BP26 or 6

schmidtmike76 · « **on:** 10 Feb 2016, 02:27 pm »

My understanding is the BD26 and 6 pretty much sound the same socially only being the 26 can use balanced cables and upgrade to a power supply. Do I need a power supply right off the bat with the 26? The only thing I will be running is a CD Transport and this year sometime a BD player. I am purchasing the BDA-2 today and the pre so these are last minute questions. I will never run a home theater through this set up FYI. Im unloading my Cyrus Pre2 DacQx for these as well and will be moving into a bryston power amp after my stereo 200 has had enough. Speakers are Proac Studio 148's. I have a set of Crystal cable Piccollo's but there RCA's and have a hefty price tag if balanced doesnt make much of a difference that may be a deciding factor as well. I would be buying Bryston cables for this system at the same time.

1) Does the balanced cabling make a difference for sound quality?
2) Does the power supply make a big difference in sound quality? Do I need one right away if this is the case I will be sticking to the 6.

95Dyna · « **Reply #1 on:** 10 Feb 2016, 03:53 pm »

Quote from: schmidtmike76 on 10 Feb 2016, 02:27 pm

My understanding is the BD26 and 6 pretty much sound the same socially only being the 26 can use balanced cables and upgrade to a power supply. Do I need a power supply right off the bat with the 26? The only thing I will be running is a CD Transport and this year sometime a BD player. I am purchasing the BDA-2 today and the pre so these are last minute questions. I will never run a home theater through this set up FYI. Im unloading my Cyrus Pre2 DacQx for these as well and will be moving into a bryston power amp after my stereo 200 has had enough. Speakers are Proac Studio 148's. I have a set of Crystal cable Piccollo's but there RCA's and have a hefty price tag if balanced doesnt make much of a difference that may be a deciding factor as well. I would be buying Bryston cables for this system at the same time.

1) Does the balanced cabling make a difference for sound quality?
2) Does the power supply make a big difference in sound quality? Do I need one right away if this is the case I will be sticking to the 6.

The BP 26 must have the MPS2 power supply to operate. It has no internal PS.

servingko · « **Reply #2 on:** 10 Feb 2016, 04:06 pm »

My short answer having owned both the 26 and the 6 is yes to both questions Balanced sounds a bit better to me than single ended but that could have been the difference between cables but the 26 is a bit more open and transparent and the lowest notes hit with more authority, mostly likely due to the stiffer power supply. I have also found that the greatest benefit of balanced connections is in an electronically noisy environment and the entire audio chain is balanced - source to pre and pre to amplification.

Having said all that, the BP6 is no slouch and if you can't directly a/b the two together you would never know what you may be missing. If you have invested in single ended cables and like them, and the connectivity options of the 6 work with your system, the simplicity of the 6 really appeals and the savings can be put towards the Bryston amp that is in you future.

If you would be bothered thinking you are missing the last bit of detail/transparency/noise floor/bass slam, then go with the 26 comforted in the fact it doesn't get much better than that.

schmidtmike76 · « **Reply #3 on:** 10 Feb 2016, 05:16 pm »

There is quite a cost increase moving from the 6 to the 26. The price of the unit plus a power supply unit as well. Im torn for going into something being all balanced and being done for a long time or piecing it together. The BDA-2 is a done deal Im just on the fence about the Pre. If I wouldnt have dropped alot of money on my Cyrus it would be a easy decision.

Phil A · « **Reply #4 on:** 10 Feb 2016, 06:01 pm »

Quote from: schmidtmike76 on 10 Feb 2016, 05:16 pm

There is quite a cost increase moving from the 6 to the 26. The price of the unit plus a power supply unit as well. Im torn for going into something being all balanced and being done for a long time or piecing it together. The BDA-2 is a done deal Im just on the fence about the Pre. If I wouldnt have dropped alot of money on my Cyrus it would be a easy decision.

