[werd]

I remember the first time I heard the Model Ts. As much fun it was listening to the Model Ts what I didn't expect was how good SP3 sounded as a 2 ch preamp.  It was the first time I heard the SP3 also.

This could be bought for 2 ch pre amp duties and an HT as an after thought.  .

[BrystonFan]

Best of both worlds Werd!

[So There]

Very apt description, werd. I regard the SP3 as an excellent two-channel preamp that just happens to do HT. The sound of hi-res files through the BDP-2/BDA-2 into the SP3's balanced inputs is quite accurate and engaging.

Rich
________________________
Napa Valley: shaken, not stirred

[billt1]

This is exactly the question I was looking to answer. This is my first time posting so I do not know if I am even in the right area? I have a new Bryston BDP2 media player, just picked up a Bryston SP-3 to replace my older Meridian G68 pre amp / Pro.  The SP-3 does some things much better than the G68, but for 2 ch music from the media player not as much of a jump as I thought it would be. Today I am going to demo the BDA2 DAC to connect to the SP-3 . Coupe of questions. Is the BDA 2 external DAC that much better than the internal SP-3 DAC? Since I only have extra RCA interconnects  at the moment which SP 3 input will give me the pass through?
My system is fairly resolving which I will try to list in more detail later.
Wilson Audio Sasha 2 , Wilson Watch center, Aerial SW12 sub and SR3 surrounds ,  Aesthetix Atlas  signature 2 ch amp, Bryston 9B SST ,Bryston BDp 2 player, Oppo 105.

If I have asked this question in the wrong place please help me to move.
Bill
 

[James Tanner]

Hi James

 I had to stop by my brothers apartment yesterday afternoon to pick something up, where he was watching football on the big screen, through a
BRYSTON SP-3 and 9BSST. 

Shortly, we switched to the BDP, which I learned was hard-wired via AES/EBU XLR to the SP3.  I have to admit, even listening at a low SPL, maybe 75 peak, I was floored!  The noise floor just fell away, it just was inky black between quiet passages and between tracks, but even listening to a HD-track download of Dave Brubeck, Take 5, I couldn’t believe the sharpness & power of the mid-frequency detail..even at these listening levels.  I asked my brother if he noticed the change when he added the BDP-2, and his comments were that while similar, but distinctly better than the top OPPO DVD player he has, the ease of use with the paired i-pad mini, the SSD loaded with files, make for a dream combination.  I know the 9BSST 2  with the extremely low distortion levels and ability to extract the deepest bass and most articulate details combined with the almost [straight-wire] playback capabilities of the SP-3 pre-amp made for a total package.

I guess it is time to step up and get the BDP-2 ASAP!
 
Wayne

[So There]

This is exactly the question I was looking to answer. This is my first time posting so I do not know if I am even in the right area? I have a new Bryston BDP2 media player, just picked up a Bryston SP-3 to replace my older Meridian G68 pre amp / Pro.  The SP-3 does some things much better than the G68, but for 2 ch music from the media player not as much of a jump as I thought it would be. Today I am going to demo the BDA2 DAC to connect to the SP-3 . Coupe of questions. Is the BDA 2 external DAC that much better than the internal SP-3 DAC? Since I only have extra RCA interconnects  at the moment which SP 3 input will give me the pass through?
My system is fairly resolving which I will try to list in more detail later.
Wilson Audio Sasha 2 , Wilson Watch center, Aerial SW12 sub and SR3 surrounds ,  Aesthetix Atlas  signature 2 ch amp, Bryston 9B SST ,Bryston BDp 2 player, Oppo 105.

If I have asked this question in the wrong place please help me to move.
Bill
 

Bill, I think you'll find the BDA-2 a significant move up from the SP3's DAC. I find it very smooth, resolving, and engaging. The many plaudits this unit has received in the audio press seem to me quite well justified. I connect the BDP-2 to the BDA-2 with Bryston's AES/EBU cable, and the BDA-2 to the SP3 with Bryston's balanced XLR cables, using the Balanced 2 input and 2 channel bypass switch (the SP3 will also let you switch in subwoofers with this configuration).

Rich
________________
Shaky Napa Valley

The means — Bryston SP3 | Bryston 6B-SST(C) - L/C/R; 4B-SST(C) - surrounds; 4B-SST(C) - rears | Bryston BDP-2 Digital Player; BDA-2 D/A Converter; Oppo BDP-105 | Paradigm Reference Signature S8 fronts; C5 center; ADP surrounds; S4 rears; two Velodyne DD15 subs | APC S20 | Pioneer Elite PRO-1130

[billt1]

So There,
Thank you so much. This is exactly the type of experienced based qualified response I was looking for. I ran home at lunch to quickly install the demo BDA2 and was very enthused.
 Not taking the time to read too much and not having all the interconnects I will eventually  need I used BNC/ RCA from BDP2  to /BDA2 and some pretty good $1800 RCA interconnects from BDA2 to SP-3. Did the one hour a/b by simply moving the digital cable from the back of the BDA2 to the back of the SP-3.  I have only had the SP-3 for a few days some there might be some adjustments that could better things? But It looks like the BDA2 will become part of the chain.....

[Grit]

Be sure to use the 2 ch bypass so you are going straight through from the BDA and skipping any internal/digital stuff.