[kfr01]

I listen to music almost exclusively via USB.  I am currently running a PS Audio Digital Link III.  I have the upgrade bug and was in an audio store listening to preamplifiers over the weekend.  What was the item that seemed to make the biggest difference in the audio chain?  The Bryston BDA-1.  The dealer did some switching back and force between different DACs and sources.  Everything universally sounded better on the BDA-1.  Airy yet smooth, it sounded wonderful to my ears.  I was ready to pull the trigger but decided to come back and do some reading.  The stereophile review was a bit puzzling, as I didn't get the feel that Atkinson was impressed with the measurements, even though the listener really liked the product ("Still, I was puzzled by the noise modulation in the low treble, and the less-good performance with oversampling was not what I expected.—John Atkinson"). 

Further, I don't have a feel for how the technology of the BDA-1 stacks up against my PS Audio Digital Link III. 

Anyone help me out?  Thanks in advance.

[James Tanner]

Hi kfro1

Measurements are important of course and there is some questions we have regarding our measurements and other reviews measurements vs Johns but when all is said and done these measurement in our opinion are so far below threshold that it really does not affect the major sonic characteristics of our DAC.

The areas of design which we feel contribute much more to the sound quality of our DAC have to do with independent power supplies for the analog and digital sections, independent ground planes for the analog and digital sections, transformer coupled digital inputs, the discrete Class A analog output section etc. which make a huge difference in the performance.

james

[kfr01]

James: 

Thanks for your reply.  Those sections of the DAC you mentioned should put the BDA-1 into a new league for me relative to the PS Audio unit.  The BDA-1 really did sound wonderful in the store compared to every other source the dealer had running. 

Which I guess brings me to another question as I browse around.  I was originally in the market for a new preamplifier.  Any chance the BP-26 will ever have a USB input?

[James Tanner]

James: 

Thanks for your reply.  Those sections of the DAC you mentioned should put the BDA-1 into a new league for me relative to the PS Audio unit.  The BDA-1 really did sound wonderful in the store compared to every other source the dealer had running. 

Which I guess brings me to another question as I browse around.  I was originally in the market for a new preamplifier.  Any chance the BP-26 will ever have a USB input?

Hi kfro1,

No plans in that direction as currently USB is limited to 96/24 with propriatary software and we are waiting to see if digital chips become available for USB 192/24. 

james

[Levi]

I listen to music almost exclusively via USB.  I am currently running a PS Audio Digital Link III.  I have the upgrade bug and was in an audio store listening to preamplifiers over the weekend.  What was the item that seemed to make the biggest difference in the audio chain? 

It's the speakers.

[kfr01]

I agree.  I'm a huge fan of DIY speaker building for that reason. 

... I was talking about a listening session entirely on B&W 805D monitors -- which sounded lovely, by the way.  We were only switching different sources in and out and then on and off the Bryston DAC. 

On the same speakers, the Bryston BDA-1 seemed to improve the sound quality over DACs in some expensive cd players, particularly in the upper midrange.   

[1ZIP]

...slightly off topic, but you will find that the B&W 805's are a excellent match for Bryston gear.

[alexone]

I agree.  I'm a huge fan of DIY speaker building for that reason. 

... I was talking about a listening session entirely on B&W 805D monitors -- which sounded lovely, by the way.  We were only switching different sources in and out and then on and off the Bryston DAC. 

On the same speakers, the Bryston BDA-1 seemed to improve the sound quality over DACs in some expensive cd players, particularly in the upper midrange.   

hi, KFR!

what DIY speaker do you have at home?

al.

[alexone]

James,

i am sorry but i have to ask this one cause it is still confusing me somehow...

the BDA-1 has one 4398 per channel. why?


al.

[James Tanner]

James,

i am sorry but i have to ask this one cause it is still confusing me somehow...

the BDA-1 has one 4398 per channel. why?


al.

Hi Al,

Just to maintained the dual mono idea throughout the unit.

james

[alexone]

Hi Al,

Just to maintained the dual mono idea throughout the unit.

james

ok.
but the BCD-1 has got one 4398 for both channels, right?! what about the dual mono idea here?

al.

[James Tanner]

ok.
but the BCD-1 has got one 4398 for both channels, right?! what about the dual mono idea here?

al.

Hi Al,

Yes we could have done to separate DAC's in the CD Player as well but given the all in one approach and knowing exactly what we were dealing with in our box we did not see it as necessary.

james

[Napalm]

Hi Al,

Just to maintained the dual mono idea throughout the unit.

james

Mhhh James, you can't have two separate clocks, can you? 

Better let us know if you're running the 2 DACs in each channel in parallel or if you're using just one DAC from each I.C. (wasting the other).

Nap. 

[James Tanner]

Hi,

The DAC in the CD player runs in single ended mode and the DAC's in the BDA-1 run Balanced.

james

[Napalm]

Thank you, James!

I just found this and thought it's worth mentioning:

https://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&productId=8198552921665537319

(Sony SCD-XA5400ES SACD player).

What I found interesting is that it will output SACD DSD through HDMI. If this idea catches on in any meaningful way (i.e. other SACD player manufacturers adopt this), you'll hear us asking for a BDA-1 MkII revision with HDMI input 

Nap 

[alexone]

Hi,

The DAC in the CD player runs in single ended mode and the DAC's in the BDA-1 run Balanced.

james

...everything that "comes" after the BCD-1's DAC then runs in balanced mode?
or: what part of the cd player is made in balanced mode?

al.