounding as some say about bryston ad nauseum, i find them to be very open and alive, as well as very robust. my reference for the past 9 years has been the at150mlx model. let me know if this would work with your tt.
sounds great about the target racks... they'll probably sell like hot cakes too, and audiophiles will be salivating over them...and you can write me up for 1 of those! further down the road, unfortunately as i'd love to have 1 now, i take it you have the original blue-prints too, true?
anyway, thanks for your time as always!
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Hi Dave
It is one reason I want to offer a 'plug and play' system using the Bryston Table/Arm/Cartridge/Phono section in a package already set up and optimized.
james
Hi James,
Will those cartridges be Goldnote?
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Hi James,
Will those cartridges be Goldnote?
Hi
Not sure as I have had a number of companies contact me about it so I want to try a few cartridges first.
james
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Not sure as I have had a number of companies contact me about it so I want to try a few cartridges first.
FWIW, I highly recommend the Adjust+ software for turntable, cartridge, and phono stage setup and measurements.
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FWIW, I highly recommend the Adjust+ software for turntable, cartridge, and phono stage setup and measurements.
Hi
Where can I find that?
james
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Hi
Where can I find that?
james
http://www.feickert.de/index.php?id=4 (http://www.feickert.de/index.php?id=4)
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http://www.feickert.de/index.php?id=4 (http://www.feickert.de/index.php?id=4)
Thanks
james
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Production version of the custom Bryston Turntable :thumb:
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=143989)
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http://www.wifihifi.ca/LatestNewsHeadlines/BRYSTONJOINSTHEVINYLREVIVAL.html
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Hi Folks,
A number of people have asked about how the Bryston Turntable differs from the Goldnote tables:
BRYSTON BLP-1 TURNTABLE
DIFFERENCES FROM STANDARD GOLDNOTE MODELS
• Bryston manufactured BTP-1 Custom Power Supply with Pitch Control.
• Custom turntable bearing for Bryston.
• Custom Hand-selected ultra quiet 12V pulse-width-modulation motor for Bryston
• Custom B7 titanium tonearm with German GRW sealed tungsten bearings and custom rear stub.
• Custom extra-thick vented anti-resonant plinth
• Custom, adjustable brushed aluminum feet.
• The platter is an extra-thick Delrin 35mm custom platter for Bryston.
• Extra-thick molded dustcover for Bryston with recessed Bryston aluminum logo.
The Tonearm alone sells for $2200 and the Bryston BTP-1 Power Supply for $1000.
The Bryston Turntable package therefore offers exceptional value to our customers.
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Looks Impressive James :thumb:
I'm not into turntables but
This tone arm look mighty and rest of spec'
Look secure investment ...as all Bryston :)
Itshak
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Production version of the custom Bryston Turntable :thumb:
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=143989)
james, is that record clamp, or weight included, and is 4k the final retail price?
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james, is that record clamp, or weight included, and is 4k the final retail price?
Hi Dave
Yes it includes the weight. Retail is $3995.
james
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http://www.strata-gee.com/feeding-growing-vinyl-beast-bryston-launches-blp-1-turntable/
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I can confirm that in pretty much every instance where I've auditioned a turntable, playing with the dust cover down degraded the sound. At the extreme end it created feedback, at the least extreme it created unwanted vibration that, because the dust cover is typically attached to the plinth, is part of a path whereby dust cover vibrations transfer via the stylus to the playback system.
I never play an LP record with the dust cover down, and broadly speaking prefer a lift-off dust cover that does not touch the plinth at all, to be removed when the 'table is in use and replaced when it is not (blocking ... what else ... dust ... from the 'table's surface).
A well-designed cover attached to the turntable itself is not necessarily a problem as long as it is upright and stable during playback. I do prefer turntables whose hinges are such that they can be removed without marring the appearance from the front, so that if the owner wants, they could instead use a lift-off cover that is somewhat larger than the overall plinth footprint.
I think, James, that you have a very nice turntable offering there, and although $4K is a bit out of my budget (my turntable, cartridge, phono preamp and phono cabling I would estimate to be maybe $1500 worth, and isn't the weak point at this time) but definitely I see it as a high value, natural next step to what I do run these days.
The question is whether I will ever move to that next step, but that isn't the point; the product offering is the point and I have no problem saying out loud that I'm a fan. As usual, Bryston has managed to offer a High Performance product that is far from cheap yet is exactly as fine as it needs to be in order to offer excellent value.
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Hi James,
Good luck with the new turntable and it appears to be really good value for money. Maurizio is great to deal with and I'm sure Bryston will be happy with the working relationship with Goldnote.
Cheers Rod
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Thanks Rod. The response has been great and the first production run (50 units) have been sold so very happy at this point.
Also you are correct about the value as the arm alone sells for $2200 on its own and our dedicated Bryston power supply would normally be about $1000
James
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...the product offering is the point and I have no problem saying out loud that I'm a fan. As usual, Bryston has managed to offer a High Performance product that is far from cheap yet is exactly as fine as it needs to be in order to offer excellent value.
Well put. You have articulated a core value of Bryston if not explicitly stated by the company itself. :thumb:
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Well congratulations James. It is really good to hear that the turntable is so successful. You and I were discussing at Pulsworks sometime ago about the possibility of a turntable. You did it right. Just like the speakers.
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Well congratulations James. It is really good to hear that the turntable is so successful. You and I were discussing at Pulsworks sometime ago about the possibility of a turntable. You did it right. Just like the speakers.
Hi
Yes I remember that and at the time I thought - no way - well I guess I was really wrong on that one :duh:
james
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HI Folks,
A number of customers that have bought the Bryston Turntable have asked me if we would recommend a cartridge to make it more of a 'plug and play' concept.
I have a few prototypes I am considering - One Moving Coil around $1000 retail and one Moving Magnet about $500 list.
Any thoughts?
MC
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=146099)
MM
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=146100)
james
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now you are venturing into shark infested waters.... :lol:
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Who is making the carts?? :D
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I just received a set of Morrow phono cables. I opted for the PH-5 and even though they require long breakin I can tell you that the detail is incredible. They blow the doors of my Audioquest Diamond backs and audio art cable with furitech connectors. There is a huge sale right now. I got 25% off but for this weekend you get 25% off plus an additional 20%. They have a 60 day return policy. I don't usually recommend cables as everyone has their favorites, but you owe it to yourself to try these.
http://morrowaudio.com/
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Who is making the carts?? :D
Hi
Talking to 3 companies currently.
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Is Bryston shifting focus away from pro audio to become more hifi oriented? I'm curious about sales percentage split between pro and hifi. Can that info be posted?
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Is Bryston shifting focus away from pro audio to become more hifi oriented? I'm curious about sales percentage split between pro and hifi. Can that info be posted?
It is one of the great misconception ever about Bryston.
We started out in the mid 70's as an audiophile amplifier company getting a huge lift in sales when John Dahlquist used our first 4B in a show in Chicago and stated it was the best amp he had heard on his DQ10 speakers. Shortly after we got rave reviews in magazines like the Audio Critic and Bryston was launch as a company. The Pro image I think comes from our first 3B because we did a shoot out in a major recording studio in the early 70's against the then king of the hill amplifiers - Dynaco 400, BGW, Marantz 500 etc. and we won the contest and the studio bought ten 3B Pros.
The only reason we became successful in the Pro audio market was because we sounded great and did not break. Once Class D switching amplifiers came along where low weight, computer control and high power ratings were more important than audio quality we lost the touring market. Today most of our Pro business is in recording studios where amplifiers remain stationary and neutrality and reliability are critical. Pro has only been a small portion of our market for at least 15 years now.
james
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...nice idea to sell cartridges :thumb:. are you sure you will be offering only two of them?
al.
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Hi Folks,
With the recent introduction of our new Phono stages and Turntables a number of customers have asked why we recommend Transformer based Step-Up devices for Moving-Coil cartridges over Head-Amps. I have put together some thoughts on it - please see below.
BRYSTON TF-2 MOVING COIL TRANSFORMERS
Moving-Coil Transformers
Step-up transformers for Moving-Coil cartridges are the most esoteric and misunderstood items in the world of hi-fi, and this partly explains why they are so seldom used. This is a great shame because the use of a good MC transformer gives the best possible performance from a moving coil cartridge. Moving–Coil cartridges have very little voltage output but significant current is available. So the MC transformer ‘transforms’ this small voltage at the output of the MC to the required voltage required by the Phono Stage in the preamplifier. It does this passively so no noise or distortion is added resulting in a much better signal to noise ratio.
Operating principle
Moving magnet cartridges, as their name implies, contain magnets which are moved by the stylus’ cantilever, and the movement induces the signal voltage in fixed coils in close proximity to the magnets. In moving coil cartridges the roles are reversed, so now the magnets are fixed and the coils move. The big advantage of moving coils is that the coils are much lighter (lower mass) than the magnets, so they are much more responsive to the motion of the stylus.
The big disadvantage is that the output voltage of moving coil cartridges is about 20dB lower than that of moving magnets, so an extra 20dB of gain is required. The extra gain can be provided by the phono-stage amplifier, by an external device called a head-amp, or by a transformer. The most commonly found solution is to increase the gain in the phono-stage itself, but in our opinion step-up transformers are still the best solution where ultimate performance is the objective.
Why use a transformer at all?
It used to be the case that a good signal-to-noise ratio was impossible to achieve from a moving coil cartridge without a step-up transformer. An extra 20 or 30 decibels of gain wasn’t a problem, but doing so with low noise using valves, transistors or op-amps was a problem. Modern transistors and op-amps can now offer much better signal-to-noise ratios but valves still usually need transformers to work successfully with low output moving coil cartridges. An alternative to the step-up transformer is the head-amp (or pre-preamp). This is a transistor or op-amp amplifier which raises the output of moving coil cartridges up to moving magnet level.
Apart from the issue of a lower noise floor, the sound quality of transformers is something their advocates swear by. The distortion produced by audio transformers is of a completely different nature to that produced by a transistor amplifier. The harmonic distortion in transformers is greatest at the lowest frequencies and falls rapidly as the frequency rises, whereas in transistor amplifiers distortion more usually rises as the frequency rises. More importantly, inter-modulation distortion tends to be lower in transformers than it is transistor amplifiers. The outcome is that although transformers aren't absolutely free of distortion (nothing is), the distortion is very benign compared to the distortion produced by many transistor amplifiers. This explains why the sound produced when a moving coil cartridge is used with a good transformer is so sublime and can create an open and spacious soundstage with amazing separation between instruments.
The case against transformers is simply one of cost. Transistors can be as cheap as a few pennies (or less when bought in sufficient quantities) whereas transformers always cost a lot more, by as much as a factor of several thousand, due to the expensive materials used in the core and the cost of the copper windings in terms of both material and labour.
Cartridge loading
Before considering how to match a moving coil cartridge with a transformer, it is worthwhile considering the effects of different loads on moving coil cartridges. When any signal source is connected to any load impedance a potential divider is formed by the source's output impedance and the load impedance. The usual rule for audio equipment in general is to feed the signal into a load at least ten times greater than the source impedance to avoid any significant signal loss, and this applies to moving coil cartridges as well. If the load impedance is 10 times greater than the source impedance the signal lost by the “pre-set volume control” is less than 1dB, ie nearly all the signal generated by the source is available to the following amplifier. Any loss of signal at the source/load interface is usually considered a bad thing as it compromises the signal-to-noise ratio. More signal is lost, ie the pre-set volume control is turned down more, if the load impedance isn't significantly higher than the source impedance.
When the source and load impedances are equal the signal loss is 6dB. When the source impedance is 9 times greater than the load impedance the signal loss is 20dB. Most modern moving coil cartridges have a source impedance of about 10 ohms and the “load impedance ten times the source impedance” rule suggests 100 ohms is a good choice for load impedance and causes less than 1dB of signal loss. This is well in line with the recommendations from many cartridge manufacturers (see the table of data below). Anything above 100 ohms should be equally suitable.
Does the cartridge's tonal balance change with load impedance? It certainly does if the cartridge is a moving magnet type, but low output moving coil cartridges are much less sensitive to changes in the load impedance. Users sometimes claim that higher load impedances produce a brighter sound than lower ones, but cartridge manufacturers tend be non-specific about recommended load impedances, often recommending a wide range or simply anything above a minimum impedance. The recommendation of Bryston is in line with most other cartridge manufacturers - that 100 ohms is a good value for most cartridges, and that the exact value is not critical as long as it is well above the cartridge's source impedance. One thing is certain, and that is that the load impedance should not be equal to the cartridge's source impedance.
A step-up Moving-Coil transformer is designed to accept the lower voltage output from the MC cartridge and increase the voltage to a point which is acceptable to the input stage of the standard MM phono section. The Bryston Moving-Coil step-up transformer is available in two versions...with a 20dB or a 30dB gain option. Your choice on which unit is most appropriate will be determined by the voltage output of your chosen cartridge.
• From .1 to .2 mV we would recommend the 30dB version
• At .3 mV we would say either version would work fine
• From .4 to .5 mV or more we would recommend the 20dB version
An important point to consider when choosing which Step-up to use is you do not want to over-power or under-power the MM phono stage. Under-powering results in not having enough GAIN in the system and over-powering can result in voltage overload and the resultant distortion.
