[Tony1]

Wondering if anyone has tried different CD players and which models sounds best with Bryston.  I have a SP1.7/9B

[John Casler]

Hi Tony,

If you're not in a hurry, you may want to check the archives of this Circle. 

I beleive a CDP/Transport is coming down the pipeline.

[mcrespo71]

Levi's tried numerous players with Bryston.  Perhaps he'll chime in. 

[Phil A]

Depends on your speakers and room and other factors.  I have installed a bunch of Bryston stuff, have friends with it and also had them bring over stuff to my system (14BSST, SP1.7, Thiel 7.2s, etc.).  I've owned a Modwright XA-777ES (sold it last fall).  I've had a bunch more in my system many on a temporary basis on short-term loan.  Did not like the Linn Ikemi in my system.  Lifeless, no dynamics, flat soundstage - sounded awful.  I borrowed it from a friend who was on vacation (he has Thiel 2.4s with an SP1.7 and a 9BSST).  I had to be diplomatic when he came back.  Lent him my Modwright XA-777ES and my Micromega DuoPro DAC.  When I was finishing the basement a couple of years back not long after that, I bought a Sony 2000ES CD/SACD changer but was not ready to use it so I gave it to him for a week.  After the week he told me he preferred the $399 changer to his Linn Ikemi on CD so he sold the Linn and bought the Sony XA-9000ES.  I've heard it in my system.  Sounds very good.  The Marantz 8260 had a bit of a harshness to the top end.  I have a Marantz DV9600 universal player.  It is excellent on DVD-A and DVD-V and decent on CD and SACD (much better than the 8260).  For CD, I'm using it as a transport with my MicroMega DAC and it sounds great.  I've had a buch of other players in my system too.  I'm waiting to see the Bryston CD player and DAC but it is more than likely that my local dealer won't carry it.  They pretty much carry a large portion of a single brand (probably 60% of the store) and then a couple of pieces from Bryston (e.g. SP-2 and an amp) and some other manuf.  So I may have to try to figure out how I can get a decent audition of them to come to a conclusion on the right move for me.

[sikoniko]

I had a chance to hear a classe system. I thought the cdp102 sounded great. It was with other classe gear and b&w 802d speakers, so I couldnt comment on how it would sound mixed with bryston gear...

the ayre cx7e sounds nice too. again, heard with an all ayre system and can't remember what type of speakers...

[alpsy]

i know its not top end, but the cambridge audio azur 540c sounds pretty goot atm coupled with my 4b and dynaudio contour speakers

bring on the bryston cd player

cheers,

julie

[Levi]

This is tough.  What is your music preference?

[Tony1]

Levi

What I mainly listen to is hard rock/metal but also use SACD for Classical, Pink Floyd.   I currently use the Pioneer Elite DVi79.  Since I don't have the luxury of testing different players on my system and there are so many player out there, I was curious to see what everyone is using  and have experienced on this forum.   

FYI my speakers are B&W:(4) 805s, HTM2d(Center) and 825(sub)

Thanks

Tony

[sikoniko]

Levi

What I mainly listen to is hard rock/metal but also use SACD for Classical, Pink Floyd.   I currently use the Pioneer Elite DVi79.  Since I don't have the luxury of testing different players on my system and there are so many player out there, I was curious to see what everyone is using  and have experienced on this forum.   

FYI my speakers are B&W:(4) 805s, HTM2d(Center) and 825(sub)

Thanks

Tony

sorry to get off topic. Im a b&w fan also. how well does the diamond center match those 805's? I have all nautilus stuff still. I need to upgrade my cdp and amps before I worry about speakers again though.

its a shame, as I could drop $10k easily and still not be near where I want to be in the end... I've been busy building a dedicated room though. doing finishing work today!

on topic:

I had a jolida cdp, and demo'd 2 music fidelity cdp's as well as the ayre. each one was great, and if i didnt listen to the next step up, would have been happy with the lesser model. sometime ignorance is bliss.