If used is an option, don't forget places like here, US Audio Mart or Audiogon - https://www.audiogon.com/listings/solid-state-bryston-bp6-phono-2016-01-17-preamplifiers-96814-honolulu-hi

BrysTony · « **Reply #5 on:** 10 Feb 2016, 06:05 pm »

The BP 26 is an old unit with limited remote capability. Bryston has not upgraded it because they have said that sound quality could not be improved . Now that the new cubed amps have been released, my guess is that an updated top of the line preamp is not far behind. You might think about picking up a BDP-2 to go along with your BDA-2 and wait a while to see what happens with the BP-26.

Tony

schmidtmike76 · « **Reply #6 on:** 10 Feb 2016, 08:22 pm »

Does anyone know if Bryston is going to be updating the BDA-2 anytime soon? How is Bryston with upgrades if I were to buy this dac and in 6 months a newer dac comes out can you upgrade these units.

Phil A · « **Reply #7 on:** 10 Feb 2016, 08:24 pm »

Quote from: schmidtmike76 on 10 Feb 2016, 08:22 pm

Does anyone know if Bryston is going to be updating the BDA-2 anytime soon? How is Bryston with upgrades if I were to buy this dac and in 6 months a newer dac comes out can you upgrade these units.

Bryston already has a BDA-3 out.

mkaiser · « **Reply #8 on:** 10 Feb 2016, 09:11 pm »

Quote from: schmidtmike76 on 10 Feb 2016, 08:22 pm

Does anyone know if Bryston is going to be updating the BDA-2 anytime soon? How is Bryston with upgrades if I were to buy this dac and in 6 months a newer dac comes out can you upgrade these units.

Just to add, if you live in Canada there is a site called Canuck Audio Mart to check on BP26, and SST2 amps if you don't require the new "cubed" series that is being released at the end of this month. There will be some very nice savings to capitalize on if you go that route.

Mark

schmidtmike76 · « **Reply #9 on:** 10 Feb 2016, 10:31 pm »

Im going to wait as I see Bryston is releasing a cd player. For me CD is king I dont stream I dont do vinyl just CD. My plan is buying the BDA-2 on Thursday, then the Pre used on Canuck then BDP-1-2 in the fall. But if there coming out with a cd player I wonder if Ill even need the BDA-2. But that unit does look inciting having all my music at my finger tips.

redbook · « **Reply #10 on:** 11 Feb 2016, 12:13 am »

CD rules for me too

....but you do need a refined and dedicated "redbook" player like the Bryston BCD-1 or hopefully the (future BCD2 that's yet to be offered

) There are also other excellent, but expensive, players like Naim , Esoteric, Ayre ect. ect. that also do a remarkable job on 16-44 material. If your recordings are well mixed and engineered CD is a very fine format...:

SoundGame · « **Reply #11 on:** 11 Feb 2016, 01:37 am »

What is the current list on the BP26; has Audio Advisor got their prices at MSRP. I thought it was $2,995, at least as current as Oct.2015. Did it go up since then? And the MPS-2, that's $1,599 list, right?

SoundGame · « **Reply #12 on:** 11 Feb 2016, 01:42 am »

Quote from: SoundGame on 11 Feb 2016, 01:37 am

What is the current list on the BP26; has Audio Advisor got their prices at MSRP. I thought it was $2,995, at least as current as Oct.2015. Did it go up since then? And the MPS-2, that's $1,599 list, right?

The BDP-2 will beat out any CD player that Bryston comes up, even with just redbook files. There is no way around the comprising impact of a mechanical/optical pick-up for digital. And, hi-rez (any 24-bit) files, take digital playback to a new level. If Bryston does come back with a CDP, which I doubt, it should be a universal player - and perhaps handle the new high-capacity Blu-ray format for 4K.

James Tanner · « **Reply #13 on:** 11 Feb 2016, 02:23 am »

Quote from: SoundGame on 11 Feb 2016, 01:37 am

What is the current list on the BP26; has Audio Advisor got their prices at MSRP. I thought it was $2,995, at least as current as Oct.2015. Did it go up since then? And the MPS-2, that's $1,599 list, right?