The big mistake most often made when selecting a transformer for a moving coil cartridge is to overlook the voltage required at the phonostage's input and instead try to make the impedances match so that, for example, a cartridge with a 5 ohm source impedance sees a 5 ohm load at the transformer's input. This approach takes the cartridge's impedance as the most important factor when in reality it should be the cartridge's output voltage.
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Hi Folks,
Customers are asking for recommendations on cartridges for their Bryston Turntables. So far have listened to a few and these seem to work very well.
BRYSTON RECOMMEDED CARTRIDGES
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=146730)
BENZ-MICRO RETAIL
ACE L or M or H $1,190
GLIDER L or M or H $1,585
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This looks like an amazing product, and FWIW - I may be in the minority but for me the traditional hinged dust cover is a major selling point. If you have cats or your SO lets cleaning people into the house, you gotta have one, and I am a bit miffed at having to spend pretty big $$ for a piece of lucite, which likely won't even stay in place when the furballs jump off it. :) So, do be aware that there are some of us out here who appreciate it - we can always take it off if we don't want it!
EDIT: Where can I audition one in the greater NY area, or Vermont?
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^ I had our machine workshop at the lab make a plexiglass rectangular top (not hinged) for my Ovation TT. Cost me about $100 all incl. It's heavy but has finger slots for easy lifting. Absolute must for dust shielding.
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I have a Clearaudio Virtuoso Wood MM, which retailed for around $900 ca. 2013. It's great for classical music and vocals.
Review:
http://www.stereophile.com/phonocartridges/737#8uyaBOS0UiL0PYgj.97
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This looks like an amazing product, and FWIW - I may be in the minority but for me the traditional hinged dust cover is a major selling point. If you have cats or your SO lets cleaning people into the house, you gotta have one, and I am a bit miffed at having to spend pretty big $$ for a piece of lucite, which likely won't even stay in place when the furballs jump off it. :) So, do be aware that there are some of us out here who appreciate it - we can always take it off if we don't want it!
EDIT: Where can I audition one in the greater NY area, or Vermont?
HI
We start shipping the turntables at the end of this month.
The dust cover also adds some extra mass to the plinth of the turntable if massive enough. Cheap turntables with extra light plastic covers can actually introduce some resonance. Our Bryston dust covers are double thickness and solid and do not have that problem.
james
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Hi Folks,
Link to the new Bryston Phono products on our website:
http://bryston.com/products/phono/BP-2.html
james
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James, can this be used with the MPS-1?
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James, can this be used with the MPS-1?
No sorry just the PS-3. We are working on it working with the MPS-2 as well.
james
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I just received a set of Morrow phono cables. I opted for the PH-5 and even though they require long breakin I can tell you that the detail is incredible. They blow the doors of my Audioquest Diamond backs and audio art cable with furitech connectors. There is a huge sale right now. I got 25% off but for this weekend you get 25% off plus an additional 20%. They have a 60 day return policy. I don't usually recommend cables as everyone has their favorites, but you owe it to yourself to try these.
http://morrowaudio.com/
Don't get me wrong, I like the Morrow cables. But they are on sale every day (would be illegal in Canada, by the way; you have to offer the product for a majority of the time at the regular price in order to offer a sale price; otherwise it's a classified as a Deceptive Trade Practice).
But the point is, there is no need to rush.
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Don't get me wrong, I like the Morrow cables. But they are on sale every day (would be illegal in Canada, by the way; you have to offer the product for a majority of the time at the regular price in order to offer a sale price; otherwise it's a classified as a Deceptive Trade Practice).
But the point is, there is no need to rush.
O Canada.....
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I see the bryston.com page has been update with info on the new turntable. It looks great! :thumb: I was a little surprised to see the three year warranty. Otherwise, great work as always.
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Hi James
Ted Green is one of the best read, most respected trade editors in our industry.
For the entire quarter, do you know what has the most hits on his site? Out of all the stories about the big guns like Crestron…this story rules as #1:
http://www.strata-gee.com/feeding-growing-vinyl-beast-bryston-launches-blp-1-turntable/
Amazing!!
Micah Sheveloff
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Hi James
Ted Green is one of the best read, most respected trade editors in our industry.
For the entire quarter, do you know what has the most hits on his site? Out of all the stories about the big guns like Crestron…this story rules as #1:
http://www.strata-gee.com/feeding-growing-vinyl-beast-bryston-launches-blp-1-turntable/
Amazing!!
Micah Sheveloff
Very cool! :thumb:
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Don't get me wrong, I like the Morrow cables. But they are on sale every day (would be illegal in Canada, by the way; you have to offer the product for a majority of the time at the regular price in order to offer a sale price; otherwise it's a classified as a Deceptive Trade Practice).
But the point is, there is no need to rush.
Another big Morrow cables fan here.
I agree with this- Mike runs "sales" all the time. Once in a while they are real sales, a straight up 50% off or thereabouts. Waiting for the better sales on the used cables is a good strategy. I also see them on A'Gon fairly often.
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Novelty is always a powerful stimulant for exploration......and often subsequently, purchasing.
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Hi Folks,
Now that the Bryston turntable is getting released I have had a number of questions on the best way to figure out the Resonant Frequency of a particular cartridge on the Bryston Tonearm. Don't let this scare you but the math looks like this:
FORMULA FOR COMPLIANCE OF CARTRIDGE AND MASS OF TONEARM FOR BEST RESONANCE MATCHING
September 2016
Hi Folks
With any tonearm/cartridge combination you are attempting to place frequency resonance ideally between 8-12Hz to attain the best performance.
The formula for calculating the tonearm/cartridge frequency resonance is:
FR = A ÷ √ M × C
Where:
A = 1.000 ÷ 2 π = 159, 23 (you can also use the fixed value of 159)
M = sum of all masses (tonearm, screws and cartridge)
C = compliance (at 10 Hz)
The Titanium arm supplied with the Bryston BLP1 Turntable is 10g mass.
For example:
Lets say your cartridge weighs 7.5g and has a compliance of 12cu/dyne/10 Hz (Please remember that often the Japanese cartridges indicates the compliance at 100Hz (not 1,000) which means you must double it in that case for the correct calculation).
IF you want to figure out the FR of your tonearm/cartridge you have to add the different masses:
7.5g (cartridge)
+ 10g (arm)
+1g (screws) = total 18.5g.
Then you multiply 12 x 18.5 = 222
The square root is around 14.9
So with the Tonearm on our Bryston BLP-1 Turntable the frequency resonance would be: … 159 ÷ 14.9 = 10.67 Hz; a value that places exactly in the desired interval of 8 -12 Hz considered the best range for frequency resonance of the tonearm/cartridge combination.
James Tanner
Bryston
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sorry james, that made my head hurt, lol. i'm very poor at math, lol.
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sorry james, that made my head hurt, lol. i'm very poor at math, lol.
There is hardly any math involved. Two button presses on a calculator (well, plus a little simple addition, but if that scares you, you should go back to your public school and shoot your 4th grade teacher).
Your eyes must glaze over at the mere sight of an equation. Not that you're alone, but I do find it an amusing aspect of human nature.
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HI Folks,
I have a PDF of the literature for the Bryston Turntable and Phono stages.
if you want a copy please email me at jamestanner@bryston.com
james
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There is hardly any math involved. Two button presses on a calculator (well, plus a little simple addition, but if that scares you, you should go back to your public school and shoot your 4th grade teacher).
Your eyes must glaze over at the mere sight of an equation. Not that you're alone, but I do find it an amusing aspect of human nature.
lol ok man, no worries...
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James this looks excellent. Question, how easy is it to change VTA and does it have a good range?
I like dust covers but I believe that Music Hall's MMF5 for example is a superior design because it's easy to lift off and put back on without sacrificing the ability to flip open.
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James this looks excellent. Question, how easy is it to change VTA and does it have a good range?
I like dust covers but I believe that Music Hall's MMF5 for example is a superior design because it's easy to lift off and put back on without sacrificing the ability to flip open.
HI
The VTA has a good range and I usually recommend the tonearm have a slight downward slant with most cartridges. It is really an approximation anyway as record thicknesses vary.
Also my thoughts on dustcovers:
1. Critical enthusiast often remove the Dust Covers while the turntable is playing. The Dust Cover first of all adds some mass to the plinth of the turntable but if it is made like many cheap turntables with extra light plastic, it may actually introduce some resonance. Our Dust Covers are double thickness and solid and do not have that problem.
Also, the turntable plinth has rounded ridges cut around the platter bearing/spindle and the motor to reduce vibrations coming through the plinth from affecting the cartridge/tonearm. This method is very effective at stop/stemming vibrations.
james
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HI Folks,
I have a PDF of the literature for the Bryston Turntable and Phono stages.
if you want a copy please email me at jamestanner@bryston.com
james
Heres a link to the download version:
https://files.acrobat.com/a/preview/2c5e49fd-71fa-416c-8629-3dac71450518
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James, VTA is important to get close to a 92.5º I believe it is... but what's important to note is the tip when inserted into the needle is not always, or maybe typically, perfectly aligned. You can use a microscope, or adjust VTA for sound if you don't have one. The azmith is complicated involving test records.
This has happened to me, where VTA adjustments greatly improved accuracy by adjustment over the "recommended" setting that didn't account for my particular needle to tip being slightly off. For this reason I actively avoid turntables that make it difficult.
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James, VTA is important to get close to a 92.5º I believe it is... but what's important to note is the tip when inserted into the needle is not always, or maybe typically, perfectly aligned. You can use a microscope, or adjust VTA for sound if you don't have one. The azmith is complicated involving test records.
This has happened to me, where VTA adjustments greatly improved accuracy by adjustment over the "recommended" setting that didn't account for my particular needle to tip being slightly off. For this reason I actively avoid turntables that make it difficult.
Hi Folsom
I agree the VTA adjustment is an important adjustment but really NOT something to be obsessed about. The arm should be basically parallel when the cartridge tracks the LP or a little higher at the rear. The adjustment must be done with “your eyes/ears” because the records available are anywhere from 60 to 200 grams and therefore the thickness vary significantly.
I just do not want people to think they constantly have to fiddle with their tables in order to reap the benefits of LP playback. It always reminds me of a good friend of mine who was always tinkering with his car motor but rarely drove the car :icon_lol:
james
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Hi Folsom
I agree the VTA adjustment is an important adjustment but really NOT something to be obsessed about. The arm should be basically parallel when the cartridge tracks the LP or a little higher at the rear. The adjustment must be done with “your eyes/ears” because the records available are anywhere from 60 to 200 grams and therefore the thickness vary significantly.
I just do not want people to think they constantly have to fiddle with their tables in order to reap the benefits of LP playback. It always reminds me of a good friend of mine who was always tinkering with his car motor but rarely drove the car :icon_lol:
james
Also reminds me of an "audiophile" friend of mine who is constantly upgrading & tweaking his system but only owns about 25 LPs and 50 CDs... :scratch:
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^ Classic case of Audiophilia Nervosa.
I had my dealer install and adjust my tonearm/cart years ago. Never touched them since. I listen to music, not for flaws in my gear. 8)
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Hi Folsom
I agree the VTA adjustment is an important adjustment but really NOT something to be obsessed about. The arm should be basically parallel when the cartridge tracks the LP or a little higher at the rear. The adjustment must be done with “your eyes/ears” because the records available are anywhere from 60 to 200 grams and therefore the thickness vary significantly.
I just do not want people to think they constantly have to fiddle with their tables in order to reap the benefits of LP playback. It always reminds me of a good friend of mine who was always tinkering with his car motor but rarely drove the car :icon_lol:
james
your eyes..your ears..I cannot tell you how many times I repeated those very words...If your tv looks good to you or what you hear sounds good to you go with that and NOT with someone else tells you or insists you are doing wrong. I believe expert reports and settings to be a starting point but not the exact point for everyone. They are measured by machines and the machines may like it but last I checked .........well I might be a cyborg..LOL.
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WHAT ? ... ANALOG - WITH WIRES !
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=150804)
Got the front cover - nice!
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nice, congrats!
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HI Folks,
Starting to get some reviews in on the Bryston Turntable.
Sneak Peak on one due out soon:
"Have I heard better sounding ‘tables? Yes… but all of them have price tags in the mid 5-figure range.
If you’ve been searching for your “forever” ‘table and thought you had to spend $25K or more to get it, listen to Bryston’s TT with a reference calibre M/C cartridge and top-shelf phono cable.
This may just be the last turntable you’ll ever buy."
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Hi James,
Congratulations to you - that sounds fantastic. Do you have any confirmed UK prices for the TT & MC Phono Stage yet? And will you offer the TT with a cartridge option?
Kyri
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Hi James,
Congratulations to you - that sounds fantastic. Do you have any confirmed UK prices for the TT & MC Phono Stage yet? And will you offer the TT with a cartridge option?
Kyri
Hi Kyri
I am not sure what the prices will be in the UK but there are some turntables on the way there.
I have spoken to a number of dealers and distributors and they prefer to allow the customer to choose what cartridge they want so I think I will back off on that one.
I am looking at developing a Bryston MC cartridge though and that would be one recommendation of course.
james
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Thanks, James.
I am seeing Paul (HiFi Lounge) on Saturday. I'm sure the TT will be a talking point.
Kyri
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MEMO: To All Bryston Customers
SUBJECT: Bryston BLP-1 Turntable Review
September 2016
Starting to get some reviews on the new Bryston BLP-1 Turntable.
