Looks like late fall.
One question I have though is with all these new streaming services like Apple Music, Amazon HD, Qobuz, Spotify, Tidal etc. which use their own apps do you think proprietary software will be necessary?
james
Great (and timely) question.
I sense you are observing that we are in the midst of a sea change.
I suspect most MM fans are a generation of audiophiles who, commencing in the 1980's, enjoyed visiting CD shops as they first started their CD collections. They thoughtfully selected CD's and went back home. They relished the experience of opening the jewel case, carefully inserting the disc in their CD player of choice, sitting back and listening to their new acquisition as they flipped through the album booklet. It was a visceral experience.
Fast forward a couple of decades and we find that those same audiophiles have spent countless hours digitizing their CD collections. They now own a digital player to play their digitized collection. Yet they are still looking to duplicate the CD playing experience. Enter Bryston BDP players and their proprietary software, MM. MM seems to be all they really need and want. MM allows them to continue listening to their thoughtfully acquired music collection ensuring continued value from their original collection and subsequent digitizing efforts. MM is not slick but it it usable in their eyes. Mission accomplished.
But now the sea change.
As I see it, a newer generation or two does not have the same desire to collect physical media (other than a nostalgic impulse for an occasional vinyl purchase if they still have a turntable). Newer generations are looking for spontaneous access to music. Streaming is the answer to their needs and wants. In general, they are more song oriented than album focused. If they like a song, they will save its name to a playlist for future playback through their streaming platform of choice (Apple Music, Amazon HD, Qobuz, Spotify, Tidal etc.). No hassles of hard drives or network attached storage, no backup protocols or intranet issues. They want point and click using a fast reliable intuitive attractive user interface on a plethora of control devices.
There are very very few companies that simultaneously build great hardware and develop great software. I think Bryston is clearly a great hardware company. As such, to be the best in class, they need an affiliation with a skilled audio centric software company to keep the current files based BDP users content and, more importantly, to enhance internet streaming to attract new BDP users.
To you question about propriety software for Bryston, I think Bryston going it alone is not advisable. However, a strategic partnership with an audio software company would bridge the gap between Bryston hardware and software for file management and streaming service access.
This way Bryston proprietary software (MM) fans are well served and, therefore, happy. And the door is opened for future generations of streaming enthusiasts to buy BDP devices.
My 2 cents.