[maplegrovemusic]

Hello All , I recently bought a SP2 . I am listening to a cd played from my Oppo 103 . I am using an optical cable from the oppo to the Sp2 . I must say it sounds as good as the stand alone dacs i have on hand . Is there a good reason for this ? I also purchased a Bda 1 which has yet to arrive . Will a/b the two when it arrives . I read the Sp2 has the bp26 analog pre in it . Does the sp2 have a similar situation in regards to the dac set ? Possibly using the equivalent to the bad-1 ? Just curious

[Phil A]

Hello All , I recently bought a SP2 . I am listening to a cd played from my Oppo 103 . I am using an optical cable from the oppo to the Sp2 . I must say it sounds as good as the stand alone dacs i have on hand . Is there a good reason for this ? I also purchased a Bda 1 which has yet to arrive . Will a/b the two when it arrives . I read the Sp2 has the bp26 analog pre in it . Does the sp2 have a similar situation in regards to the dac set ? Possibly using the equivalent to the bad-1 ? Just curious

As I understand it (used to own a 1.7), the SP2 is the equivalent of a BP25, not a 26

[Phil A]

I also used to own a BDA-1.  As a DAC, I believe you'll find the BDA-1 is a nice improvement.

[James Tanner]

Hi

The DAC in the SP2 is a Crystal DAC - similar to the one in the BDA-1

james

[maplegrovemusic]

As I understand it (used to own a 1.7), the SP2 is the equivalent of a BP25, not a 26

The manual i have states it is equivalent to the bp26 . Also the Stereophile review states bp26 . You had stated that thought in a post before i purchased the sp2 . After receiving the sp2 and reading the manual i did more research and was pleasantly surprised it was the bp26 .

[Mag]

When I first heard the SP2 at dealer demo I wasn't that impressed but it was a little bit better than the Yamaha receiver I have. I took a chance and bought it because I suspected it would sound much better hooked up to the BDA-1.

When I got it home I did just that hooked up the BDA-1 to the SP2 and I was floored. The sound was in another league. I sent the SP2 in for service and it came back with the update software and it sounded even better, bass not as boomy with the extended bass button on.

IMO using the BDA-1 with the digital section of the SP2 sounds superior to 2 channel by-pass. Which has me wondering if there is something wrong with the by-pass circuitry or is it just that good?

I have since added a Yamaha mixer after the SP2 and have taken the sound to another level of excellence.

I love the soundfields, they don't sound phoney, I usually listen in Neo:6 but depending on the mix it can sound wonderful in Hall, Club, Natural, Pass thru. Lately I've been listening in Hall mode and notice more detail in some songs.

[maplegrovemusic]

When I first heard the SP2 at dealer demo I wasn't that impressed but it was a little bit better than the Yamaha receiver I have. I took a chance and bought it because I suspected it would sound much better hooked up to the BDA-1.

When I got it home I did just that hooked up the BDA-1 to the SP2 and I was floored. The sound was in another league. I sent the SP2 in for service and it came back with the update software and it sounded even better, bass not as boomy with the extended bass button on.

IMO using the BDA-1 with the digital section of the SP2 sounds superior to 2 channel by-pass. Which has me wondering if there is something wrong with the by-pass circuitry or is it just that good?

I have since added a Yamaha mixer after the SP2 and have taken the sound to another level of excellence.

I love the soundfields, they don't sound phoney, I usually listen in Neo:6 but depending on the mix it can sound wonderful in Hall, Club, Natural, Pass thru. Lately I've been listening in Hall mode and notice more detail in some songs.

Confused . You use the bad -1 and send a digital signal to the sp2 ? would not the sp2 be doing the conversion then ?

[Phil A]

The manual i have states it is equivalent to the bp26 . Also the Stereophile review states bp26 . You had stated that thought in a post before i purchased the sp2 . After receiving the sp2 and reading the manual i did more research and was pleasantly surprised it was the bp26 .

Could be it was changed down the road.  All the early discussions -
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=38283.0
https://www.avforums.com/threads/bryston-owners-thread.1205531/page-55

indicate the BP-25 and many moons ago when I listened to the BP-26 vs. the SP2, the preamp was a drop more refined.  Perhaps it had the outboard power supply.

