[Ryanz]

I'm not sure what I should get, a BDA or a BCD. Which of the two do you guys have and why did you choose it? And are you happy with the decision?

[nikon]

had a BCD-1 and not using much due to small CD library

traded against 3B-SST2 for bi-amping

will be ordering BDP-1 / BDA-1 when launched 

[betamax]

Depends what source you're using now and want to use in the future. BDA opens a world of possibilities for digital sources.

On the other hand, if you're mostly listening to CDs and plan to keep on doing so (likely the case if you're asking the question), then a good CDP is a must. You can't just use any old CDP and expect to get perfect sound, even using digital outputs. 

I have both a Rega Apollo CDP and a NAD 542 hooked up to a Bryston B100-DA via coax digital. Both CDPs sound much better via digital out using the B100's D/A converters, but there is an audible difference between the two. Especially with headphones on, I can distinguish between the two sources. The NAD has a slightler sharper edge and sounds a bit flatter, while the Apollo sounds a bit smoother, yet fuller and with more 'presence'.

I never expected to hear any difference using digital, but I discovered the difference just by accident when my wife played a CD in the NAD (she doesn't like the top-loading Apollo) that I had played earlier in the Apollo. I noticed the difference immediately and was surprised how it suddenly sounded harsher in the NAD.

The difference is slight, but discernible, and let's face it: we generally pay a lot of money for slight differences, because to audiophiles the difference is worth it.

But all that probably doesn't answer your question. If you're current CDP is very good, and/or you intend to put all your music on a digital server, then I'd go BDA. If you need to upgrade your CDP anyway, then I'd go BCD.

[Phil A]

I owned a BCD-1 one when it first came out and enjoyed it and then sold it and bought a very lightly used BDA-1 for the same money.  As noted in the other post "BDA opens a world of possibilities for digital sources."  Physical media is going through a slow death.  With the BDA-1 you won't have to worry about transport issues several years down the road.  I still have a 15+ year old Micromega DAC I traded for (perhaps 7 years back?) in the secondary basement that still sounds very good and I don't know of many CD players I would expect to last that long.  There are even $300 devices now like the Logitech Squeezebox Touch that can do much better than CD resolution (and can play internet radio too) and you can't play anything but CD discs in the BCD-1 and it is more expensive.  For less than the cost of the BCD-1 you can buy the Oppo BDP-83, the BDA-1 and a device like the Port-ta HDMI de-embedder I described in the BDA-1/SACD thread.  With the Oppo you can experience full resolution from DVD-A discs (up to 192kHz) and it can convert SACD to 24/88.2 PCM and sounds wonderful played through the DAC.  Not to mention the fact you have a superb Blu-Ray and DVD-V player.  At the time I bought the BCD-1, the BDA-1 was not available.

[alexone]

Ryanz,

it also depends on your experience. like Betamax said there can be a certain difference between digital outputs. but in the case of Bryston's BDA and BCD the difference is SLIGHTLY if you ask me. so if you want a more versatile product then go for the BDA external converter. it has 8! inputs including USB. you cannot go wrong here. as i just said in an earlier thread i loaned my BDA to my father-in-law. right away we noticed the much, much better sound in every way. the BDA is still at his place and he really enjoys it! and if you have your music stored on a hdd the new BDP might be an option for you as well?!

i always wanted to have a "complete" Bryston setup and the BCD just fulfills this need (and it was released earlier than the BDA, btw).

maybe just a dealer can help here...

al.

[ian.ameline]

I've got a BDA and I'm very happy with it. Having all my music available on the hard disk has resulted in me listening to more music, and through the BDA, BP25, and 4BSST2 the music sounds great.

[KnowTalent]

Due to the evergrowing market of digital downloads I'd say the BDA is the better bet.
Even if you already have a large disk collection the ability to override upsampling is a nice option to have as during my 30 day demo I found the non-upsampled playback to sound more "rich" and involving whereas with upsampling engaged the playback sounded somewhat anemic in comparison.

[Ryanz]

I think the BDA might be the right choice. I believe everyone is correct when they say that digital is the future, and I don't want to be up s*** creek without a paddle in 10 years. I'm not a fan of "virtual" music but, I guess I just have to come to the realization that it's going to happen.