Bryston BDA-1 "SE Signature" Mod?

Jon L · « **on:** 8 Nov 2009, 07:08 pm »

Just saw this on Agon

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?dgtlconv&1262737304&/Bryston-bda-1-se-signature-mod

Unfortunately, it doesn't mention any specifics about what exactly is being done..

The monkey · « **Reply #1 on:** 8 Nov 2009, 07:10 pm »

Looks pretty sketchy.

drummermitchell · « **Reply #2 on:** 8 Nov 2009, 07:33 pm »

,warranty I would think.

James Tanner · « **Reply #3 on:** 8 Nov 2009, 07:36 pm »

Quote from: Jon L on 8 Nov 2009, 07:08 pm

Just saw this on Agon

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?dgtlconv&1262737304&/Bryston-bda-1-se-signature-mod

Unfortunately, it doesn't mention any specifics about what exactly is being done..

I wonder where they are buying them?
It would be interesting to see what they do -it looks like they take over the warranty for the customer.

james

vegasdave · « **Reply #4 on:** 9 Nov 2009, 02:46 am »

James, what can they do to possibly "improve" on this unit?

I really don't like these modder guys. They seem like rip off artists to me.

1ZIP · « **Reply #5 on:** 9 Nov 2009, 04:36 am »

I know little about these matters....but I would think that there would be some proprietary protections in place, at least for some period of time. They are out of Seattle and with very little feedback so I'm assuming that they are new to the market place.

srb · « **Reply #6 on:** 9 Nov 2009, 05:07 am »

First, if you are composing a business ad, then you should make sure that you use proper grammar. If English is not your first language, then you should get someone to write or proof the ad for you.

Second, if you are unwilling to divulge any specific details about your modifications to the component, then you can't really expect anyone to buy it, especially in this price range.

Steve

1ZIP · « **Reply #7 on:** 9 Nov 2009, 05:25 am »

......I don't know....and maybe it's my distrust of almost everything

but after reading through the write up.....something just doesn't feel right

Mad Mr H · « **Reply #8 on:** 9 Nov 2009, 11:57 am »

I see both sides of the "Mod" game............

Recently I had on test a "Signature mod" Denon BDCI 3800 blu ray player.....

The Mod version was without question WORSE than the original - Thats running on my lexicon MC12B, Bryston, PMC BB5 tri amp system - So pretty good!

I also had made some "mod" kit for some specific use, using original Barco Projector boards and building new HDMI inputs to bring an old school CRT PJ into the new digital era.......

So for me there is a place for "MODS" , But many of the audio mods I just don't trust - Did you know that wen you "Upgrade" a cap to a "better" version that often you greatly reduce its life span......The higher grade caps have a low life lne - Nothing you can do about it, thats the way they are built.....

So many of the claims from "Modders" are true about cost effective parts in the original but fail to metion the reduced life of higher grade parts....

Many of the "Modders" are people like me who have/had some spare time and like to "play". Nothing wrong with that........

That agon ad does not even state which company do the work - I think I know but wont say as it looks like a rip off of a well known mod site......

Years ago mods were worth more in my opinion, now digital technology has moved forward and there are little gains to be had. Analogue mods were often large leaps forward.......

Just my thoughts....

1ZIP · « **Reply #9 on:** 9 Nov 2009, 03:38 pm »

"So for me there is a place for "MODS" , But many of the audio mods I just don't trust - Did you know that wen you "Upgrade" a cap to a "better" version that often you greatly reduce its life span......The higher grade caps have a low life lne - Nothing you can do about it, thats the way they are built....."

That's an interesting point! Could you or another member elaborate on why that may be true?

ian.ameline · « **Reply #10 on:** 9 Nov 2009, 05:00 pm »

Couple of points. First, the BDA-1 is mostly surface mount -- very hard to de-solder and replace components. Not impossible, but hard.

Second, even where it looks like you might be able to upgrade individual components, it might not be an upgrade. Take, for example, the voltage regulators used in the BDA-1 for the analog op-amps. The part numbers indicate they are the 10% tolerance version. You might think that replacing them with 5% ones will be better. But what that doesn't take into account is that (where it matters) Bryston hand-selects components for matching specs. For these, what matters is that all 4 are close to each other in the voltage they produce. With sorting into 10 bins, that +-10% becomes +- 2% -- better than what is commercially available.

