[pras19821]

Anyone heard a comparison of the BDA-1, Wadia 381i acting as a DAC and the dCS Puccini acting as a DAC?

The Wadia / dCS are more expensive, but are they comparables? Bryston typically offers good value so I would suspect so. Any thoughts on who the competitors are for the BDA-1?

Naim just launched a new DAC with similar pricing to BDA-1 but it has no balanced outputs so not really of interest for me.

Basically looking to potentially get a BDA-1 but checking alternatives. Want to make the most of the BP26 / 28BSST2 / Kef Reference 207/2 combination.

Thanks

[Stu Pitt]

The Naim DAC is very good.  It's $3500, verses $2200 for the BDA.  Naim doesn't use balanced outs for any of their gear, and I don't believe they ever have.  Their connection of choice is the DIN.  Naim gear works very well when connected to each other via DINs. 

The Naim DAC will also extract the digital stream from an iPod and iPhone through a special cable.   

The Naim DAC sounds very good to my ears.  I haven't heard it in a non-Naim system nor side by side with the BDA-1.  Which one sounds better is a preference thing IMO.  I'm a Bryston owner and a big Naim fan. 

[KnowTalent]

Anyone heard a comparison of the BDA-1, Wadia 381i acting as a DAC and the dCS Puccini acting as a DAC?

The Wadia / dCS are more expensive, but are they comparables? Bryston typically offers good value so I would suspect so. Any thoughts on who the competitors are for the BDA-1?

Naim just launched a new DAC with similar pricing to BDA-1 but it has no balanced outputs so not really of interest for me.

Basically looking to potentially get a BDA-1 but checking alternatives. Want to make the most of the BP26 / 28BSST2 / Kef Reference 207/2 combination.

Thanks

I demoed the BDA-1 and owned a GNSC modified Wadia 381 for almost 1 year
To my ears the BDA offers noticeably better soundstaging and PRaT when compared to the typical Arcam, Cambridge, NAD product line and closely approaches (and in many ways equals) what I've heard from the usual suspects i've listened to in the $5K+ category...MCD500, BAT VK-D5SE, AR CD3, Wadia 381.
I'd definatately stick with the BDA