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As for the Bryston, I expect you'll find it a over-analytical. QuoteI have an in-built Bryston DAC (similar to BDA-1) which simply sounds wonderful! I own the Altmann Attraction (full monty, with RWA battery) and Mhdt's Paradisea, both of which are NOS DACs with a reputation for sounding analog-like, and I can safely say that the Bryston DAC sounds more musical than these two. The Bryston's presentation is detailed but I would not say its overly analytical. In fact, my internet radio via SB3 is sounding so good I feel quite reluctant to mod the SB3.
I have an in-built Bryston DAC (similar to BDA-1) which simply sounds wonderful! I own the Altmann Attraction (full monty, with RWA battery) and Mhdt's Paradisea, both of which are NOS DACs with a reputation for sounding analog-like, and I can safely say that the Bryston DAC sounds more musical than these two. The Bryston's presentation is detailed but I would not say its overly analytical. In fact, my internet radio via SB3 is sounding so good I feel quite reluctant to mod the SB3.
USB DACs present themselves as USB audio class devices, and I believe put themselves in USB isochronous transfer mode which is sensitive to jitter, loss and latency. I understand that people say that USB is digital and is perfect, but if you look at the USB spec and you look at the USB Audio class spec, and you reference the great work being done by Wavelength Audio and Empirical Audio then you'll see very quickly that it's not true.
From having used both USB DAC's and both a Trends UD-10 and HagUSB to convert USB to SPDIF, I have to say that I do not think this conversion process is really that big a deal if you have a competent converter. I understand that it is an extra cable and box in between your source and your amp--thereby adding length to the signal path and a conversion step, but I just have not found it an issue. In fact, if the USB end of a USB DAC is not done properly, the results cold actually be worse. So, don't ignore a DAC just because you may have to use a USB converter.At one time I had both the SPDIF version and the USB version of the Audiosector DAC. Was there a sonic difference I could discern? Not that I could tell reliably.At the moment I am not willing to spend over 1K on a DAC. The Audiosector is an unqualified bargain as are many of the other DAC's noted above. Synergy with your system is critical with every component, I have found, so if at all possible try before you buy even if you have to buy used and sell at a slight loss. It will save you money in the end.
The Bryston isnt analytical in the least.. Its musical, lifelike, detailed and nicely balanced top to bottom with great extension in both directions. plus with reclocking/ well made power supplies you hear a lot of musical information that other DACs would miss.Mike
Quote from: mcullinan on 14 Oct 2008, 01:24 pmThe Bryston isnt analytical in the least.. Its musical, lifelike, detailed and nicely balanced top to bottom with great extension in both directions. plus with reclocking/ well made power supplies you hear a lot of musical information that other DACs would miss.MikeMy experience with oversampling, upsampling DACs is that they're either overanalytical, or too edgy, too harsh, which makes my ears bleed. If that's not the case with the Bryston, then that is excellent.
wilsynet, so you recommend the Peter Daniel DAC over the Iroc, Brick and Nixon which you have also auditioned?
The non OS DAC I owned was the Lavry DA10. Also a nice DAC.Mike
I am still waiting on Vinni Rossi's email informing me that I won the drawing for the Isabellina at RMAF.... If I wanted one I'd probably have to wait for one to come up used.
Bottom line is that there are really a lot of damned good DACs out there these days and a lot of it is going to come down to system synergy and personal tastes, and there is probably a good match for everybody in more than one price class.-- Jim
