BP-26 DAC auditions

Mike-48 · « **on:** 26 Jan 2005, 09:50 pm »

Has anyone been able to hear the BP-26 DAC yet? I am particularly curious how the digital conversion compares to the highly touted Benchmark DAC-1.

John Casler · « **Reply #1 on:** 26 Jan 2005, 10:45 pm »

Quote from: Mike in NC

Has anyone been able to hear the BP-26 DAC yet? I am particularly curious how the digital conversion compares to the highly touted Benchmark DAC-1.

Hi Mike,

As a Bryston Dealer I was able to spend a couple weeks with the BP25DA in my personal system (My client insisited

I burn it in for him)

While I have not heard the BenchMark in "my" system, I had recently heard it in a friends system.

While the BenchMark is quite good and might offer a little fun in "digital cable shopping", the DAC in the BP25 (to my knowledge identical to the BP26) was phenomenal.

Clean, clean, clean

Tight, solid, full and natural.

I had also just a few weeks earlier heard the DODSON 218 in a friends system also. While the 218 was "up till that time" the best DAC I had heard, I would be hard pressed to say that the Bryston would be giving up too much ground to it.

So I guess what I'm saying is, at this point, the BP26DA is the Preamp I would buy for myself, if I had the resources. And I know the 26 is somewhat better than the 25 due to the improved power supply.

I have one on order for another client and can't wait for him to hear it.

FYI, my listening was done using a MiniMax CDP as the transport, AudioQuest Cheetah Interconnects, the BP25DA, to a Son of AMPZilla Power amp, through some AudioQuest Volcano speaker cables, to a pair if VMPS 626R speakers

BeeBop · « **Reply #2 on:** 27 Jan 2005, 11:44 am »

Here ya' go... used BP25DA. Not a BP26, but certainly a good price.

KJ · « **Reply #3 on:** 27 Jan 2005, 02:09 pm »

Quote from: BeeBop

Here ya' go... used BP25DA. Not a BP26, but certainly a good price.

Seller is a local shop owner who I am familiar with if someone needs info on the unit (or seller).

-KJ

mscdda · « **Reply #4 on:** 27 Jan 2005, 03:37 pm »

Does someone know what DACs the BP25DA or BP26DA uses?

James Tanner · « **Reply #5 on:** 27 Jan 2005, 05:32 pm »

Crystal

james

thomaspf · « **Reply #6 on:** 28 Jan 2005, 02:01 am »

To be a bit more specific Crystal 43122

It also uses an asynchronous smaple rate converter for jutter immunity similar to the the design of the Benchmark Media.

However, the biggest difference should be the analog output stage with a discrete class A stage compared to integrated 5532 op-amps.

Cheers

Thomas

Mike-48 · « **Reply #7 on:** 28 Jan 2005, 03:42 am »

Thanks, everyone, for the information and comments.

James, is the BP-26 available now? And is there an MSRP or anticipated U.S. retail price?

I'm thinking it might pair well with my B14-ST.

James Tanner · « **Reply #8 on:** 28 Jan 2005, 11:45 am »

HI Mike,

Yes we have been shipping BP26 for about a month now.
The US price is $3195 which includes the BP26 and the MPS-2 power supply. The DAC is an additional $1000.

james

nicolasb · « **Reply #9 on:** 28 Jan 2005, 01:58 pm »

I'm not too well up on DACs. I guess my "benchmark" DAC would be the Chord DAC-64. Has anyone heard both the BP26DA and a Chord DAC-64? How do the two compare?

Mike-48 · « **Reply #10 on:** 29 Jan 2005, 04:02 am »

James, thanks for the information. I forgot to ask, can the DAC card be added later? If so, can that be done by the user or does the unit have to go back to Bryston?

James Tanner · « **Reply #11 on:** 29 Jan 2005, 11:34 am »

HI,

It could be done by a service center but I would not recomend it to the customer as there is some soldering involved plus testing.

james

Mike-48 · « **Reply #12 on:** 29 Jan 2005, 05:12 pm »

Thanks, James, for this information. No point in my mucking up a nice piece of gear with my serviceable but not that lovely soldering! If I go that way, will look into the complete unit.

thomaspf · « **Reply #13 on:** 29 Jan 2005, 10:08 pm »

I have not heard the Chord DAC64 but that is quite a different animal.

Chord developed their own discrete converter technology. In addition the Chord provides a superior dejitter stage. While the Bryston, the Benchmark, etc. use an asynchronous sample rate converter the Chord provides for a deep memory buffer and up to 4s seconds time shifted playback via a stable internal clock.

This is pretty useless for DVD playback due to the lip sync issues but gives you the most faithful playback and is particularly well suited for PC sources that often have lower quality digital outptus.

Asynchronous sample rate converters potentially convert different samples every time you play a song. In reality they sound very very good but if you are a purist ...

I hope people don't take offense at me explaining another brands techology but I have been lobbying for the longest time to improve the dejitter circuitry for the next version of the SP1.7.

Cheers

Thomas

nicolasb · « **Reply #14 on:** 30 Jan 2005, 02:54 pm »

Quote

I hope people don't take offense at me explaining another brands techology but I have been lobbying for the longest time to improve the dejitter circuitry for the next verison of the SP1.7.

Yeah, me too.

I'm aware of the differences in operation between something the Chord DAC-64 and the BP26DA, I'm just curious as to how these differences actually influence the eventual sound quality.

jradley · « **Reply #15 on:** 31 Jan 2005, 03:46 pm »

Add me to the "me too list".

I've had my SP1.7 for about a year and watching the discussions on potential upgrades for at least 18 months now. I know it would benefit from an upgraded DAC stage and only for the fact I'd rather invest in an upgrade for the SP1.7 than an external DAC I would have gone down that route already.

If I have to hold out much longer I may end up spending all I have on something like a Chord 64 or whatever and then won't have anything left to upgrade the SP1.7 with, which will be a shame really.

John

Levi · « **Reply #16 on:** 31 Jan 2005, 05:01 pm »

I would like to have the future SP1.7 with the BP26 sound quality. I am not interested with the DAC card at the moment. Maybe the SP1.7/BP26 can be upgradable if one decided they need the DAC Card. This would also lower the initial cost of the SP1.7 which inturn will make it more competetive in marketing standpoint.

Levi

Yogus · « **Reply #17 on:** 1 Feb 2005, 03:52 am »

I heard a DAC64 into a Cyrus and PMC FB1s (original, not "+") once.

Very musical, with great bass. Each note seems to start and end properly.

However, I found it a little bit edgy and hard, and the metal-domed tweeter may not have helped.

They're quite $$$$ too.