(And I've been to Bryston, and I've seen them sorting/binning parts like this with my own eyes.)

-- Ian.

werd · « **Reply #11 on:** 9 Nov 2009, 06:00 pm »

Anybody wanna buy my "Werd signature" superduper mod edition for $3000k? I basically open the top cover and offer my blessing of musical might and very gently place the top back on and say a couple more prayers and voila. you will be totally impressed by its new and improved soundstage.

.

Just sendme some money please ... i'm goin to vegas.

srb · « **Reply #12 on:** 9 Nov 2009, 06:20 pm »

Quote from: werd on 9 Nov 2009, 06:00 pm

Anybody wanna buy my "Werd signature" superduper mod edition for $3000k? I basically open the top cover and offer my blessing of musical might and very gently place the top back on and say a couple more prayers and voila. you will be totally impressed by its new and improved soundstage. .

At least with yours, I know exactly what "mods" were performed. And my factory warranty would probably remain intact.

Of course at $3K ($3000K?), you could afford to throw in cryo treating of the case screws.

Steve

werd · « **Reply #13 on:** 9 Nov 2009, 06:41 pm »

Quote from: srb on 9 Nov 2009, 06:20 pm

Quote from: werd on 9 Nov 2009, 06:00 pm
Anybody wanna buy my "Werd signature" superduper mod edition for $3000k? I basically open the top cover and offer my blessing of musical might and very gently place the top back on and say a couple more prayers and voila. you will be totally impressed by its new and improved soundstage. .

At least with yours, I know exactly what "mods" were performed. And my factory warranty would probably remain intact.

Of course at $3K ($3000K?), you could afford to throw in cryo treating of the case screws.

Steve

yah thats if i dont lose em.

1ZIP · « **Reply #14 on:** 9 Nov 2009, 07:44 pm »

Quote from: werd on 9 Nov 2009, 06:00 pm

Anybody wanna buy my "Werd signature" superduper mod edition for $3000k? I basically open the top cover and offer my blessing of musical might and very gently place the top back on and say a couple more prayers and voila. you will be totally impressed by its new and improved soundstage. .

Just sendme some money please ... i'm goin to vegas.

....bring them to Vegas, I pay ya when you get here!

Mad Mr H · « **Reply #15 on:** 9 Nov 2009, 11:17 pm »

Caps and life time........

This is from spec sheets of various caps I have used, and for some item I do hand pick from large groups.

lets say a run of the mill nothing special cap has 20-30,000 hour life time ONLY if used within its temp range. I think (not sure) that going 5 deg C OVER the spec temp the lifetime of a cap halves.

You can get ulta high spec caps that have 1-2000 hours life.

Thats the from spec sheet.

This is for old style caps - NOT surface mount - I have no idea about surface mount specs...............

Andy.

1ZIP · « **Reply #16 on:** 11 Nov 2009, 04:01 am »

Okay....it's entirely possible that I'm dense as a brick. But what is it in the construction of a high spec cap that causes it to have a shorter life span over a lesser cap? Assuming that both are used within their respective operating parameters.

Inquiring minds want to know....seriously!

davidR · « **Reply #17 on:** 19 Jan 2010, 08:49 pm »

This mod caught my attention on Audiogon as well because I have an interested friend who owns a BDA-1. I sent the user "Trueharmonic" an e-mail asking him for additional info about his company, the cost of the mod and where to send it. This was his response from my e-mail:
"Just the mod will be $900 only let me know if this work. So I can send you the shipping address. Thx"

Seems weird to me.

James Tanner · « **Reply #18 on:** 19 Jan 2010, 08:52 pm »

It would be interesting to test one of these after the mod.

So many times when we see this kind of change it makes things worse because the 'modder' does not understand the interplay between all the various parts in a given circuit.

james

werd · « **Reply #19 on:** 19 Jan 2010, 08:52 pm »

Its funny because i was looking at that today, what is also strange is he had that add up for 5 months at least and his rating hasn't change yet. No positive or negative reviews yet.