That's a new perspective....
Still, geting back to the BDA, today I reenabled the balanced connection with my BCD to the BP26: and, lucky me, I was in audio-heaven again. Just like it lifted the BHA1 up a notch or two, the BP26 came to its luscious life again. Both occasions were met by Schuberts Pianomusic played by the grand master Alfred Brendel. A terrible piece of music to test an audio-setup. flaws are recognized immediately. Bliss, too.
An immediate and direct comparison to the digital connection BCD/BDA to the bP26 was a bit of a disillusion, to understate it mildly: Balanced BCD was the clear winner here. I can only point to one reason/conclusion: because of the one balanced connection I needed/wanted out of the Dac to the BHA1, I can no longer connect the BDA balanced to the BP26.
So, James, if ever you redesign the BDA into a version 3, please have it have 2 balanced outs... One for a stereo-speaker setup, and one for the headphone. It would really set the difference. And an immediate incentive to buy one...
I know you mentioned the tape to connection from the bp26 to the bha1. I use that too, for the analog sources. But, as stated above, balanced is just the superior way to go, in my humble opinion. Music opens up, comes to life, and starts breathing.
Of course, it might be even better if you had the bp26 have a balanced passthrough/out of the unamplified signal. That way we'd have it all. Balanced setup from source to speaker/headphone. Digital and analog sources.
Ill take this to the bp27 thread then...
cheers,
Marius
I think a stereo version of the SP3 might be a good idea.
james