[James Tanner]

I'm wondering whether the following has been experienced by anyone else and whether it is a cause for concern.

I've been experimenting with two different transports, so I've been turning the transports off and on and connecting and disconnecting them from the BDA-1.  I probably have caused glitches at the digital audio input of the BDA-1 due to my turning the transport power on and off while the BDA-1 is in active mode (ie, not standby).  Occasionally this causes the BDA-1 to get into a state in which it does not play anything, the sample rate LED's are all dark, and -- this is the weird part -- it ignores all presses of the Standby and input select buttons.  It works fine after I remove the power plug for a few seconds.

Hi Bob,

Sounds like the software has been contaminated - I can send you new software and it will prevent it from occurring again.

james

[konut]

Really? I've encountered times when I've had to unplug the BDA-1 to do a reset. This has always occured while using an optical connection from a digital TV. Different channels have differing sample rates. I just assumed it was a handshake issue and the DAC would lock up. Do I need to install new software?

[drummermitchell]

James,thanks for the english version of the BDA-1 (Sound and Image mag)superb review.

[James Tanner]

Really? I've encountered times when I've had to unplug the BDA-1 to do a reset. This has always occured while using an optical connection from a digital TV. Different channels have differing sample rates. I just assumed it was a handshake issue and the DAC would lock up. Do I need to install new software?

Hi,

Yes the newest software has a more robust program so it will prevent any lockup if you are experiencing it.  Latest software is November 18th 2008.

Need your serial number and where purchased - email me at jamestanner@bryston.ca

[ian.ameline]

Really? I've encountered times when I've had to unplug the BDA-1 to do a reset. This has always occured while using an optical connection from a digital TV. Different channels have differing sample rates. I just assumed it was a handshake issue and the DAC would lock up. Do I need to install new software?

Hi,

Yes the newest software has a more robust program so it will prevent any lockup if you are experiencing it.  Latest software is November 18th 2008.

I have the update and James is correct -- my unit was occasionally locking up on me when using a rogers cable box as the digital source -- on each channel change it was unlocking/relocking to the spdif clock -- after quite a number of these, the BDA-1 could become unresponsive -- after the software update it was completely fixed and it has not had any problems since.

[Sasha]

Here is a guess and a strange question.
Could this “lockup” be caused by buffer underrun/overrun due to jittery source?
If so, I would rather have version that is as intolerant of incoming rate changes as possible, even at the expense of lockups, than have something that will compromise performance just so that is can work better with shitty digital sources.
I have tried TosLink on Rogers digital terminal, jitter pierces your ears, probably the worst signal I have ever encountered.
Can the “locking” version of BDA-1 software be obtained by those like me?

[James Tanner]

Here is a guess and a strange question.
Could this “lockup” be caused by buffer underrun/overrun due to jittery source?
If so, I would rather have version that is as intolerant of incoming rate changes as possible, even at the expense of lockups, than have something that will compromise performance just so that is can work better with shitty digital sources.
I have tried TosLink on Rogers digital terminal, jitter pierces your ears, probably the worst signal I have ever encountered.
Can the “locking” version of BDA-1 software be obtained by those like me?

Hi Sasha,

Yes the older version of the software is available. The only change in the new software is there is a 1/2 second 'wait' before the BDA-1 locks on to the new signal.  This prevents any 'locking' issues as you change sources -nothing to do with jitter issues.

james

[ted_b]

With all this debate about whether the "high" jitter SB3 and it's counterparts are worthy enough for a DAC like the BDA-1, has anyone tried putting a jitter control device (re-clocker) like a Monarchy DIP in between their transport/source and the BDA-1?  Again, if you can get the jitter down, the BDA-1 is all the more able to reduce it even more.  I can't really speak for the jitter of an SB3 except to say this:  I own a Modwright Transporter, but before I went that direction I had a modded SB3 into an Ack Dac.  When I installed a Monarchy DIP in between those two the sonics improved significantly...now that could be a mark against either the SB3 or the ability of the Ack Dac to handle even moderate jitter...dunno.  Just know what I heard.