This first review is from NOVO Magazine [previously CANADA HiFi].
Full Review LINK:
http://www.canadahifi.com/bryston-blp-1-turntable-review/
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Nice review!
Do your dealers come and set up your TT with my cart as part of the price?
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excellent review! at this rate i'm gonna go broke between this and that monster from the great white north known as the 14b3!!!
speaking of monsters, we would have a lot less of them in our society if they are able to afford and own bryston equipment...i firmly believe that music reproduction on bryston equipment soothes the savage beast! it works for me! haha :icon_twisted: :thumb:
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Nice review!
Do your dealers come and set up your TT with my cart as part of the price?
Hi
Yes most dealers will setup the cartridge free of charge.
james
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how long is the PSU/speed control pig tail, and can I get a longer one upon request? I noticed it was fixed, and I dont have space next to my TT,
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"Depending on the cartridge and the phono ICs, the BLP-1 offered 10% to 15% more sound across the frequency spectrum than the Giglio."
not very impressive review to me. No clue how someone could measure that or describe that in terms of what they heard. Weird.I would expect the table as well as a lot of others would shine with a 6K cartridge and a 2K IC.. JMO but it was more like an add and not a review. Did I miss the amp,preamp,phono pre and speakers used?
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"Depending on the cartridge and the phono ICs, the BLP-1 offered 10% to 15% more sound across the frequency spectrum than the Giglio."
not very impressive review to me. No clue how someone could measure that or describe that in terms of what they heard. Weird.I would expect the table as well as a lot of others would shine with a 6K cartridge and a 2K IC.. JMO but it was more like an add and not a review. Did I miss the amp,preamp,phono pre and speakers used?
Hi
Not sure what the phono stage was but this reviewer is in to analog big time and I believe he uses some very exotic gear - I can ask him if you want.
james
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how long is the PSU/speed control pig tail, and can I get a longer one upon request? I noticed it was fixed, and I dont have space next to my TT,
Hi
It is about a meter long.
james
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(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=150987)
James
The turntable does sound very, very good with a sense of rhythm and articulation that is quite exceptional.
We have it set up with the Denon DL103R and running through a Lehmann Black Cube SE II into a Bryston B135.
Thank you and have a great day,
Robert Hoinkes
Sales Manager
Trutone Electronics
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(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=150988)
Hi James,
Our turntables arrived today, thank you.
The fit, finish and aesthetics are excellent. Setup was a breeze.
It was a busy day at the shop but we were able to squeeze in some BLP-1 listening and had loads of fun with a few Stevie Ray Vaughan and Ricki Lee Jones tracks. This Italo-Canadian beauty can do the dynamics and slam of higher energy music as well as the imaging and midrange finesse of lighter fare. The power supply exudes high end also...pitch and speed stability are spot on.
We've got another Bryston winner on our hands...we're delighted with the BLP-1.
Sincerely,
Robert
Audio Eden Ltd.
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"Depending on the cartridge and the phono ICs, the BLP-1 offered 10% to 15% more sound across the frequency spectrum than the Giglio."
not very impressive review to me. No clue how someone could measure that or describe that in terms of what they heard. Weird.I would expect the table as well as a lot of others would shine with a 6K cartridge and a 2K IC.. JMO but it was more like an add and not a review. Did I miss the amp,preamp,phono pre and speakers used?
Hi James,
I emailed the following 'Ancillary Equipment List' to the magazine to be included at the end of the BLP-1 TT review but for space reasons sometimes they do not include it. This is only a partial list of the gear
The TT rig I primarily used to as a point of comparison for SQ to the BLP-1 was an Avid Acutus Reference + SME arm + Sumiko Pearwood Celebration Mk#2 M/C cart.
Bryston BLP-1 TT + BTP-1 P/S Review
Ancillary Equipment List:
Vinyl Rigs: Bryston BLP-1, BPT-1, GRW B7 tonearm, & Benz-Micro M0.8 M/C cart; Gold Note Giglio, B7 tonearm, Dynavector 10x5 HOMC cart.
Phono Stages: Modified Sonic Frontiers Phono-1 SE; Manley Labs Steelhead; Gold Note PH-7.
Phono ICs: Stealth Hyperphono SE; Audio Sensibility Statement & Signature.
Cartridges: Van den Hul ‘The Frog’ M/C; Lyra Kleos M/C; Rega Apheta 2 M/C; Sumiko Pearwood Celebration Mk#2 M/C; Koetsu Urushi Vermillion M/C.
Pre / Power: Sonic Frontiers Line-3 SE pre-amp + 2 x SFI Power-1 tube power amps.
Cables: Virtual Dynamics; Gutwire; Stealth; & Argento Audio ICs & PCs.
Speakers: Newform Research 645 v3; Bryston A2; Sonus Faber Elipsa SE.
Douglas
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some really nice gear listed. So what was the exact set up, ie which speakers, cartridge did you use as some of your gear really varies significantly especially the speakers as they range from a couple of K to 23K?
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some really nice gear listed. So what was the exact set up, ie which speakers, cartridge did you use as some of your gear really varies significantly especially the speakers as they range from a couple of K to 23K?
From speaking with him Gene he tells me he tries to use a system that suits the price point of the component under review. The nice thing he commented to me on regarding our table is that he was able to use it on his most exotic system and it was in the game.
james
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MEMO: To All Bryston Customers
SUBJECT: Bryston Turntable – Dealer Feedback
September 28, 2016
Hi James, Brian and the entire Bryston Team
“SEXY, SIMPLE AND SATISFIING”
Our Turntable arrived Yesterday WOO HOO!!! SUPERB, the fit and finish is GREAT, simple setup right out of the box.
And the sound WOW Killer Performance it has the Zing of a great performer fabulous WORK AGAIN and a job well done but I guess that’s not saying much since you have always delivered killer products…...
Yours totally satisfied
Ashley Plettell
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From speaking with him Gene he tells me he tries to use a system that suits the price point of the component under review. The nice thing he commented to me on regarding our table is that he was able to use it on his most exotic system and it was in the game.
james
NICE!.......hope the TT does well ...lots of competition out there . Will you be bringing it to the Audio Show in NYC in October???
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NICE!.......hope the TT does well ...lots of competition out there . Will you be bringing it to the Audio Show in NYC in October???
Hi Gene
No we will not be in NY. We are doing RMAF in Denver and Toronto Show in October.
james
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I just read a review of the Bryston BLP-1 turntable in CANADA HIFI Magazine and in the conclusion, they mention:
"Caveats…? The BLP-1’s stock phono cable and cylindrical feet need to be improved."
Will Bryston be offering upgrade kits for these or will a user need to go to 3rd party solutions?
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I just read a review of the Bryston BLP-1 turntable in CANADA HIFI Magazine and in the conclusion, they mention:
"Caveats…? The BLP-1’s stock phono cable and cylindrical feet need to be improved."
Will Bryston be offering upgrade kits for these or will a user need to go to 3rd party solutions?
Hi
I think so but I want to test and measure these accessories first before I commit.
james
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Hi Gene
No we will not be in NY. We are doing RMAF in Denver and Toronto Show in October.
james
:(
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James,
Is there a technical reason, or otherwise, you chose the Valore above other Gold Note chassis'?
I've been wanting to add a TT to my system for a while. Considered TTs - Clearaudio & VPI decks. Here in the UK the obligatory 'giant killer' decks are the Michell Orbe & possibly the Rega RP8. These decks could be the path to vinyl utopia. But, although I've heard them I've never heard them WOW me.
A TT in my system would be a luxury. I don't need it to serve the purpose of a normal high end source - I have a Bryston digital set up for that.
I want to indulge in what vinyl can bring to my system. I will happily trade detail, accuracy, dynamics & frequency extremes for warmth, lushness & the feel one can only achieve with a wonderful TT.
James, you have my attention. Thank you.
Kyri
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James,
Is there a technical reason, or otherwise, you chose the Valore above other Gold Note chassis'?
I've been wanting to add a TT to my system for a while. Considered TTs - Clearaudio & VPI decks. Here in the UK the obligatory 'giant killer' decks are the Michell Orbe & possibly the Rega RP8. These decks could be the path to vinyl utopia. But, although I've heard them I've never heard them WOW me.
A TT in my system would be a luxury. I don't need it to serve the purpose of a normal high end source - I have a Bryston digital set up for that.
I want to indulge in what vinyl can bring to my system. I will happily trade detail, dynamics & frequency extremes for warmth, lushness & the feel one can only achieve with a wonderful TT.
James, you have my attention. Thank you.
Kyri
Hi Kyri
It is not the same chassis as the Velour - it looks similar but it has special cutouts to reduce resonance and a few other minor differences. I can asked the engineering guys for more details if you want.
I got seduced by LP's when we were developing the new Phono stages and listened to a number of tables both esoteric and mainstream to get an overview of the different levels of performance out there. I already own a Thorens, a Roksan and a Rega and a DD Stanton but by chance I heard the Gigleo from Goldnote at a friends and really liked what I was hearing. So I decided to contact Goldnote and ask them to work with me to produce a table with all the best parts from their upmarket tables but put the emphasis on performance first and foremost.
In other words based on their many years of experience what features in a turntable contribute the most to a great sounding unit. So what we ended up with is a table that performs well above the Valore but the money spent would concentrate on the power supply the motor the main being the arm and last the plinth.
Gee's I am rambling - anyway - I think the table does sound lush but open with great detail and a terrific soundstage. Early reports from the dealers seem to support this with a variety of cartridges so I feel confident in recommending that you have a listen.
What might be fun is to start a thread where we can discuss the differences that people hear between good analog and good digital playback?
james
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Thank you so much for that, James. And you don't ever need to apologise for rambling to me. A few more TT details would be awesome, but please don't feel obliged.
The thread sounds like a fantastic idea. I began on vinyl, and resisted digital for a very long time. Simply because it wasn't comparable sonically. In fact, I converted to digital in my car first, after grudgingly giving up tapes.
My home set up was always built around what I felt was accuracy. Today, things are different. I very happily use my BDP/BDA combination for that.
So, a TT would add a dimension I have been privy to, but no longer feel the necessity to attach all of my hifi technical demands on. I want to escape into vinyl when the mood demands. And for it to take me to that wonderful place I recall from my youth.
I hope that makes some sort of sense to you.
Kyri
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I love the phrase " escape into vinyl when the mood demands" :thumb:
James
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Vinyl all the way....like this. :thumb:
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=151135)
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Vinyl all the way....like this. :thumb:
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=151135)
that's pretty cool...the vinyl that is...lol
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I love the phrase " escape into vinyl when the mood demands" :thumb:
James
i know the feeling...my listening is mostly vinyl and some cd, especially stuff that i don't have on vinyl, was not released on vinyl, or i just want to give my needle a rest...
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hey james, didn't it have something to do with myself and others bugging you about putting out a turntable...
and now bryston has come full circle; from source to speaker, an all bryston system is now possible...
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James,
Already spoke with my dealer, Audio Connection in NJ (I was the cause of them contacting you about it!), and am going to be among their first customers to place an order. One question, which I presume doesn't need to be asked, but just in case: is the power supply cable long enough so that I can situate it on either side of the TT itself?
Thanks in advance!
-- Bob
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James,
Already spoke with my dealer, Audio Connection in NJ (I was the cause of them contacting you about it!), and am going to be among their first customers to place an order. One question, which I presume doesn't need to be asked, but just in case: is the power supply cable long enough so that I can situate it on either side of the TT itself?
Thanks in advance!
-- Bob
Hi Bob
Yes the cable is about 2 feet long.
Looking forward to your opinion.
james
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MEMO: To All Bryston Customers
SUBJECT: Bryston – Customer Turntable Report
October 2016
Dear James,
I was not supposed to lift anything at all heavy today, but I could not properly discipline myself, and I'm trying to put the BLP-1 together. It is packaged so very beautifully that it is almost distressing to have to take the various parts out of the box and remove their shrink-wraps.
I'm assuming also, since no mat is supplied, that, like the still new TT I'm replacing with the BLP-1, that there is no mat: LPs are to be played on the naked platter. Kindly confirm or correct this assumption as well.
This is a solid-looking, solid-feeling unit. Its appearance, like everything else I have from Bryston, is at once simple and elegant. Everything about it gives off an air of assurance. I would mention in particular the quality action of the dust cover: a very minor item, perhaps, but on my previous TT that I'm replacing the dust cover is detachable (which some folks may regard as a convenience) but when attached has a very stiff action and somewhat clumsy appearance.
All best,
Richard Freed
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Recent review (posted yet?):
http://www.canadahifi.com/bryston-blp-1-turntable-review/
EDIT: Oops. Already posted.
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Hi Bob
Yes the cable is about 2 feet long.
Looking forward to your opinion.
james
Thanks. Shooting for early December delivery as I am traveling until then. But you can bet I will post a review! Last question, only since someone brought it up and I happen to have a set of isonoe feet: What is the thread on the supplied feet?
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FYI for everybody, Akamai in Italy (which is clearly an affiliate of Goldnote) sells this very nice-looking platter mat... obviously not thought to be necessary for the BLP1 but I kind of like to have some kind of mat on there, if only lest I get clutzy and drop something and gouge the platter. Presumably it wouldn't sound awful since it's designed to work with Goldnote TT's. http://www.akamaiaudio.it/index.php?id_product=45&controller=product
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Another potentially useful accessory, for those who want to use their own RCA phono cables: http://www.akamaiaudio.it/index.php?id_product=273&controller=product&search_query=rca&results=10
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Thanks. Shooting for early December delivery as I am traveling until then. But you can bet I will post a review! Last question, only since someone brought it up and I happen to have a set of isonoe feet: What is the thread on the supplied feet?