[Tony1]

Sikoniko

You can tell the difference in the high end when you toggle between 2 channel and surround but depends on the source you are listening to.  It does blend in nicely but the advantage is when you watch movies since most of the sound comes from the center which sounds great.  For music I raise the volume on the center slightly and hear more of the diamond tweeter.

I also bought the HTM2d so I won't have to upgrade later and hope to one day get 802d.  I'd like to get them now but feel my room is too small.  My room is 14' x 26' with my sofa facing the speakers on the 14' side.

[sikoniko]

I also bought the HTM2d so I won't have to upgrade later and hope to one day get 802d.  I'd like to get them now but feel my room is too small.  My room is 14' x 26' with my sofa facing the speakers on the 14' side.

I have Nautilus 802's. My room is 14' w x 18' d and I think they fill the room nicely. I think you could be happy with the 802d's if you really wanted to make that jump!

[Tony1]

Do the 802's get boomy on the low end?  If I do get them the will be against the wall and I know the speaker sounds best when they are a foot or two from the wall.  Are you facing your system from the 14' or 18' side.

[sikoniko]

They are on the 14 ft wall about 2 ft from back wall and 1 ft from side walls. that may change because the wife wants to try and get 2 rows in the room to accomodate family. we understand most seats won't be in an optimal place, but im the only one who really cares anyways. we are using a projector, so that helps with a couple feet of depth a tv and stand would eat up.

boomy, no. not from 2 channel music. I am planning on getting the velodyne sms-1 for my asw-850 though, and i will put bass traps in the corners when I get to that point.

Currently, I am using nuforce ref9's to power the N802's/Nhtm1. I am thinking about upgrading to either ref9 SE's, bryston 6b or classe 3200.

[jethro]

Wondering if anyone has tried different CD players and which models sounds best with Bryston.  I have a SP1.7/9B

The SP-1.7 with a cheap DVD player in digital mode.

I recently tried a friend's benchmark DAC using the analog bypass of the SP-1.7 and the
SP-1.7 DAC fed from a DVD player. We switched back and forth using the bypass button.
Thankfully I remembered to adjust the volume between switching. In my opinion the
SP-1.7's DAC's were much better, The benchmark had no bottom end and seemed to
add its own signature to the midrange. That said, on some recordings (mostly U2), the
benchmark did some pretty wonderful things with the voices and guitars. I normally
can't listen to U2 on my system - not because I don't like U2, but because it sounded
pretty lifeless and thin on my system. The benchmark made U2 sound really nice !
Lifelessness and thin-ness is not the norm on my system with good recordings.
Overall though, I believe the SP-1.7 DACS are better.  The benchmark owner
 (headphone-only person) had never heard a somewhat high-end speaker system before and
I think pretty much agreed with my findings.  It was quite an eye opener to see
how much of a difference a mildly-expensive ($1100 - $1500 CDN) DAC can make in a system.

Apologies to James, but I think I'm going to borrow a new Bel Canto DAC3 to see how how
it performs.
 

[caleb]

Do the 802's get boomy on the low end?  If I do get them the will be against the wall and I know the speaker sounds best when they are a foot or two from the wall.  Are you facing your system from the 14' or 18' side.

If you get 802s and put them close to any wall - you are wasting your money mate.

In my experience if you dont have 802s at least a metre away from a side or back wall, you will NEVER get the best out of them.

I switched from 802s to 800Ds recerntly and they sounded good where the 802 were originally, but now they are 175 cms away from the back & side walls and they have really opened up.

[pav]

Wondering if anyone has tried different CD players and which models sounds best with Bryston.  I have a SP1.7/9B

Well, I don't know about best, but here's my 0.02$ on the subject. If I were you, I'd consider one of Audio Aero's CD players.
I have Bryston B60 with PMC GB1 and entry level AA Prima complements the combination superbly. You loose no detail and yet the tubed output gives some warmth ... but, that's personal preference.

Considering your setup ... Prestige CD/SACD player may be more interesting for you. Try to audition it ...

Here's a link: http://Http://www.audioaero.com