James, was the BDA-1 used at the Maggie Mini demo, or just the new BCD-1 player?  The sound was great (for a small speaker), and I noticed the gear over by Mark's chair but wasn't sure if it was "just" the BCD-1 or if the DAC was employed too.  I saw the pre there sitting next to the cd player, and no other box evident so i assume it was cd-to-pre.  I ended up talking about other stuff with them and then it was time for another round of demos so we were escorted out ( ) before i could take an inventory.  The amps are beautiful, BTW.

[James Tanner]

With all this debate about whether the "high" jitter SB3 and it's counterparts are worthy enough for a DAC like the BDA-1, has anyone tried putting a jitter control device (re-clocker) like a Monarchy DIP in between their transport/source and the BDA-1?  Again, if you can get the jitter down, the BDA-1 is all the more able to reduce it even more.  I can't really speak for the jitter of an SB3 except to say this:  I own a Modwright Transporter, but before I went that direction I had a modded SB3 into an Ack Dac.  When I installed a Monarchy DIP in between those two the sonics improved significantly...now that could be a mark against either the SB3 or the ability of the Ack Dac to handle even moderate jitter...dunno.  Just know what I heard.

James, was the BDA-1 used at the Maggie Mini demo, or just the new cd player?  The sound was great (for a small speaker), and I noticed the gear over by Mark's chair but wasn't sure if it was a DAC or the pre sitting next to the cd player.  I eneded up talking about other stuff with them and then it was time for another round of demos so we were escorted out ( ) before i coudl take an inventory.  The amps are beautiful, BTW.

Hi Ted,

Thank you for your kind comments. The Magnepan setup was the 28B's the BCD-1 CD Player (only) and the BP-26/MPS-2 preamp with the Torus RM-20 isolation transformer.

james

[Sasha]

With all this debate about whether the "high" jitter SB3 and it's counterparts are worthy enough for a DAC like the BDA-1, has anyone tried putting a jitter control device (re-clocker) like a Monarchy DIP in between their transport/source and the BDA-1?  Again, if you can get the jitter down, the BDA-1 is all the more able to reduce it even more.  I can't really speak for the jitter of an SB3 except to say this:  I own a Modwright Transporter, but before I went that direction I had a modded SB3 into an Ack Dac.  When I installed a Monarchy DIP in between those two the sonics improved significantly...now that could be a mark against either the SB3 or the ability of the Ack Dac to handle even moderate jitter...dunno.  Just know what I heard.

There is a guy on Audioasylum forum that is even more anal about jitter than I am, he used reclocker from Apogee to successfully minimize jitter from Lynx card.
Although in his case the source is quite better than SB3 and he used different DAC (dCS) which does not upsample, it still demonstrates what can be accomplished.
So you could probably hear benefits from reclocking SB3.
Good point though with the question on what to contribute effects of Monarchy DIP to, hard to say till you measure or compare to a number of other devices.
Best thing is to try it, the Demo is Everything indeed 

[bob stern]

Is there any possibility that a future firmware update might add the ability to reverse the phase (polarity) by remote control?

It should be possible to implement without relays or other hardware changes because the CS4398 DAC chip has built in phase toggling via its control registers (register 3h, bits 5 & 6, per section 7.3.2 & 7.3.3 of the CS4398 spec sheet).  Since the BDA-1 software already must include the step of initializing these control registers, it should not be difficult to modify the software to allow the user to toggle the setting while music is playing.  (The CS4398 automatically ramps the volume down and up briefly when settings are changed to prevent pops or other glitches in the output.)

One user interface possibility would be to provide an option for the upsampling defeat button (on both the front panel and the remote) to perform phase reversal instead of upsampling defeat, with its LED indicating phase instead of upsampling status.