Hi
6MA that means 6mm standard step.
james
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Thanks!
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James
No matter what provoked me to buy the Bryston BLP-1 Turntable, I'm very happy I did.
It is comfortably outperforming any turntable I have ever used before, and the template you sent to me showed that I have the cartridge installed properly.. Every detail shows so much thoughtfulness.
It is fully worthy of the Bryston name and, as Artur Schnabel remarked on the Schubert piano sonatas, "a safe supply of happiness."
Best,
Happy Customer
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Hi Folks,
The Bryston Turntable in good company with a complete Bryston system at one of our dealers.
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=151546)
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Hi Folks,
Got the front cover of this magazine and a short article on the geneses of the Bryston Turntable.
http://www.bryston.com/PDF/reviews/2016_10_BLP-1_WiFiHiFi.pdf
james
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Hi Folks
Sneak peak on more coming turntable reviews:
Bryston BLP-1 spinning happily
Bryston shipped me one of their new turntables last week and the timing could not have been better as I'd been missing my records. The B-LP1 is a tidy, lightweight design that comes with a solid platter, installed arm, external power supply/speed controller, a record weight, and a hinged dustcover. I had it out of the box and a cartridge installed in less than 1 hour of unhurried and careful work, of which at least some of this time was making sure I maintained the packing materials in an order that would make safe return shipping a breeze come the time. In fact, this was probably the simplest new table set up I've experienced since my days with a Rega 3.
In fact, comparisons with the Rega are not too far removed in some ways. The BLP-1 embodies the philosophy of rigid, non-resonant lightweight construction with a built in belt-drive motor. What you are getting here for the nearly $4k price is a high-torque motor that gets up to speed quickly and maintains it. The costs also seem to have gone into a hardened bronze bearing, 35mm Delrin platter and a decent tonearm, like the rest of the table manufactured for Bryston to their design by Goldnote of Italy.
Having only a Sumiko Pearwood Celebration II cartridge on hand, itself a $2800 cartridge while I waited for a sample of Charisma Audio's re-bodied Denon 103 to pair with the B-LP1, I naturally had to mount it and give the player a spin. And I'm glad I did. From the first bars of Bucky Pizzarelli and Bud Freeman's Buck and Bud LP, it was clear there was something good happening here. The music flows from this table, with plenty of detail and upper-end life, a very musical mid-range and, surprisingly (I suppose) solid bass. I say 'surprisingly' as it's hard to shake the impression of one's eyes -- a lightweight table is going to sound, well, 'light' is it not? OK, acknowledge the power of one's sight to color one's hearing and try to listen more closely. This table does not make lightweight music, oh no, it has balance, air and resolution to go with the midrange body that makes music come alive for me.
For the last few nights I've been spinning record after record with tremendous enjoyment and am beginning to really get a sense of this table. I still think the arm looks and feels a bit light, and the pressure fit counterweights would seem like a slightly imprecise way to adjust weight (my years with the SME V have spoiled me) but routine use has shown how expectations can be challenged by the evidence of thoughtful design. Re-checking everything this morning I find all the settings made last week remain, the arm lift works precisely and cleanly, the motor gets up to speed fast, and the table just continues to sound as good as it should for the price. Indeed, as it sits this weekend on a Minus-K platform with a near $3k phono cartridge, feeding an ARC Ref2SE phono stage, the B-LP1 is delivering the type of sonic goods that this partnering gear demands. Don't think this one is going to be outclassed easily.
OK, this is only a taster, a full review will come when I've had a few more weeks with this and had a chance to install the Charisma cartridge but early impressions suggest that there's a new contender on the block for a one-stop, easy to set up, good sounding analog rig. Stay tuned.
Patrick Dillon
Audio Matters
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James,
Really looking forward to getting mine all set up; not sure how I will pass the time until that happens in December but I will manage! can you tell me the diameter of the feet? (I mean each individual foot, not the whole footprint of the table, which I have.) TIA!
- Bob
PS to everyone here: happy to hear any suggestions for interconnects from phono pre to integrated amp. I am going to need two runs, as I use an Acoustech Ph1 and also a modified/reconditioned KLH-Burwen TNE-7000a noise reducer (which is bypassable, but i still need two sets of interconnects.) Cartridge will be an Ortofon Quintet Black. Main amp is a Hegel H160 powering vandersteen Treos.
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James,
Really looking forward to getting mine all set up; not sure how I will pass the time until that happens in December but I will manage! can you tell me the diameter of the feet? (I mean each individual foot, not the whole footprint of the table, which I have.) TIA!
- Bob
Hi Bob
Foot is 1 inch in diameter.
james
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Thanks!
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Hi James.
I got my turntable and absolutely love it!
Austin at Atlas in Victoria set it up with an Ortofon Cadenza Black cartridge which I'm breaking in.
Seems to really match up well with the mc phono stage in the BP26.
Cal Smith
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Hi James
Some iPhone photos of the BLP-1 at the new London hi-do show.
Going down very well!
Really nice turntable James
Regards
Peter Thomas
PMC
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=151960)
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Had a good listen to this yesterday at the Indulgence show, very impressed, I have to admit I was a little surprised when Bryston announced a turntable but I shouldn't have been as yet again Bryston have delivered the goods, nice organic sound but with excellent detail.
I'm going to get one for demo so that I can have a proper listen outside of a show environment, but after the show I can't wait to get one, just need to figure out what cartridge to use :-)
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=151992)
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=151993)
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Had a listen today at the Inulgence Show. And it sounded lovely.
It was one of 2 highlights of the day; the other was the VPI Signature turntable.
Well done, James.
Kyri
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Had a listen today at the Inulgence Show. And it sounded lovely.
It was one of 2 highlights of the day; the other was the VPI Signature turntable.
Well done, James.
Kyri
Thanks - so far the response has been terrific :thumb:
james
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PMC are running with an Ortofon Cadenza Black cartridge. It sounded like warm, lush vinyl to me. And it was obvious I was definitely not listening to digital audio.
Kyri
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PMC are running with an Ortofon Cadenza Black cartridge. It sounded like warm, lush vinyl to me. And it was obvious I was definitely not listening to digital audio.
Kyri
Both have their strengths/weaknesses, but when digital is done right, like with BDP-1 and BDA-1 (and other gear), distinguishing between analog and digital is hard with the best recordings.
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James,
I know I said I had asked my last question but I realized I have one more. :) Can you tell me how high the bottom of the plinth (and also the motor pod) is from the surface the table sits on? I ask (in case you're wondering :)) because I have cats and will want to stick something underneath the rear, like maybe a hockey puck or two, to keep the little critters from tipping the table if they go on it.
Just getting my ducks in a row before delivery. Look for my review in mid-December....
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James,
I know I said I had asked my last question but I realized I have one more. :) Can you tell me how high the bottom of the plinth (and also the motor pod) is from the surface the table sits on? I ask (in case you're wondering :)) because I have cats and will want to stick something underneath the rear, like maybe a hockey puck or two, to keep the little critters from tipping the table if they go on it.
Just getting my ducks in a row before delivery. Look for my review in mid-December....
Hi
1 3/4 inches from the bottom of the plinth to the shelf the table sits on and about 1/2 inch of clearance from the bottom of the bearing housing and 1 inch from the motor pod. The table has a 3 point suspension - 2 feet at the front and 1 at the back middle so not easy to tip a tripod.
james
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Thanks. Yeah I know, but I will stick a hockey puck or some soft piece of rubber under the relevant spots just in case. As fundamental forces of physics go, the cat-turntable attraction is nearly as strong as the infamous cat-keyboard attraction. :)
Anyway, really looking forward to hearing this in my system!!
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Hi James,
Just connected the new phono...and its absolutely superb out of the box !
Beautiful tonal balance and a level of detail and depth which i never experienced before...now i know what i missed all these years..
Cheers to you !
Tom
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James, any recommendations for cartridges for the Bryston turntable (i.e. carts that have been tested by Bryston)?
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James, any recommendations for cartridges for the Bryston turntable (i.e. carts that have been tested by Bryston)?
I like the Ortofon Black MM and the Denon 103D MC as well as the MC Gliders form Benz and MC's from Ortofon so far.
A number of our customers have emailed me though and some are using cartridges that cost more than the turntable! ... with good results.
The tonearm has a mass of 10 grams so it ill work well with a large variety of cartridges.
james
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James,
One small point of clarification - is the tonearm connector a standard 5-pin DIN or one of the Goldnote 4-pin connectors? Not a big deal but I have a Siltech phono cable I might want to try (which currently is terminated in a standard 5-pin DIN.)
Thanks!
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James,
One small point of clarification - is the tonearm connector a standard 5-pin DIN or one of the Goldnote 4-pin connectors? Not a big deal but I have a Siltech phono cable I might want to try (which currently is terminated in a standard 5-pin DIN.)
Thanks!
It's the 4 PIN DIN. We will have an adapter to allow for 5 pin going forward.
james
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MEMO: To All Bryston Customers
SUBJECT: Bryston Turntable – Swiss Audio Show
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=152380)
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=152383)
Hi James
Some comments on the new Bryston Turntable at our recent audio show in Switzerland.
The show went very well. I think we had one of the best performance of products, room acoustics and demonstration. And now one step more with Bryston Vinyl.
Here a short statement from our dealer handling the show with us.
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=152384)
Ok the Bryston BLP1 turntable, first thoughts.
I found it to be of good build and up to Bryston quality, after unpacking and fitting a Kiseki Purple Heart I was instantly enthralled at the wonderful full rich soundstage that greeted me, instruments were correctly placed with a full open timbre and sense of timing, as were the vocals. The BLP1 played everything with ease from classical to pop to rock.
I can easily recommend this to my clients and customers as well as live easily with it myself ... a stunning effort for Brystons first turntable ... a classic!
Warmest regards
Foxx Artizan Delaney
Artizan Audio GmbH
Well done, James,
Gilberto Giacon, MGM.
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It's the 4 PIN DIN. We will have an adapter to allow for 5 pin going forward.
james
Thanks. Just wanted to mention for the assembled multitudes that Akamai sells the 4-pin DIN connectors, so one can re-terminate existing cables, and also this, if you want to use their arms with RCA cables: http://www.akamaiaudio.it/index.php?id_product=273&controller=product&search_query=rca&results=10
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Thanks. Just wanted to mention for the assembled multitudes that Akamai sells the 4-pin DIN connectors, so one can re-terminate existing cables, and also this, if you want to use their arms with RCA cables: http://www.akamaiaudio.it/index.php?id_product=273&controller=product&search_query=rca&results=10
Hi
Yes thanks I was aware of that and when I discussed it with Goldnote they said that the 4-pin is the DIN standard and the 5 Pin was introduced by SME and some aftermarket cable companies have both some only 5 pin. I am playing around now with a custom silver 4 pin din cable to see if I hear a difference.
james
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OK. FWIW I am not in a rush to change the supplied cable; it's just that I do have that Siltech, which I know to sound great, so it might be nice to be able to try it. Not at all a huge issue for me though, I assume the supplied cable does not suck. :)
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Hi James
Kiseki Purple Heart,an excellent partner to the Bryston BLP1 turntable - looking forward to auditioning for our clients.
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=152493)
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Hi
Yes thanks I was aware of that and when I discussed it with Goldnote they said that the 4-pin is the DIN standard and the 5 Pin was introduced by SME and some aftermarket cable companies have both some only 5 pin. I am playing around now with a custom silver 4 pin din cable to see if I hear a difference.
james
So it seems. I ended up deciding to order a cable with that connector from Audio Sensibility, just b/c I happened to be able to find a bit more $$ in my budget and couldn't think of anything else I needed to buy at the moment. :) Will report here on sonic differences between that cable and the stock one, though that will take a good six weeks until the table and cable and I are all together.
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So it seems. I ended up deciding to order a cable with that connector from Audio Sensibility, just b/c I happened to be able to find a bit more $$ in my budget and couldn't think of anything else I needed to buy at the moment. :) Will report here on sonic differences between that cable and the stock one, though that will take a good six weeks until the table and cable and I are all together.
I was introduced to AS by a seasoned pro at another turntable manufacture forum and their phono cables are a huge bang for the buck. I'm willing to be you will be more than pleased. :thumb:
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I was introduced to AS by a seasoned pro at another turntable manufacture forum and their phono cables are a huge bang for the buck. I'm willing to be you will be more than pleased. :thumb:
And Steve Huang is very available to answer questions, etc.
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MEMO: To All Bryston Customers
SUBJECT: Bryston – Dealer Turntable Report
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=153250)
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=153251)
Hi James
Are you able to provide a few recommendations of cartridges for the Bryston Turntable.
HI Malcolm
The tonearm mass is 10 grams so most MC cartridges will work well.
What do you think of the table?
Hi James,
Well let me see…
We set it up on Friday and hmmmm
Sold it on Saturday
Malcolm
Hi-Fi Attic
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MEMO: To All Bryston Customers
SUBJECT: Bryston – Dealer Turntable Report
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=153250)
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=153251)
Hi James
Are you able to provide a few recommendations of cartridges for the Bryston Turntable.