Hi

Prices as of Feb 1st

STEREO Preamplifiers (C-SERIES)

BP-26 Preamplifier - $3,295.00 List
(Must be used with MPS-2 Power Supply - Not Included) (Remote - not included)

MPS-2 Power Supply - Power Supply Only - may be used with BP20/25/26 = $1,865.00 List

james

Mag · « **Reply #14 on:** 11 Feb 2016, 03:33 am »

Quote from: SoundGame on 11 Feb 2016, 01:42 am

The BDP-2 will beat out any CD player that Bryston comes up, even with just redbook files. There is no way around the comprising impact of a mechanical/optical pick-up for digital. And, hi-rez (any 24-bit) files, take digital playback to a new level. If Bryston does come back with a CDP, which I doubt, it should be a universal player - and perhaps handle the new high-capacity Blu-ray format for 4K.

I agree the BDP is the best I've heard for a source, but it's not practical for me to rip every cd to jump drive. Some I only want to play occasionally and I would like a cd player to be at least on par with the BDP.

I disagree strongly 'that any 24-bit hi-rez file takes digital to a new level'. IMO I have 44.1/16 bit recordings that sound better than some hi-rez I've heard. Hi-rez can have marginally better harmonics, but the quality of the recording is the most important factor. And hi-rez doesn't have an exclusive on that. Some hi-rez is constantly clipping it's recorded so loud and it seems to sound good but that would give you listening fatigue in a short while. Other hi-rez don't clip at all and sound very good.

redbook · « **Reply #15 on:** 11 Feb 2016, 05:27 pm »

Quote from: SoundGame on 11 Feb 2016, 01:42 am

The BDP-2 will beat out any CD player that Bryston comes up, even with just redbook files. There is no way around the comprising impact of a mechanical/optical pick-up for digital. And, hi-rez (any 24-bit) files, take digital playback to a new level. If Bryston does come back with a CDP, which I doubt, it should be a universal player - and perhaps handle the new high-capacity Blu-ray format for 4K.

Well that is a subjective view .....you have not really listened to how good CD is . In the past universal players have been a jack of all trades and master of none.

redbook · « **Reply #16 on:** 11 Feb 2016, 05:29 pm »

Quote from: Mag on 11 Feb 2016, 03:33 am

I agree the BDP is the best I've heard for a source, but it's not practical for me to rip every cd to jump drive. Some I only want to play occasionally and I would like a cd player to be at least on par with the BDP.

I disagree strongly 'that any 24-bit hi-rez file takes digital to a new level'. IMO I have 44.1/16 bit recordings that sound better than some hi-rez I've heard. Hi-rez can have marginally better harmonics, but the quality of the recording is the most important factor. And hi-rez doesn't have an exclusive on that. Some hi-rez is constantly clipping it's recorded so loud and it seems to sound good but that would give you listening fatigue in a short while. Other hi-rez don't clip at all and sound very good.

Well said........

rmurray · « **Reply #17 on:** 11 Feb 2016, 05:36 pm »

James any news on that new CD player, still looking forward to it

James Tanner · « **Reply #18 on:** 11 Feb 2016, 05:43 pm »

Quote from: rmurray on 11 Feb 2016, 05:36 pm

James any news on that new CD player, still looking forward to it

I hope to have a prototype for the Montreal Audio show in March.

james

spinner · « **Reply #19 on:** 11 Feb 2016, 05:46 pm »

Quote from: redbook on 11 Feb 2016, 12:13 am

CD rules for me too ....but you do need a refined and dedicated "redbook" player like the Bryston BCD-1 or hopefully the (future BCD2 that's yet to be offered ) There are also other excellent, but expensive, players like Naim , Esoteric, Ayre ect. ect. that also do a remarkable job on 16-44 material. If your recordings are well mixed and engineered CD is a very fine format...:

I like to play records and as my user name suggests CD is my choice...providing the recording is well made.... Some of my newer recordings are way better that the early transcribed material in the 80s. that gave cd a bad reputation but this is no longer true . I hope Bryston gets on with the new player but if not thank you James for the fantastic BCD1.