[Phil A]

Confused . You use the bad -1 and send a digital signal to the sp2 ? would not the sp2 be doing the conversion then ?

The DACs may be piggybacked to the DSP and not as pure audio wise as the circuity in the separate DAC.

[maplegrovemusic]

Could be it was changed down the road.  All the early discussions -
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=38283.0
https://www.avforums.com/threads/bryston-owners-thread.1205531/page-55

indicate the BP-25 and many moons ago when I listened to the BP-26 vs. the SP2, the preamp was a drop more refined.  Perhaps it had the outboard power supply.

From Stereophile "Bryston describes its SP2 multichannel preamplifier-processor ($4995) as consisting of a stereo analog preamp with a volume-controlled 5.1-channel analog pass-through plus a full-featured multichannel digital audio processor, and claims that none of those functions compromises any of the others. The analog preamp is fully equivalent in features and performance to their BP26 preamp. The digital processor includes all the latest Dolby Digital, DTS, and THX modes, and is based on Texas Instruments' powerful Aureus DSP chip, which can be updated via an S/PDIF input. The digital and analog sections have independent power supplies, and there are no video inputs or functions other than a control port for the optional, external SPV-1 video switcher"

The bp26 may be more refined as you stated but used prices on the sp2 and bp26 are seperated by over a thousand dollars .

[Phil A]

It was long ago and don't recall how they were hooked up but perhaps the BP-26 had the optional MPS-2 power supply.

[Phil A]

From Stereophile "Bryston describes its SP2 multichannel preamplifier-processor ($4995) as consisting of a stereo analog preamp with a volume-controlled 5.1-channel analog pass-through plus a full-featured multichannel digital audio processor, and claims that none of those functions compromises any of the others. The analog preamp is fully equivalent in features and performance to their BP26 preamp. The digital processor includes all the latest Dolby Digital, DTS, and THX modes, and is based on Texas Instruments' powerful Aureus DSP chip, which can be updated via an S/PDIF input. The digital and analog sections have independent power supplies, and there are no video inputs or functions other than a control port for the optional, external SPV-1 video switcher"

The bp26 may be more refined as you stated but used prices on the sp2 and bp26 are seperated by over a thousand dollars .

Also per James post here - http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=104614.0

"If you are using the 1.7 for analog 2-channel only the upgrade is not necessary.  It is only the digital board that gets the upgrade. The upgrade is around $1500 but check with Mike Pickett on that - mpickett@bryston.com.

Also check with Mike on the software but again if only using for analog 2 channel listening no need to be concerned."

So if that is correct (unless it changed down the road as I noted above which is possible), then there were no changes to the SP1.7 vs. SP2 on the analog side.

The SP1.7 manual indicates:

"Press the button once, and the unit goes in the Bypass 2ch mode. In this mode,
the LED will be GREEN. In Bypass 2ch mode all of the DSP circuitry, DA
and AD converters are bypassed, allowing a completely analog circuit path,
identical to the reference standard Bryston BP-25 pre-amplifier."

So they reference the BP-25.

[maplegrovemusic]

Also per James post here - http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=104614.0

"If you are using the 1.7 for analog 2-channel only the upgrade is not necessary.  It is only the digital board that gets the upgrade. The upgrade is around $1500 but check with Mike Pickett on that - mpickett@bryston.com.

Also check with Mike on the software but again if only using for analog 2 channel listening no need to be concerned."

So if that is correct (unless it changed down the road as I noted above which is possible), then there were no changes to the SP1.7 vs. SP2 on the analog side.

The SP1.7 manual indicates:

"Press the button once, and the unit goes in the Bypass 2ch mode. In this mode,
the LED will be GREEN. In Bypass 2ch mode all of the DSP circuitry, DA
and AD converters are bypassed, allowing a completely analog circuit path,
identical to the reference standard Bryston BP-25 pre-amplifier."

So they reference the BP-25.