HI Malcolm
The tonearm mass is 10 grams so most MC cartridges will work well.
What do you think of the table?
Hi James,
Well let me see…
We set it up on Friday and hmmmm
Sold it on Saturday
Malcolm
Hi-Fi Attic
:thumb:
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BLP-1 in action on Klangbilder show in Vienna
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=153453)
Edvard Potisk
Vienna, Austria
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18 days till I get mine :)
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HI Folks,
Sneak Peak on another new review on the Bryston BLP-1 from HIFI ZINE magazine.
Full review coming soon.
Got a very nice note from the reviewer.
james
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=154585)
MEMO: To All Bryston Customers
SUBJECT: Another Turntable Review – Sneak Peak
December 2016
Hi James
I most certainly enjoyed the Bryston turntable -- and my review will make this clear.
The Bryston BLP-1 Turntable is my benchmark now at this price point!
I gave it a spin this morning before packing up and remain seriously impressed. Hate to see it go.
Packing it all up again drove home how owner-friendly this design is -- dealers should make this super-clear to customers, there's so much nonsense surrounding analog that many people are put-off, but this table makes everything easy.
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Finally picked mine up today from Audio Connection in NJ. Looking forward to getting it set up over the next few days, stay tuned for pix!
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Finally picked mine up today from Audio Connection in NJ. Looking forward to getting it set up over the next few days, stay tuned for pix!
Great - looking forward to your thoughts. :thumb:
james
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Here ya go... only played one side so far but it sounds great!! More to come...
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=154617)
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=154618)
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MEMO: To All Bryston Customers
SUBJECT: Customer Feedback BLP-1 & BDA-3
December 2016
From Singapore:
Hi James,
My dealer sent two early xmas goodies to me yesterday - the Bryston BDA3 DAC as well as the new Bryston BLP-1 Turntable !
Both sound superb!
The BDA3 is the most airy, natural and analogue sounding DAC right out of the box...to my surprise, it also processes blueray discs superbly well...as long as they have a stereo layer I guess.
The Turntable is fuss-free, solid and the motor speeds up so fast and accurately which is a pure joy.
My MC cartridge also sounds a lot less sharp with this tonearm.
Cheers and thanks for all the magic !
Tom
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Here ya go... only played one side so far but it sounds great!! More to come...
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=154617)
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=154618)
Nice pics - What base is that?
james
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Symposium Segue ISO, 19 x 18, light duty
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James, a fast question - any reason I shouldn't experiment with this in addition to the supplied weight? I have it from my last TT and seems like it will fit the spindle just fine. TIA!
https://www.musicdirect.com/analog-accessories/michell-reflex-record-clamp
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James, a fast question - any reason I shouldn't experiment with this in addition to the supplied weight? I have it from my last TT and seems like it will fit the spindle just fine. TIA!
https://www.musicdirect.com/analog-accessories/michell-reflex-record-clamp
Hi
Sure feel free to experiment. One of the reviewers told me that the nice thing about our table was that it was good enough to show up differences when using accessory products like weights, cables etc.
james
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James, is it possible to order extra belts from Bryston? I always like to have backups on hand..
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James, is it possible to order extra belts from Bryston? I always like to have backups on hand..
Hi
Yes I have some coming - should have some in about 2 weeks.
james
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Ok, obviously no rush. :)
Thanks!
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Ok here's a few preliminary thoughts:
Sonically it sounds great - with my Ortofon Quintet Black I am getting a nice big warm sound; haven't really listened critically yet (gotta move some stuff around in the listening room) but initial impressions compared to my other two tables - Micro Seiki BL51/Rega RB300 and VPI Jr w/Mk IV platter and Grace arm - are positive.
I may yet order the antiskating mechanism, though without it I am not seeing any real problems in that regard.
The dust cover and hinges are both very robust, which is important to me and was an element in my purchasing decision. The feet don't look like much but I appreciate the levelling feature. Myself, I would have preferred 4 feet rather than the tripod configuration, but it is quite stable.
It is pretty svelte in person, not a great honking room-dominator like some of the VPI's. :) I find this to be a good thing. The styling seemed a little austere to me (I was thinking that a nice walnut border around the plinth might have been nice) but the wife, who relentlessly critiques the aesthetics of my equipment purchases, absolutely loves it. (Whew!)
I switched out the supplied tonearm cable for one from Audio Sensibility. The latter is still being broken in and I didn't bother to compare it with the original cable; the latter, to the eye, looks OK but no more than that. Which may or may not mean a thing sonically, I dunno.
More impressions as I get time to play more tunes!
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Ok here's a few preliminary thoughts:
Sonically it sounds great - with my Ortofon Quintet Black I am getting a nice big warm sound; haven't really listened critically yet (gotta move some stuff around in the listening room) but initial impressions compared to my other two tables - Micro Seiki BL51/Rega RB300 and VPI Jr w/Mk IV platter and Grace arm - are positive.
I may yet order the antiskating mechanism, but when the arm drops it drops nice and straight, so fwiw I am not seeing any real problems in that regard.
The dust cover and hinges are both very robust, which is important to me and was an element in my purchasing decision. The feet don't look like much but I appreciate the levelling feature. Myself, I would have preferred 4 feet rather than the tripod configuration, but it is quite stable.
It is pretty svelte in person, not a great honking room-dominator like some of the VPI's. :) I find this to be a good thing. The styling seemed a little austere to me (I was thinking that a nice walnut border around the plinth might have been nice) but the wife, who relentlessly critiques the aesthetics of my equipment purchases, absolutely loves it. (Whew!)
I switched out the supplied tonearm cable for one from Audio Sensibility. The latter is still being broken in and I didn't bother to compare it with the original cable; the latter, to the eye, looks OK but no more than that. Which may or may not mean a thing sonically, I dunno.
More impressions as I get time to play more tunes!
Hi abuhannibal
Thanks for the feedback much appreciated sir!
There are reasons why we do not include anti- skate:
Contrary to popular belief, anti-skate is something that is not really necessary. Anti-skate is a radial force that in a turntable must be considered a dynamic fluid motion because it changes varying with the position of the tone arm on the record. This means a static weight as normally used would work ‘well’ at only one specific point on the record and would inevitably be less effective at all the other points on the record.
The anti-skate is a force applied to limit the centripetal force that attracts the tone arms to the center of the platter while spinning. But this force is dynamic because it is radial. It is dependent on the position of the arm: the force varies with position and the opposite force (anti-skating) should vary accordingly. That's not physically possible, or at least it is not possible to do it precisely. Most tone arm manufacturers simply apply a weight that is essentially a "static mass": it works fine in a single position, but is “wrong” in all others across the disc. (Bryston can, however, supply an anti-skate system and weight if a customer were to ask for it.)
I agree that when most people see the table in person it is very aesthetically appealing in a simplistic way.
The 3 feet are more stable that 4 as you can not rock a tripod.
james
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WOW- when this Turntable aficionado reviews a turntable he really covers all the bases !!!
http://www.hifizine.com/2016/12/bryston-blp-1-turntable/
james
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Ahh but you are talking about sonic stability from minor rocking, whereas I am talking about stability in the event of cats thrusting off the dust cover. :)
Anyway in all seriousness, it's not really an issue, as all one has to do is stick something about 1.5 inches tall or slightly less underneath the plinth if one is worried about critter launches.
Very nice review - I would disagree with him on the arm tube though, it doesn't look inexpensive to me at all - it looks like what a nice finely-machined titanium tube should look like. The arm in general seems extremely robust.
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Ahh but you are talking about sonic stability from minor rocking, whereas I am talking about stability in the event of cats thrusting off the dust cover. :)
Anyway in all seriousness, it's not really an issue, as all one has to do is stick something about 1.5 inches tall or slightly less underneath the plinth if one is worried about critter launches. :)
Very nice review - I would disagree with him on the arm tube though, it doesn't look inexpensive to me at all - it looks like what a nice finely-machined titanium tube should look like. :) The arm in general seems extremely robust.
I agree on the tonearm - The 7 section titanium tube is precisely machined on CNC lathes.
Most people are use to seeing the inexpensive painted tone arms or some old fashion polished stainless steel arm but they do not guarantee the same precision of machined parts.
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Hey folks just reporting on my record clamp experiments. My old Harman Kardon disc stabilizer works great - these are long "out of print" but they do pop up on fleabay once in a while. Nice product. I tried an Audio Technica AT618 weight which sadly did not work - hole appears to be too short for the spindle (fixable with a drill press but I didn't want to bother.) My favorite so far is the standard (non-Rega version) Michell reflex clamp - inexpensive and very effective, especially if the LP is a little bit dished, as some seem to be. I think perhaps the felt washer that ships with the Michell is a tad too thick but that's easy to change.
In terms of the table's general performance: I have been audiophile for 40+ years; would not say that I have the most discriminating ears by any means but I have heard many systems and a boatload of analog in my time. My ears do seem to be very sensitive to tiny speed variations, maybe more so than most. In that regard in particular the Bryston seems to me to be absolutely dead-on, perhaps more than any other table I have heard.
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Woops, I retract my comment about the Audio Technica AT-618 record weight - it works fine, I had just somehow managed to not have it seated correctly. Probably the best bang for the buck if you're looking for a weight rather than a reflex clamp. But I think I will mainly use the Michell reflex clamp going forward.
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Woops, I retract my comment about the Audio Technica AT-618 record weight - it works fine, I had just somehow managed to not have it seated correctly. Probably the best bang for the buck if you're looking for a weight rather than a reflex clamp. But I think I will mainly use the Michell reflex clamp going forward.
Hi ab
What do you feel improves with the different clamp?
james
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James,
The main reason why I do like the reflex clamps is that with a weight I do find that with some records I can see that the edges are not in good physical contact with the platter, and just judging from what I have seen with my eyes, it seems that sometimes a weight alone can even make this worse. Of course it may not matter with most LP's, but it does seem to matter with some. Re weights, I was honestly just playing around; the AT618 is a good bit heavier and wider than the supplied weight, and also nicely rubberized, which may or may not help to damp resonances. I have not had time to really compare them sonically; honestly I just surreptitiously added the AT to one of my Amazon orders b/c I figured the Finance Dept. would let it slide and I could always return it or give it to a friend. But I will get to it this week. I don't really obsess about this kind of thing sonically; it's just a cheap tweak, and no audiophile can resist a cheap tweak. :wink:
EDIT: If people want to try different clamps/weights, be aware of the height. The supplied weight is 30mm high; I wouldn't go much higher than that, but that leaves plenty of choices if you want to play.
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Eg, with this pressing (an inexpensive Thelonius Monk on, obviously, red vinyl), which is visibly warped, I get much flatter edges of the LP with the Michell clamp than I do with any of my weights.
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=155250)
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Eg, with this pressing (an inexpensive Thelonius Monk on, obviously, red vinyl), which is visibly warped, I get much flatter edges of the LP with the Michell clamp than I do with any of my weights.
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=155250)
Neat looking LP - did not realize they were available in red.
james
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I still have my LP of Rush, Hemispheres, which I bought back in high school. It was red. At the time, everyone thought that was such a novelty and cool! 8)
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James,
That is actually a cheap pressing, which to be honest I bought mainly for the fun of taking the photograph... but it sounds surprisingly good! I had heard, somewhere, that colored vinyl tends to be noisy, but this LP at least isn't. The only other colored LP I have is a red pressing of the J Geils Band's Bloodshot, which I got when I was maybe 14. Not sure how playable that one is, though I do still have it.
Could be an interesting way to introduce ourselves to new music - seek it out by color. :thumb:
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I'm not sure about noisy, but they usually don't sound as good as a regular black vinyl. Thankfully for us used vinyl the color stuff usually commands a higher price, "collectible" bleh, whatever!
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Folsom, agreed.
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Folsom, agreed.
those are unofficial or bootlegged colored releases. B&N, MONDO, and others go through a proper and thorough mastering process before released on exclusive colored or black vinyl.
ps: don't tell Dave Mason his ALONE TOGETHER sounds better in black than the original marble release..LOL
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Sorry if this has been discussed.
Can the SP3 be used as the phono stage for the new turntable?
Thanks.
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Can the SP3 be used as the phono stage for the new turntable?
The SP3 surround processor doesn't have a built-in phono stage so you would have to use an external MM or MC phono preamplifier (or MM/MC) connected to one of the analog inputs.
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Thanks srb,
I better start budgeting :lol:
-turntable
-MM/MC
-cartridge
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MEMO: To All Bryston Customers
SUBJECT: Customer Feedback BLP-1 Turntable
January 2017
Hi James
Bravo!
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=155954)
Bryston BLP-1 Turntable BTP-1 Bryston Custom Power Supply
What an interesting experience returning to vinyl after 35 years of CDs, SACDs, DVD-As, FLAC and DSD downloads.
My first thought was that this medium is quieter. There’s a certain white noise in the digital, a grainier quality that is more felt than heard.
The sound with the Bryston turntable and pre-amp is pure.
John P.