This would be a valuable feature for those of us who have phase-aligned loudspeakers such as Thiel and cannot afford a BP-26.  (I have a Placette passive volume control.)

Also, I hope you include phase/polarity reversal via remote control in your upcoming product that combines a DAC and volume control.

Thanks for your consideration!

[James Tanner]

Hi Bob,

Yes it is possible to reverse polarity but we would have to do a new version of the software. The problem as you say is how do you indicate it and how many people would for-go the upsample indication in favour of a polarity inversion indicator?

Also do you think polarity inversion (absolute phase reversal) is a feature most people would want or even use given the multi-miked recordings of today?  I get calls all the time from BP26 customers asking "what the hell is this for"?

james

[KeithA]

I get calls all the time from BP26 customers asking "what the hell is this for"?

james

You took the words right out of my mouth...I've always wondered what the polarity thing meant

Keith

[James Tanner]

I get calls all the time from BP26 customers asking "what the hell is this for"?

james

You took the words right out of my mouth...I've always wondered what the polarity thing meant

Keith

Hi Keith,

The concept of 'Absolute Phase' is that you maintain the integrity of the phase throughout the recorded and playback signal chain. So a positive impulse on the input of a component has a positive impulse at the output of the component. All Bryston gear is designed to maintain absolute phase throughtout the signal path.

Some components 'invert phase or reverse polarity' and therefore a 'positive impulse' at the input produces a 'negative impulse' at the output. In the recording studio's some engineers try to maintain a positive phase - non inverting polarity - recording by making sure that all the Mic's the Preamps and the recording equipment provides this absolute phase integrity. The problem is that with many of today's multi-miked recordings some of the instruments may be in absolute phase and some may be out of absolute phase. So unless the recording takes into account all the phase relationships of all the different microphones used and all the components in the recording signal path the chances of getting it correct is 50/50.

So how does this apply to me sitting in my home listening to Music you may ask? Lets say we are recording a drum.  The drummer hits the bass drum and the drum skin moves outward (positive pressure) or forward - the Microphone picks up the sound wave and moves inward (negative pressure) - it then travels through the complete audio system and the speaker should then move outward to exactly replicate the positive pressure of the drum.

The absolute phase switch on the BP26 allows you to 'invert' the phase 180 degrees on BOTH channels. This is totally different than inverting phase on ONE channel which would then put the speakers "OUT OF PHASE" with each other - (no bass-no image etc.). Transients like that in brass and plucked instruments and sometimes voices will sound more 'in the room' and better defined if the absolute phase is correct. So when listening switch the phase button on the BP-26 and see if you can detect a difference.

Some CD's or Computers may invert phase so this just allows you to decide which position sounds the best with a given recording.The main problem is you have no way of knowing unless the recording engineer states on the recording or CD that they have maintained Absolute Phase throughout. - the old Sheffield Records made a point of mentioning this on the record jacket.

james

[bummrush]

Hello James,so generally an out of phase system might sound like what?Thanks

[James Tanner]

Hello James,so generally an out of phase system might sound like what?Thanks

You mean 'out of Phase'  or  'out of Absolute phase'

james

[Sasha]

Hello James,so generally an out of phase system might sound like what?Thanks

Interesting question.
I hear a slight difference when absolute phase is inverted, but I cannot describe it, it is kind of an impression that “something has changed a little”, but what…
And I cannot tell which one is “correct” or pick one from the other, I would certainly fail in blind test.

[Sasha]

In regard to out of phase, it is very obvious to me, it makes my eyes cross (really  ).
It would seem that some people do not hear it, I had a couple of auditions where one channel was out of phase, yet no one, including the dealer, could not hear it and insisted everything was good, till hours later they were proven wrong.

[bummrush]

For now just out of phase is good enough,but i think you mentioned it above with the generally weak bass and vocals,thanks again.Whats funny is how some clearly hear and some dont.

[bummrush]

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