[werd]

The analogue output on the BDA is good enough to make 16 bit sound great. But the 24/192 output is more analogue, and with the BDA's already great analogue circuitry the upsampled 192 is best imo.

[gdbalp]

"
Good question - we use 'synchronous’ up-sampling in the BDA-1 so there is not a lot of ‘math'; involved in the up-sample process. The feedback I get is about 50/50 on this. Some feel the up-sampling adds more ‘air’ and slightly better ‘bass’. Others feel that the ‘native’ file should not be screwed with and prefer no up-sampling."

James,

From your above quotation, has Bryston considered up-sampling to 32 bits?  I know of three manufacturers of DAC's, Burr-Brown, ESS products, and Wolfson that are capable of 32 bits of audio resolution.

Now, I know that Bryston uses Cirrus Logic DAC's exclusively, but how does it stack-up to the other DAC's on the market – any comparisons done at Bryston?

Ciao,
Luigi
 

[James Tanner]

"
Good question - we use 'synchronous’ up-sampling in the BDA-1 so there is not a lot of ‘math'; involved in the up-sample process. The feedback I get is about 50/50 on this. Some feel the up-sampling adds more ‘air’ and slightly better ‘bass’. Others feel that the ‘native’ file should not be screwed with and prefer no up-sampling."

James,

From your above quotation, has Bryston considered up-sampling to 32 bits?  I know of three manufacturers of DAC's, Burr-Brown, ESS products, and Wolfson that are capable of 32 bits of audio resolution.

Now, I know that Bryston uses Cirrus Logic DAC's exclusively, but how does it stack-up to the other DAC's on the market – any comparisons done at Bryston?

Ciao,
Luigi

Hi Luigi,

Yes we have looked at other alternatives but to be frank the performance differences between different bit rates and sampling frequencies and Burr Brown vs. Crystal vs. Wolfen DAC’s  is extremely small. 

We have found the circuitry around the chosen DAC’s are far more critcal in optimizing performance – things like discrete analog circuits, independent power supplies for digital and analog sections, transformer coupled digital inputs, separate ground planes for digital and analog circuitry etc. are areas were major performance gains can be had.

James

[gdbalp]

James,

Thanks for the insights about the DAC's and the associated circuitry design aspects...

When will the final report be published?

Ciao,
Luigi

[James Tanner]

James,

Thanks for the insights about the DAC's and the associated circuitry design aspects...

When will the final report be published?

Ciao,
Luigi

It could be another 6 months to a year I am told.

james

[James Tanner]

Update: Got this today from the professor in charge.

"James,

I've managed to get a number of top recording engineers and producers to agree to participate in another round of testing.  I'm going to send them a program that they can run on their computers, that will play them pairs of soundfiles (192 v 44.1 or 192 v 192) and they indicate with a mouse click "same" or "different."  They won't know which is which.  A feature of this next round is that everyone will get to listen in their own preferred listening environment with their own amp, monitors, incense, the works.

I can't mention any names, but these are among the most decorated and respected recording engineers today - Grammy winners, gold and platinum record awardees, the real A-list.  They're in LA, New York, Nashville, and Marin County.

Because not everyone has 192 DACs (many only have 96) I might have to create a separate version of the experiment that only goes to 96.  But then I got to thinking: maybe Bryston would be willing to loan out two or three of your DACs to these high-profile folks to use in the experiment if they want, for a couple of weeks. I would even be willing to let them know that your Bryston BDA-1 DAC had previously tested “best in a shoot-out” when we did the testing here at McGill University.

Anyway, I know this is a lot to ask, but I figured I'd give it a try.

Best,
Dan Levitan"

[Napalm]

mhhh how about including good old Nap in the test, I could definitely use a BDA-1 loaner.... I would click that mouse all day long.... 

Nap.

[Anonamemouse]

mhhh how about including good old Nap in the test, I could definitely use a BDA-1 loaner.... I would click that mouse all day long.... 

Nap.

I think the neccessity of having an international opinion is more than obvious...

[Napalm]

On second thought this test might be a very bad idea. If those "professionals" will perform it through their beloved Yamaha NS10s, in the end we'll hear something like "it has been scientifically proven that even when using professional recording studio equipment there is no audible difference between 192, 96, 44.1k LPCM and 256kbps MP3's".

Nap. 

[Napalm]

Bumping this thread to see if there's any news.



Nap. 

[James Tanner]

No news at my end.

james

[werd]

Bumping this thread to see if there's any news.



Nap. 

delicious

[Napalm]

delicious

Librarian alert! 

Nap.

[alexone]

afraid!

al.