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James, a fast question. Am thinking of getting a BP-2 to replace my current phono stage, which is rather old. Would 6mv overload the inputs? I assume not, but seems wise to be sure :)
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James, a fast question. Am thinking of getting a BP-2 to replace my current phono stage, which is rather old. Would 6mv overload the inputs? I assume not, but seems wise to be sure :)
No problem with 6mV - thats a higher number than normal - what MM cartridge is that?
james
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Ortofon Quintet Black thru a 1:20 step up transformer. I know I can go with a lower ratio but 1:20 gives me the absolutely perfect amount of gain to match my other sources, and also I already have the transformers. :)
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Ortofon Quintet Black thru a 1:20 step up transformer. I know I can go with a lower ratio but 1:20 gives me the absolutely perfect amount of gain to match my other sources, and also I already have the transformers. :)
Ah - OK - that works - is the step-up transformer an Ortofon as well?
james
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James,
I had bought a pair of Sony HA-T10's (same as the Ortofon T-5, I believe Sony made them for Ortofon.) had bought them just as an experiment and b/c they were so inexpensive at $78. Was very non-disappointed by the sound. At this moment I have on order a Lencomotion Step-up which uses Lundahl LL-9226's, same ratio (1:20.) Not sure if I should have gone higher-end, but these are the same series of transformers that ortofon uses in their Verto step-up, so I am reasonably confident that they should be decent. Anyway my DAC is the PS Audio DirectStream, which even via the balanced outputs is perhaps just a tad low in the gain department. In any case I found that while initially I had totally guessed that a 1:20 ration would be about right, I hit the bullseye in terms of matching the level to that of the DAC, so figured I'd stick with that ratio. The BP-2 has about the same gain as the mm section of my current phono pre, so that should work out just about right. I will gladly report on whether I think the Lundahls's are a step up (sorry :)) over the little Sonys. Will be about 2 weeks though before the Lencomotion arrives.
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Hi Folks,
Just got a copy of the Jan/Feb copy of the French Magazine TED.
Got the front cover of the Magazine showing the BLP-1 Turntable and a very extensive 5 page review.
james
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=156434)
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Hi Folks,
Look close - notice what Turntable that is?
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=156491)
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Hi Folks,
Here is the full review on the Bryston BLP-1 Turntable in French - English translation due in a week.
http://www.bryston.com/PDF/reviews/2017_01_Review_TED_BLP_1.pdf
james
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New LP's
http://www.analogplanet.com/content/third-man-starts-presses-detroit-february-25th#jiK2DSkbiXrT7l7A.97
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New LP's
http://www.analogplanet.com/content/third-man-starts-presses-detroit-february-25th#jiK2DSkbiXrT7l7A.97
that's pretty cool, in the cass corridor even with a lot of muggers, homeless, winos, junkies etc.
i know this because i lived in detroit for most of my life, anyway, i commend jack white for making this factory a reality....
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MEMO: To All Bryston Customers
SUBJECT: Bryston Turntable – Customer Feedback
February 2017
Hi James,
The sound of the Bryston table is great!
I had the dealer here in Calgary (James at Absolute Audio) install a Dynavector XX2 MKII MC cartridge for me, it seems a very good match, I talked with you prior to buying the table, but I’m not sure if I mentioned (at that time) I just got back into vinyl after a break of over 30 years.
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=157651)
My records hadn’t seen the light of day since 1986! My last turntable back then was an Oracle Delphi with SME Series III S arm and Dynavector Karat Diamond cartridge, so my standards were high. I just could’t see myself spending the $17,000 (plus) it would cost to replace it today.
I had originally bought a Rega RP6 late last year, but was not impressed with the very troublesome (and not very successful) task of isolating it from high levels of noise. I also spent $750 dollars on after-market parts trying to improve the sound quality, and still wasn’t even close to being satisfied. I gave up trying and listening after a very short time. The majority of my 700 albums (all but the first half dozen) stayed in the moving boxes they had been in for the last 30 years.
I came across a couple of great reviews on the Bryston BLP-1 in my search for another option. My call to you confirmed Bryston is the same company I remember (excellence in products, support and service) and in very good hands for the future, so I decided to give the BLP-1 a try.
Once I got the BLP-1 home, I started my vinyl journey again. The first album I listened to was one my parents (now deceased) gave me back in 1976. It’s the Eric Clapton album “No Reason to Cry”. An always favourite track of mine on the album was “Hello Old Friend”, a song that holds much more meaning to me now, 30 years later. As I sat and listened, the magic was there and a smile grew across my face - now that’s how I remember things sounding! It was a perfect track to start with - getting reacquainted with my old albums and a familiar old brand felt like saying “Hello” to some "Old Friends”. I was transported back in time - great music and sound has always been like a time machine for me. I have since gone through several discs including some of my treasured 30 year old direct-to-disc LP’s. I’m now more excited about my 43 year hobby than I have been in many, many years.
I’m very pleased with the BLP-1, it has exceeded my expectations - a terrific product engineered and designed with the money spent in the right places to achieve exceptional value and performance - like all Bryston products in my experience. Back when I had the Delphi, I also had a Bryston preamp (I can’t recall the model) and a Bryston 4B power amplifier.
There was no fussing with positioning to reduce noise, I just had to hook it up, level it, turn it on and enjoy. The noise levels are far lower at 70 dB's of phono pre-amp gain than the Rega was at 40 dB’s.
The turntable looks great and the power supply is of superb design, performance and appearance. James at Absolute Audio did a great job on setup (he may even be pickier than me). I also bought the BHA-1 headphone amp at the same time and love it. It's refined with delicacy, finese and punch (when required) and easliy matches, or outperforms another headphone amp I own at over double the price.
Now I need to save my pennies for a new 4B Cubed and BP26 preamp.
Thanks & Best Regards,
Gil Chapman
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Hi Folks
Another great Bryston turntable review from TED Magazine.
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=157669)
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=157670)
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=157671)
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=157672)
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MEMO: To All Bryston Customers
SUBJECT: Bryston Turntable – Customer Feedback
February 2017
Hi James,
The sound of the Bryston table is great!
I had the dealer here in Calgary (James at Absolute Audio) install a Dynavector XX2 MKII MC cartridge for me, it seems a very good match, I talked with you prior to buying the table, but I’m not sure if I mentioned (at that time) I just got back into vinyl after a break of over 30 years.
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=157651)
My records hadn’t seen the light of day since 1986! My last turntable back then was an Oracle Delphi with SME Series III S arm and Dynavector Karat Diamond cartridge, so my standards were high. I just could’t see myself spending the $17,000 (plus) it would cost to replace it today.
I had originally bought a Rega RP6 late last year, but was not impressed with the very troublesome (and not very successful) task of isolating it from high levels of noise. I also spent $750 dollars on after-market parts trying to improve the sound quality, and still wasn’t even close to being satisfied. I gave up trying and listening after a very short time. The majority of my 700 albums (all but the first half dozen) stayed in the moving boxes they had been in for the last 30 years.
I came across a couple of great reviews on the Bryston BLP-1 in my search for another option. My call to you confirmed Bryston is the same company I remember (excellence in products, support and service) and in very good hands for the future, so I decided to give the BLP-1 a try.
Once I got the BLP-1 home, I started my vinyl journey again. The first album I listened to was one my parents (now deceased) gave me back in 1976. It’s the Eric Clapton album “No Reason to Cry”. An always favourite track of mine on the album was “Hello Old Friend”, a song that holds much more meaning to me now, 30 years later. As I sat and listened, the magic was there and a smile grew across my face - now that’s how I remember things sounding! It was a perfect track to start with - getting reacquainted with my old albums and a familiar old brand felt like saying “Hello” to some "Old Friends”. I was transported back in time - great music and sound has always been like a time machine for me. I have since gone through several discs including some of my treasured 30 year old direct-to-disc LP’s. I’m now more excited about my 43 year hobby than I have been in many, many years.
I’m very pleased with the BLP-1, it has exceeded my expectations - a terrific product engineered and designed with the money spent in the right places to achieve exceptional value and performance - like all Bryston products in my experience. Back when I had the Delphi, I also had a Bryston preamp (I can’t recall the model) and a Bryston 4B power amplifier.
There was no fussing with positioning to reduce noise, I just had to hook it up, level it, turn it on and enjoy. The noise levels are far lower at 70 dB's of phono pre-amp gain than the Rega was at 40 dB’s.
The turntable looks great and the power supply is of superb design, performance and appearance. James at Absolute Audio did a great job on setup (he may even be pickier than me). I also bought the BHA-1 headphone amp at the same time and love it. It's refined with delicacy, finese and punch (when required) and easliy matches, or outperforms another headphone amp I own at over double the price.
Now I need to save my pennies for a new 4B Cubed and BP26 preamp.
Thanks & Best Regards,
Gil Chapman
Gil,
Your comments on rediscovering your "old friend" gave me pause. I posted a similar thought on the Steve Hoffman forums a few years back. Here is the link
http://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/reconnected-with-an-old-friend-last-night.355279/
There is real magic in those vinyl grooves. Music and life events intertwine like the DNA double helix.
I was seduced by hi Rez surround formats 15 years ago (!) but the productions don't satisfy like my original vinyl. Happily I had kept most of my vinyl library.
Bryston did not have a turntable when I was in the market and I got a well tempered Amadeus. Carr has been upgraded to Grado reference master. Bryston 28 bsst2 Amps, bel canto pre6 and Hagerman Cornet2 phono with vintage RCA tubes running now. Also have Amperex vintage tubes that are sooooo seductive. Speakers are Brian Cheney (rip) VMPS RM30 series 2
If you can stretch a bit, go for the 28s. The used bsst2 pair might be in reach. And that owner can get the b3 version and everyone wins.
The 28s give it all: incredible delicacy and grace to the wildest thrill ride in the park. Really.
-
http://www.bryston.com/PDF/reviews/2017_02_Review_Turntable.pdf
james
-
an Ortofon 2M Bronze cartridge for the review....??
If the reviewer thinks that's a great cartridge.... :oops:
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an Ortofon 2M Bronze cartridge for the review....??
If the reviewer thinks that's a great cartridge.... :oops:
Yes it says a lot - average cartridge with great table = great sound aye! :thumb:
james
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Hi Folks,
Speaking of Cartridges do you think it would be a good idea to offer a cartridge or 2 at a special price if purchased with the turntable.
I have an opportunity to purchase some BENZ MC Glider cartridges and a High Output MC Dynavector at really great prices so it would save the customer a fair bit of money if purchased as a package?
james
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Hi Folks,
Speaking of Cartridges do you think it would be a good idea to offer a cartridge or 2 at a special price if purchased with the turntable.
I have an opportunity to purchase some BENZ MC Glider cartridges and a High Output MC Dynavector at really great prices so it would save the customer a fair bit of money if purchased as a package?
james
I think it's a good idea as an option, not as a mandatory part of the "package". Most vinylers like to choose their own cart. Also, you should actually hear these carts first (if you haven't yet); it's your reputation on the line there!
How much is the discount on these carts at the buyer's end?
-
I think it's a good idea as an option, not as a mandatory part of the "package". Most vinylers like to choose their own cart. Also, you should actually hear these carts first (if you haven't yet); it's your reputation on the line there!
How much is the discount on these carts at the buyer's end?
I would say about 1/2 retail
james
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I would say about 1/2 retail
james
Dang, can you sell me one cart? :green: :thumb:
jk
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Hi Folks,
Speaking of Cartridges do you think it would be a good idea to offer a cartridge or 2 at a special price if purchased with the turntable.
I have an opportunity to purchase some BENZ MC Glider cartridges and a High Output MC Dynavector at really great prices so it would save the customer a fair bit of money if purchased as a package?
james
Would Bryston be planning to support the cartridges? If the answer is yes than is it worth the time and effort?
-
Would Bryston be planning to support the cartridges? If the answer is yes than is it worth the time and effort?
Hi
Yes we would through the cartridge manufacturer or distributor.
james
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Hi Folks,
Speaking of Cartridges do you think it would be a good idea to offer a cartridge or 2 at a special price if purchased with the turntable.
I have an opportunity to purchase some BENZ MC Glider cartridges and a High Output MC Dynavector at really great prices so it would save the customer a fair bit of money if purchased as a package?
james
...good idea, James. :thumb:
al.
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...good idea, James. :thumb:
al.
Hi Al,
Bought 12 cartridges last week sold 12 tables :thumb:.
james
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...Bryston is....incredible :thumb: :thumb:
congrats!
al.
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http://www.laweekly.com/music/why-cds-may-actually-sound-better-than-vinyl-5352162
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http://www.laweekly.com/music/why-cds-may-actually-sound-better-than-vinyl-5352162
well that does it..I'm selling everything...AGAIN.....lol
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LOL, vinyl's an acquired, nostalgic taste.
You pay $$$$ for distortion, inconvenience, compressed dynamic range, and
Rice Krispies served up on an expensive spinning plate.
snap, crackle, pop. :green:
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well that does it..I'm selling everything...AGAIN.....lol
LOL - good one :thumb: :thumb: :thumb:
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LOL, vinyl's an acquired, nostalgic taste.
You pay $$$$ for distortion, inconvenience, compressed dynamic range, and
Rice Krispies served up on an expensive spinning plate.
snap, crackle, pop. :green:
Yes but I love that. :rotflmao:
-
I didn't say it was a bad thing, did I?
