[gostan]

My new SP2 is now in line replacing an Arcam AVP700.  Unbelievably quiet, articulate and dynamic - it sounds simply superb.  I will have to listen more before posting a full review.  But........

Just one question relating to the Bypass Button and the Analog Balance Control.  When I go into 2 channel stereo bypass by turning off the digital and surround buttons and turning on the stereo button and the 2 channel bypass button, the Master Volume Control is disabled (obviously bypassed), but the Analog Balance Control appears to do absolutely nothing.  I had assumed that the Analog Balance Control would control the volume of the analog bypass circuit.  In order to readjust the volume in 2 channel bypass I have to turn the 2 channel bypass off, adjust the master volume control and re-apply the 2 channel bypass.

Am I incorrect or doing something wrong operationally, or is there a problem with the bypass circuit of the SP2?

Thanks for your comments on this.

Stan

[James Tanner]

My new SP2 is now in line replacing an Arcam AVP700.  Unbelievably quiet, articulate and dynamic - it sounds simply superb.  I will have to listen more before posting a full review.  But........

Just one question relating to the Bypass Button and the Analog Balance Control.  When I go into 2 channel stereo bypass by turning off the digital and surround buttons and turning on the stereo button and the 2 channel bypass button, the Master Volume Control is disabled (obviously bypassed), but the Analog Balan ...

Hi Stan,

If I understand your question correctly the small control you see labelled "Analog Balanced" is not a volume control - it is a Left to Right Balance control. It only works when you are in Analog Bypass and allows you to adjust the volume level from Left to Right on the Front speakers.

The larger volume control adjusts volume in Both the Digital mode and the Analog mode. The great design feature of the volume control is that in 'Bypass' the signal only goes through the control as analog because it is a Stereo potentiometer. A lot of processors say that the analog section is pure analog but in fact they still use the DAC's in the digital section to adjust volume. We do not.

james

PS - I will be very interested in your comments regarding the sound - so far the feedback (no pun intended) has been exceptional.

[gostan]

James,

Thanks for the response.  Your answer suggests a few more questions.

When I am in 2 channel stereo bypass and I turn the analog balance control I do not really notice any change.  If this is a left-right balance control I would think that ifI turn the analog balance all of the way to the left, all sound come from the left speaker, or is the analog balance control adjusment something more subtle.

Also, as to the master volume control in analog 2 channel bypass- I have no ability to increase or decrease the volume up or down unless I press turn the 2 channel bypass off.  Is this the way it is supposed to work?

The overall sound of the SP2 is simply amazing!!  

Stan

[James Tanner]

Hi Stan,

OK - I think I know what's up.
Have you hooked up the ANALOG left/right RCA outputs from your DVD/CD player to the CD ANALOG INPUT on the SP2 or have you just connected the Digital COAX output from your DVD/CD player?

james

[gostan]

Hi Stan,

OK - I think I know what's up.
Have you hooked up the ANALOG left/right RCA outputs from your DVD/CD player to the CD ANALOG INPUT on the SP2 or have you just connected the Digital COAX output from your DVD/CD player?

james

James, I have a Cary CD303/300 dual solid state and tube output cd player hooked up via  both digital coax and analog left/right outputs into the digital coax and analog CD inputs, respectively.

Stan

[James Tanner]

OK - so you hit the BYPASS button on the SP2 and your saying the volume control does nothing and you hear nothing?
Does BYPASS come up on the LCD display?

Just to be clear the Stereo button does not do anything when in BYpass mode.

james

[Levi]

That's where the confusion is.  I would connect the analog to CD input and the digital to DVD input.

That should fix your probs.

Hi Stan,

OK - I think I know what's up.
Have you hooked up the ANALOG left/right RCA outputs from your DVD/CD player to the CD ANALOG INPUT on the SP2 or have you just connected the Digital COAX output from your DVD/CD player?

james

James, I have a Cary CD303/300 dual solid state and tube output cd player hooked up via  both digital coax and analog left/right outputs into the digital coax and analog CD inputs, respectively.

Stan

[gostan]

OK - so you hit the BYPASS button on the SP2 and your saying the volume control does nothing and you hear nothing?
Does BYPASS come up on the LCD display?

Just to be clear the Stereo button does not do anything when in BYpass mode.

james

I have volume, but the volume is locked in at the volume level set prior to my hitting the Bypass button.  I do see 2 CH BYPASS on the lcd screen.

[gostan]

That's where the confusion is.  I would connect the analog to CD input and the digital to DVD input.

That should fix your probs.

 I will disconnect the coax digital cable when I get home and see if that does the trick.

[James Tanner]

Hi Gustan,

Well you got me sir - maybe try as Levi suggested putting the CD analog on the CD input and the Digital on DVD input and see what happens.

james

[Levi]

It won't hurt to save the settings after you have the damn thing working.  

That's where the confusion is.  I would connect the analog to CD input and the digital to DVD input.

That should fix your probs.

 I will disconnect the coax digital cable when I get home and see if that does the trick.

[gostan]

OK.  I disconnected the digital coaxial cable and I am hooked up only via analog rca out from the Cary cdp to cd analog in on the Bryston. No change at all.

The manual states that "Only standard format Stereo operation is permitted in Bypass 2 ch mode - all other functions are disabled.  The Front Panel Stereo Balance control now becomes active."

First, the foregoing must mean that the Master Volume Control is disabled.  That must mean that there is no method of increasing or decreasing the volume when the SP2 is in Bypass 2 channel - except by shutting off the Bypass 2 ch mode.  It would be helpful if somebody could confirm this.  The Bryston manual is a little thin on this subject, but I think that I now understand this question.  And I can simply engage and disengage the 2 ch bypass from the remote and increase or decrease the volume.

Second, the front panel Stereo Balance control is now active in Bypass 2 ch mode. I do not see that there is any change in left - right balance when I adjust this control to either the left or the right. I would think that if I adjusted the analog balance control all of the way to the left that all sound would come from the left speaker and none from the right.  I do not hear/perceive any change in balance at all when I turn the balance control.  Balance still appears to be equal. Any thoughts?  This is still my main outstanding question.

And everything sounds magnificent.

[James Tanner]

Hi Stan,


No there is something wrong - the 2 channel bypass still uses the Master volume control. The master volume control is just disabled from the digital section.

Also the balance control should work.

I will run this by engineering tomorrow.

What serial number do you have Stan?

james

[gostan]

James,

I will send you an email. I thought something went aray.

Thanks,

Stan