Phil , you are killing me man . I have the manual for the sp2 . It states bp26 equivalent . Lets get the correct info out to the consumers .

[Phil A]

You're missing the point.  The SP 1.7 manual says the BP-25 and at least early on James ("If you are using the 1.7 for analog 2-channel only the upgrade is not necessary.  It is only the digital board that gets the upgrade") posted that the analog section of the SP1.7 and the SP2 are identical (and as noted it could have changed since James' the post above).  Also the BP-26 has the option of the MPS-2 Power Supply.  I'm sure that makes a difference and I don't recall if when I did the comparison the power supply was in use.  If the SP1.7 and the SP2 have no difference in the analog sections (at least early on) and the SP1.7 manual indicates it is equivalent to the BP-25 then either something changed along with way or one or the other is a misprint.

[maplegrovemusic]

You're missing the point.  The SP 1.7 manual says the BP-25 and at least early on James ("If you are using the 1.7 for analog 2-channel only the upgrade is not necessary.  It is only the digital board that gets the upgrade") posted that the analog section of the SP1.7 and the SP2 are identical (and as noted it could have changed since James' the post above).  Also the BP-26 has the option of the MPS-2 Power Supply.  I'm sure that makes a difference and I don't recall if when I did the comparison the power supply was in use.  If the SP1.7 and the SP2 have no difference in the analog sections (at least early on) and the SP1.7 manual indicates it is equivalent to the BP-25 then either something changed along with way or one or the other is a misprint.

Scratching my head !  Read the Stereophile review and get back to us

[Phil A]

Scratching my head !  Read the Stereophile review and get back to us

I can see the review - not sure what you don't understand?:

SP 1.7 says it is equivalent to the BP-25
Post by James Tanner says no change (at least to that point) in the analog sections between the SP1.7 and SP2 (and there are other posts which indicate that as well)
SP 2 manual says it is equivalent to the BP-26

Again, either something changed (which is always possible) at some point along or there are one of the above sources that are wrong.  That's the only point.  Not county changes along the way which could have occurred, If the SP 1.7 and SP2 are identical as claimed then the BP-25 and BP-26 are identical and they are not.  Not being argumentive, just giving facts as to what is in the manuals and other statements made by the Bryston official who knows his stuff inside and out.

[Phil A]

Here's also a detailed description by James that indicates changes in preamps along the way and the differences between the BP-25 and BP-26 as asked by a customer and as usual there was a very detailed and wonderful response.

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=68541.0

[maplegrovemusic]

I can see the review - not sure what you don't understand?:

SP 1.7 says it is equivalent to the BP-25
Post by James Tanner says no change (at least to that point) in the analog sections between the SP1.7 and SP2 (and there are other posts which indicate that as well)
SP 2 manual says it is equivalent to the BP-26

Again, either something changed (which is always possible) at some point along or there are one of the above sources that are wrong.  That's the only point.  Not county changes along the way which could have occurred, If the SP 1.7 and SP2 are identical as claimed then the BP-25 and BP-26 are identical and they are not.  Not being argumentive, just giving facts as to what is in the manuals and other statements made by the Bryston official who knows his stuff inside and out.

I do not understand that you do not understand what you are saying i do not understand . the sp2 has the equivalent analog section as the bp26 , as stated in the sp2 manual and the reviewer states in his review . Which is more likely to be accurate ?

[Phil A]

I do not understand that you do not understand what you are saying i do not understand . the sp2 has the equivalent analog section as the bp26 , as stated in the sp2 manual and the reviewer states in his review . Which is more likely to be accurate ?

There is no point to this as you don't seem to understand that unless there was a change along (which is always possible and I'd expect that the manual posted online is the latest) the way either the SP1.7 or SP2 manual is not correct.  Just enjoy your wonderful equipment.

[maplegrovemusic]

There is no point to this as you don't seem to understand that unless there was a change along (which is always possible and I'd expect that the manual posted online is the latest) the way either the SP1.7 or SP2 manual is not correct.  Just enjoy your wonderful equipment.

That is definitely something i can agree on . Hopefully Mr Tanner can solve the mystery of inaccurate Manuals and reviews .