-
So.. I am an old vinyl guy, but for the last 20 years have found myself pretty much listening to digital 95% of the time. Not exactly as a conscious ideological choice; ended up helping a company to develop a UI for a network audio product and used that, and over the years I just ended up putting more funds into digital, both hardware and software. The BLP-1 was what I bought to get back into vinyl. If I were asked to name a single thing that has most surprised me, it's how quiet the system is - I expect my cart (Quintet Black) has a lot to do with this; it must be tracking way lower in the grooves than my older stuff (various good MM's.) In any case: If you've got scratched records, obviously you'll hear it... but with clean vinyl in good condition, wow. I expected to really have to get used to a degree of noise, but so far have really not had to cringe much. :) That said, I do agree that total quiet is a very major plus for digital.
-
abuhannibal, Do you use a suction cleaner for vinyl? I've read mixed ops about them -- quite expensive, but good results. Won't fix scratched vinyl, but apparently they can get the deeper dirt out of grooves for a quieter playback. I used a cheap manual disc spinner (the yellow one) with liquid cleaner.
Any thoughts?
-
So.. I am an old vinyl guy, but for the last 20 years have found myself pretty much listening to digital 95% of the time. Not exactly as a conscious ideological choice; ended up helping a company to develop a UI for a network audio product and used that, and over the years I just ended up putting more funds into digital, both hardware and software. The BLP-1 was what I bought to get back into vinyl. If I were asked to name a single thing that has most surprised me, it's how quiet the system is - I expect my cart (Quintet Black) has a lot to do with this; it must be tracking way lower in the grooves than my older stuff (various good MM's.) In any case: If you've got scratched records, obviously you'll hear it... but with clean vinyl in good condition, wow. I expected to really have to get used to a degree of noise, but so far have really not had to cringe much. :) That said, I do agree that total quiet is a very major plus for digital.
I agree - with a properly set up arm and cartridge and a good quite power supply and accurate rotation there is something special about LP playback and my first impression was the same as yours - WOW this is quiet and dynamic. :thumb:
Also something analog LPs do is create a sound-stage way behind each of the left and right speakers. So the sound-stage expands not just in the middle but to the sides and behind as well.
Neat effect !!!
james
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(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=159459)
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CanadianMaestro: As a kind a friend of mine's father had one of those car LP players in, I think, his Buick Roadmaster. Worked fine, as long as he drove very straight on smooth roads. :) Anyway, to answer your question, I currently have a Nitty Gritty Model 2. But sometimes I just use a Groovemaster brush with fluid, or a Hunts brush. I am considering an ultrasonic cleaner. But FWIW I remain convinced that the stylus is making a huge difference. The last cart that I used regularly and know well before I got the Quintet Black was an Ortofon OM40 MM. Both have exotic stylus shapes, but I do think the Quintet is noticeably better with surface noise.
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http://www.laweekly.com/music/why-cds-may-actually-sound-better-than-vinyl-5352162
Thanks for sharing. I hadn't given much thought to the ordering of tracks on vinyl, which was new information for me. It's hard to argue that CDs have a wider dynamic range, so I understand the advantage for classical music in particular.
In my experience, it's the engineering and mastering that makes the biggest difference. I find clean, quiet vinyl just as enjoyable as CDs on the material I listen to (jazz and rock). Clicks and pops are distracting to be sure, but tolerable in most cases. Equally distracting is the horribly over-compressed CDs.
My primary driver for which I buy is availability. You just can't find some old releases on CD, and in that case, the surface noise and pops are preferable to nothing. If it's a choice between the $12 CD and the same track list on a $30 LP, I'll take the CD, thanks.
-
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=159459)
I can see it all now. The "retro hipsters" will be all over this. Coming soon in your 2018 BMW!
-
Edit
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MEMO: To All Bryston Customers
SUBJECT: Bryston - New Turntable BLP-.5 (point 5)
Hi Folks,
We are pleased to announce the new Bryston BLP-.5 (point 5) Turntable.
The BLP-.5 turntable offers the same quality parts and similar performance level as the current Bryston BLP-1 Turntable but with a less expensive arm.
Inside this new Bryston BLP-.5 Tonearm you will find four high precision micro ball-bearings manufactured by GRW in Germany and then singularly sealed and packed to preserve their integrity and purity at the best: extreme precision is a crucial factor and it allows B-.5 tonearm to reproduce without effort every musical detail.
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=160476)
Quality materials, like finely machined Aluminum 6000 make this tone arm the perfect choice for demanding audiophiles.
This will allow our customers to purchase a superb turntable at a much lower price point and will also allow them to upgrade the Tonearm to the more expensive version on the Bryston BLP-1 table in the future if they wish.
We are offering a special package price on the BLP-.5B turntable with a free moving magnet cartridge (retail value $150.00) for the next 60 days.
Suggested Retail on the new Bryston BLP-.5 Turntable is $2,995
Specifications:
Total arm length: 315mm Dynamic effective mass: 10g
Total arm weight: 350g VTF: 0.176N (18g)
9” Ball Bearing Tonearm VTA: adjustable on collar
Effective length: 242mm Lift: hydraulic
Overhang: 19mm Anti skating: wire
Offset: 24° Azimuth: adjustable with 2mm hex-bolt
Arm wand: finely machined aluminum Internal cables: AWG36 Hyper Litz shielded 99.9999% OFC
Shaft: 23mm External cables: 1.5m custom 5 pole DIN/RCA
-
April 2017
Hi James
Report on my Bryston BLP-1 Turntable:
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=160886)
My two prior tables were a (EDIT), (EDIT) arm, and (EDIT) cart, and a (EDIT) with (EDIT) arm and various high-end MM’s like the Precept with boron cantilever and Shibata stylus.
I can tell you that the BLP1 slays both of them without breaking the tiniest bit of a sweat.
I did nearly buy a VPI Prime; there were a few things that made me decide on the BLP1 instead.
Bob
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Hi, James,
I just completed the turntable set up.
SO EASY!
I installed an Ortofon 2M Black cartridge. No adjustments were necessary for either the vertical tracking angle (for 200 gm. discs) or the azimuth.
In addition to the turntable, I have purchased and received a BP26-MM Preamp, PS-3 Power Supply, and 2.5B3 Amplifier and will be setting those up next week.
Best wishes,
James Citti
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The Ortofon 2M black is a very nice cartridge and very forgiving.I have one on my 2nd arm for my VPI classic 2. That being said , you may want to rethink your set up. Very few LPs are 200 gram. Most reissues are 180 and of course the original copies are thinner and actually smoke the sound of the reissues. Assuming no scratches..LOL. Now as far as the the 2M goes. It is a very light cartridge and depending on the counterweight on the Bryston, it will require being set up at the proper tracking force. I believe 1.6 - 1.8 is the recommended setting. Once that is done you can recheck your height and Azumith. The wrong tracking force can ruin both the stylus and your lps.
-
Ortofon's 2M Black is indeed a fine cartridge which incorporates a Shibata stylus profile which is known for being quite sensitive to rake angle. As such care should be taken with regard to setting the optimal height of the tonearm to properly set its VTA. It's not known for being a 'plug and play' cartridge, as the Red and Blue models in the 2M line are much more forgiving of setup parameters. You won't achieve the performance level that the 2M Black is capable of and which you paid for without taking time to optimize its setup.
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SUBJECT: To All Bryston Customers
SUBJECT: Bryston Turntable – Customer Feedback
May 2017
Hi, James,
My opinion of the sound of my new Bryston turntable.
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=162154)
In short, the sound and overall performance exceeds my expectations!
As a 17-year owner of Bryston audio equipment, my bar is quite high. Tracking, with an Ortofon 2M Black cartridge is flawless. I agree with your position that an anti-skate mechanism is not needed.
The arm tracks the bias bands on the Hi-Fi News Analogue Test LP—even band 9, the “torture track.” The turntable design strikes me as being based on pragmatic engineering and material science principles rather than in vogue audiophile ideologies.
I am also pleased with the quality and performance of my new BP26MM preamplifier, PS3 power supply, and 2.5B(3) amplifier.
Thanks for the help and advice.
Yours truly.
Jim Cittit
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A hint of the future?
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=163162)
Floating platter. Absolut Cool. Wonder how it sounds....
http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/the-2017-munich-high-end-show/
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MEMO: To All Bryston Customers
SUBJECT: New Turntable Dust Cover Hinges
June 2017
Hi Folks,
We have a new OPTIONAL TURNTABLE DUST COVER HINGE for our BLP-1 Turntable
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=163517)
It features a very solid mechanism but allows for the dust cover to be slipped off if you do not want the dustcover attached or closed when playing your LP’s.
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=163518)
The dust cover can ONLY be REMOVED once it is completely open with the dust cover vertical at 90°.
They will be available in White or Black.
I will have pricing shortly
james tanner
Bryston
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Very nice idea IMHO!!! Having the integral dust cover was an important purchasing decision for me; this lets us have our cake and eat it too, with no downside.
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http://www.ctvnews.ca/entertainment/sony-to-start-spinning-vinyl-after-30-year-hiatus-1.3481981
james
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http://www.ctvnews.ca/entertainment/sony-to-start-spinning-vinyl-after-30-year-hiatus-1.3481981
james
Nice!
-
http://www.ctvnews.ca/entertainment/sony-to-start-spinning-vinyl-after-30-year-hiatus-1.3481981
james
If a major player like Sony is getting back to record production, they certainly must know something. Someone there probably saw that Bryston has started making turntables and said, "That's it!"
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https://www.analogplanet.com/content/after-13-year-hiatus-koreas-mechang-music-and-pictures-again-pressing-vinyl-records
-
I believe, once up and running, that the SONY plant will be the only operating vinyl plant in Japan.
-
James, any word on the new hinges? I'd probably pick up a set...
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MEMO: To All Bryston Customers
SUBJECT: Bryston Turntable – Customer Feedback
July 2017
Hi Folks,
Another happy customer with our new Bryston BLP-1 Turntable system.
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=166025)
Bryston BLP-1 turntable with a Soundsmith Aida cartridge spinning it's first vinyl.
Tweekend by Crystal Method.
KILLER!!!
Mike Burns
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very nice!!
I use the Soundsmith Aida on my table. Sorry not a Bryston.Sweet cartridge!.
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MEMO: To All Bryston Customers
SUBJECT: Bryston Turntable – Dealer Feedback
July, 2017
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=166074)
James,
I had a customer ask me this question " What the heck does a $4,000 turntable sound like?"
She was getting back into vinyl after a 20 year hiatus. I had set up her Technics SL 1500 with an Audio Technica 95AE and she was grooving on the vinyl sound.
I told her about the Bryston BLP-1 Turntable and how excited I was to get Wolfsong Audio's table up and running. With just a few hours of play I have an answer to her question.
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=166075)
I cannot say this applies to all $4,000 turntables but this one sings.
It has truly extended frequency range and is true to the harmonics of real music. The fundamental notes are all equal in measure and the harmonics that each of those notes generates are tonally correct with realistic decay and dynamics. Rock solid bass with real timbre and tone set the pace for "boogie" and soaring upper midrange to lower treble give life to music whether it was recorded live on a stage or mixed in a studio.
Bravo Bryston!
Mike,
WOLFSONG AUDIO
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James,
What's the word on pricing for the new hinges?
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Hi James
Just discovered Audio Circle and looking over a few posts I stopped at the first page by “Canadian Maestro” is incorrect. Clearaudio started out by making cartridges for 10 years before venturing into all other areas like tone arms cleaning machines, phono stages even amps and pre-amps. VPI started out by making record cleaning machines; then the VPI brick. Ortofon still makes phono stages and tone arm and accessories, Koetsu does the same. Focal the same by owning Naim.
I have to let him know his cartridge is a rebadged Audio Technica. I am not a member of the group so I can’t reply perhaps you could pass this on to him.
And the bearings are ceramic not tungsten same as used as the $7000 SME arm and the Kuzma arm.
Vince
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Hi James
Just discovered Audio Circle and looking over a few posts I stopped at the first page by “Canadian Maestro” is incorrect. Clearaudio started out by making cartridges for 10 years before venturing into all other areas like tone arms cleaning machines, phono stages even amps and pre-amps. VPI started out by making record cleaning machines; then the VPI brick. Ortofon still makes phono stages and tone arm and accessories, Koetsu does the same. Focal the same by owning Naim.
I have to let him know his cartridge is a rebadged Audio Technica. I am not a member of the group so I can’t reply perhaps you could pass this on to him.
And the bearings are ceramic not tungsten same as used as the $7000 SME arm and the Kuzma arm.
Vince
Vince,
That's fine with me -- as long as it sounds great!! Which it does.
cheers
p.s. I had actually checked the S/N of my cart with CA. It checked out back then. Also, AT carts use a different mount and wiring config than this CA cart. This one uses Direct Wire -- no connector joints in tonearm, straight wire from cart body to phono stage. So, I doubt that this is an AT cart. In any case, both make v.g. carts. :thumb:
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So thinking of finally giving up on the old lp-12 and picking up one of these BLP-1 was wondering if I could use my expensive tone arm cable with a 90deg 5pin din connector?
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So thinking of finally giving up on the old lp-12 and picking up one of these BLP-1 was wondering if I could use my expensive tone arm cable with a 90deg 5pin din connector?
HI
The Bryston tonearm table uses the 4 pin European standard - the 5 Pin was a SME version.
There are a few companies offering 4 pin to 5 pin adapters.
james
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MEMO: To All Bryston Customers
SUBJECT: Bryston BLP-1 Turntable – Customer Feedback
January 2018
Hi James
Got my Bryston BLP-1 Turntable the other day.
First of all I am using the BLP-1 with a Dynavector 20X2L feeding a Rega IOS LOMC phono pre into a Icon LA4MK3 pre into my Gryphon power amp running a pair of Totem Fires (can you tell I shop at Simcoe Sound).
I used the same DV on the Rega RP-6 so it's a direct comparison.
The main differences that the Bryston table brings to the party for me are resolution, definition and details. It just seems to dig deeper and it reproduces everything in a more refined detailed fashion but has all of the " PRAT " that the Rega is famous for.
I've noticed deeper bass ( without bloom ) more defined mids and highs that just seem more silky yet incredibly clear. I'm not very good at describing differences but to put it in simple terms, compared to the BLP-1 the Rega RP-6 is slurring it's words.
Thing is, I didn't realize that until I compared the two back to back.
Hope this makes sense and thanks again.
Ken.
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there is a great sale on AA for the table and cartridge. I f you are considering getting one, don't let this slip away
http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=BYBLP1&variation=BLK10X5
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Looks like the only one AA has left is with the Dynavector 10x5. Still a crazy good deal for $2699 - I would gladly buy one with no cartridge at all for that price and consider myself to have made out like a bandit!
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Hi all, I just received my Bryston BLP-1 today. I'm pairing with Hana SL mC cart and it's sound great. I also have a question about 4pin cable upgrades. I current have a Transparent RCA phono ultra mm2 cable, which is nice. I can either use an adapter like these:
Gold Note: DIN/RCA adapter (for 4 Pin standard DIN): $191 USD http://www.akamaiaudio.it/index.php?id_product=273&controller=product&search_query=rca&results=10
Transparent Audio DIN->RCA Adapter: $310 USD https://shop.transparentcable.com/shop/analog-audio/audio-cable-adapters/transparent-din-to-rca-adapter/ (from website, it looks like a 5-pin)
Or the option is a 4-pin Din to RCA cable. Only one I've found so far is from Moon Audio: net is around $415 for 4pin din, 4.5ft, and cardas silver termination.
https://www.moon-audio.com/silver-dragon-phono-din-rca-naim-cable-v1.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=google_shopping&gclid=Cj0KCQiA5aTUBRC2ARIsAPoPJk_2qJIEygPqHjy02Kue9FkfrEhj9BF_7s0wNb-vB5CMEmffx30HpBgaAn4xEALw_wcB&ad=106141896681
Hoping to hear what others on the forum use, or if I should expect to hear a significant sonic improvement upgrade from stock cables.
Thanks all!
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Hi
Here is another option - he will do custom cables for the BLP-1
http://audiosensibility.com/blog/
james
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Thanks is that what you're using? Just trying to get a feel for what folks who have this TT use. Thanks again.
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Thanks is that what you're using? Just trying to get a feel for what folks who have this TT use. Thanks again.
Hi
Yes he sent me a sample and I use it once and a while.
james
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I have a VPI table and use Audio Sensibility phono cables. They are highly recommended by many TT owners. Excellent build quality and customer service is first class. Some members use their cables for everything throughout their entire systems.
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Awesome! I just sold my Transparent Ultras and picked up a pair of Statements. Fingers crossed!
Thanks all!
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+1 on Audio Sensibility. I have one of his silver tonearm cables and am very satisfied with it. Also great service and very accessible.
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MEMO: To All Bryston Customers
SUBJECT: Bryston BLP-1 Turntable – Customer Feedback
February, 2018
Hi James
Got my Bryston BLP-1 Turntable the other day.
“This Bryston turntable sounds so much better than my old rig, it is hard to believe –
The vinyl magic is back!”
Marc,
New Hampshire
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=176477)
Hi Bryston,
“I got my Bryston turntable from Wolfsong Audio in Georga.
This is a really superb turntable. Mine came packaged with a premounted Benz Micro cartridge.
In my opionion it's better than the VPI or Rega tables I've owned.”
Tom Hankins
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James,
There is a thread in the newly established DC HiFi Forums about the BLP-1. It is very laudatory of both the table and Bryston. I’ve included a link to the thread below. Please note that only members can post but, should you want to comment, I would be happy to forward your comment to Chris for posting (the administrator - I suspect you may have already spoken with him).
Larry
http://dchifigroup.proboards.com/thread/11/bryston-turntable-btp1-power-supply
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A bit surprised re the comments there about the counterweight hitting the dust cover with the Dynavector cart - FWIW, I am using a Quintet Black, which weighs 9 grams, with tracking weight at 2.3 grams and it does not hit the dust cover at the end of a side with the cover down, though it comes close. I reckon that if one needs to play with the cover down due to cats, small children, or other life forms in proximity to the table, one can either limit the weight of one's cartridge or try one of the heavy rega counterweights that are available from various sources. Having owned the 'table now for some time, this is pretty much the only thing I'd change - if they made the plinth 1/4 of an inch wider it would eliminate the issue. Not really a problem for me as there are plenty of choices at about the Quintet's weight or under, but FWIW: Some of us do need that dust cover to be there! :wink:
Have a few friends with pretty serious analog hardware (not gonna name names :)) who come over to listen and they have been very impressed with the BLP-1.
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A bit surprised re the comments there about the counterweight hitting the dust cover with the Dynavector cart - FWIW, I am using a Quintet Black, which weighs 9 grams, with tracking weight at 2.3 grams and it does not hit the dust cover at the end of a side with the cover down, though it comes close. I reckon that if one needs to play with the cover down due to cats, small children, or other life forms in proximity to the table, one can either limit the weight of one's cartridge or try one of the heavy rega counterweights that are available from various sources. Having owned the 'table now for some time, this is pretty much the only thing I'd change - if they made the plinth 1/4 of an inch wider it would eliminate the issue. Not really a problem for me as there are plenty of choices at about the Quintet's weight or under, but FWIW: Some of us do need that dust cover to be there! :wink:
Have a few friends with pretty serious analog hardware (not gonna name names :)) who come over to listen and they have been very impressed with the BLP-1.
Hi Folks
It is not recommended by the manufacturer to play LP's with the dust cover down as it creates turbulence as the massive platter spins in an enclosed space.
james
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Jim,
Duly noted, but a) no ill effects have been observed, either sonically or visually, and b) kittens love to ride on spinning disks and can be murderous on ruby cantilevers. Just sayin.'
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Also: Wouldn't be very hard to prop the dustcover open a bit (say half an inch or an inch) with small rubber blocks or something like that... which should mitigate any turbulence to some degree, no? I am aware that the gooves under the platter also help with this - was a selling point for me when I bought the table.. but for whatever it's worth, in my setup neither I nor my more golden-eared friend has detected any deleterious effects of playing with the cover closed. YMMV as always.
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(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=180586)
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=180587)
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=180588)
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=180589)
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Interesting to see a reviewer pick up on a few of the same things I did. I also found the design of the headshell fingerlift to be a little funky at first, but now I think it's fine- just a little different than I had been used to, is all. Also, aesthetically, the wife loves it, and she doesn't say that very often. I think it is svelte and sexy in a non-nonsense kind of way.
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Hi James!
I've recently gotten the Bryston BLP-1 Turntable and the Dynavector 20X broken in and the results are quite spectacular.
Best Regards,
Brian Warford
Brian's Custom Theaters and Hi-Fi
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MEMO: To All Bryston Customers
SUBJECT: Bryston BLP-1 Turntable Review In Absolute Sound!
June 2018
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=181384)
Hi Folks,
Very happy to report a superb review on the Bryston BLP-1 Turntable and Tonearm in this months issue of The Absolute Sound Magazine
Will have a PDF of the complete review available shortly.
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=181385)
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Just got my issue of the Absolute Sound with the Bryston turntable review today (in mail)
Good review.
The whole issue is full of turntables and cartridges! Vinyl is baaack.
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(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=181661)
PDF available -jamestanner@bryston.com
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(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=181693)
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HI Folks
I have assembled 13 PDF's of most of the reviews we have received on the Bryston BLP-1 Turntable.
I will send in 2 emails due to size.
Email me if you want a copy jamestanner@bryston.com.
james
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https://www.ecoustics.com/roundups/bryston-blp-1-turntable-reviews/
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Did the removable hinges ever get released, and if so what was the price?
Sid
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Sidstall, I ordered a set from Gold Note in Italy - http://www.akamaiaudio.it/index.php?id_product=353&controller=product
The Gold Note people are very responsive and their shipping is also fast, maybe 5-6 days to me in New Jersey. One thing to be aware of is that the removable hinges don't have the mechanism to hold the cover upright, which is of course not going to be a problem if you are removing it for play. FWIW: I have a few friends with golden-er ears than mine, and so far none of us has heard a difference between cover on and cover off. So at this point I have elected to leave the stock hinges in place. But as always YMMV.
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MEMO: To All Bryston Customers
SUBJECT: Golden Ear Award – Bryston BLP-1 Turntable
August 2018
Hi Folks,
Bryston is very pleased to announce that the Bryston BLP-1 Turntable has received a Golden Ear Award in the 2018 issue of the Absolute Sound magazine.
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=183622)
Bryston Turntable and Tonearm
Supplied with record weight, dust cover (three cheers!), and the company's proprietary BTP-1 outboard pulse-with-modulation power supply, this belt- driven two-speed turntable boasts exceptional speed accuracy and spot- on rendition of pitch, timing, rhythm, and togetherness.
Bass is deep and powerful with remarkable resistance to external disturbances despite its fixed plinth (though it's quite the best compact, lightweight turntable I've ever used).
All up and down the scale the BLP-1 provides a neutral platform of great composure grip, and dynamic range with commendable quiet backgrounds. The tube of the nine-inch gimbal-bearing tonearm is constructed in seven segments of differing diameters the better to deal with unwanted resonances. (Bryston challenges the need for anti-skating but will provide it if requested)
Offering joy of vinyl at a level of performance that gets you to the threshold of the so-called "super" turntables without the fussiness, the need for continual adjustment, and the sheer anxiety that all too often accompanies some esoteric setups.
Bryston just couldn't have made life in the vinyl lane easier or more inviting than with the BLP-1.
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Decided to try the new hinges... only took 5 min or so to install and they do work well. Haven't really done any critical listening yet, but admittedly, not having the dust cover attached to the table can only help. Bottom line: if anyone's on the fence about trying these, give 'em a shot...
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=185271)
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Somebody should buy this, I would myself if I didn't already have one! https://www.ebay.com/itm/Audio-Sensibility-Statement-Silver-Phono-Cables-straight-4-pin-DIN-RCA-OCC-1-2M/183534653378?hash=item2abb848fc2:g:ejEAAOSwz05b61bt:rk:2:pf:0
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Somebody should buy this, I would myself if I didn't already have one! https://www.ebay.com/itm/Audio-Sensibility-Statement-Silver-Phono-Cables-straight-4-pin-DIN-RCA-OCC-1-2M/183534653378?hash=item2abb848fc2:g:ejEAAOSwz05b61bt:rk:2:pf:0
What advantages would silver wiring give to a sound system? :scratch:
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What advantages would silver wiring give to a sound system? :scratch:
Silver is supposedly a better conduit than both copper and gold. With this in mind, all of my cables, even the speaker cables, are silver cables from Bettercables.com.
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Silver is supposedly a better conduit than both copper and gold. With this in mind, all of my cables, even the speaker cables, are silver cables from Bettercables.com.
Measurements of conductivity claim insignificant diffs between copper and silver. What effect would silver wires have on SQ? Assuming everything else in a system stayed the same.
cheers, always looking to learn new things.
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The difference in conductivity is something like 5%, which can easily be compensated for, if desired, by using 5% more copper. I have owned silver cables and copper cables, and have never, with any of them, found the old audiophile truism that silver is brighter to be valid. I do tend to keep my stuff for a very long time, so the fact that silver, when it oxidizes, remains conductive is attractive to me in terms of longevity. In any event I can say that these are good sounding cables; whether they are good sounding because they are silver instead of copper I can't tell you. To say that, someone would have to compare a silver cable with essentially the same design (perhaps with 5% more copper) in copper. That would be a fun experiment to do.
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Thanks.
cheers
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FWIW I think Audioquest does this - uses the same basic design but substitutes silver for copper in their higher-end stuff. But the silver ones are crazy expensive, so I haven't considered them. I do still own some Silver Audio cables that I bought many years ago; FWIW they sound good to me but I don't like a soft top end, personally.
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If I read you correctly, anti-oxidation is the main reason for silver's existence as audiophile wire.
cheers
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Well, I was just speaking in terms of my own experience. I am sure some would say that it sounds intrinsically different; I am not arguing otherwise, just saying I don't really know.
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I also have the Bryston TT with their OEM phone cable.
Bryston also offer / sell an upgraded shielded cable...
Have you tried it? Comment and opinion?
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I wasn't aware that Bryston sells an upgraded cable. I only used the original cable for a day or so before switching it out, but I didn't have any noise or hum issues with it, FWIW.
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Has anyone experienced issued with their tone arm sticking? I have owned the table since 2018 and it was purchased new. Out of nowhere the stylus started skipping at the same point on most, it not all albums. The table has been looked at twice by a regional Gold Note dealer, including a complete ground up setup and nothing changed. I even used a different cartridge and the results were the same. Table is dead on level as is the place where it sits. I believe that one of the bearings has a slightly worn spot, but there is no way to tell for sure.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.