[James Tanner]

Hi james

With over 5,000 classical CDs at my disposal, I rely on my BCD-3CD player. 

Streaming may be convenient but it falls far short of providing the vast array of music that was recorded on CDs.

Sincerely,
Rima

[gberger]

Hi James,

Another serious vote for the BCD-3.

I've either tried, or owned, CD players since the beginning of the CD era - - - looking for a better one to spin
my expanding collection of classical CDs.  When I found the BCD-3, my hunt was over.

IMO, the "Mini BDA-3" and single clock in the BCD-3 have made all the difference.  My Redbook collection has never sounded better.
 
BCD-3 > BP17c > 4B cubed > Thiel 2.7s plus sub.   (Sennheiser 800S cans.)

George

[linko]

Hi, I just received my BCD 3. I have been playing some CDs today, but really not happy with the sound. I am finding it congested and kind of unfocused. I am doing  an A/B comparison with my audio research CD 2.

How long of a break in is required before the sound becomes as wonderful as everyone is saying. I have it running on repeat. I am going to turn off my other gear tonight (all tubes) and just let the Bryston run.

Any advice?

Thanks

[Mag]

Hi, I just received my BCD 3. I have been playing some CDs today, but really not happy with the sound. I am finding it congested and kind of unfocused. I am doing  an A/B comparison with my audio research CD 2.

How long of a break in is required before the sound becomes as wonderful as everyone is saying. I have it running on repeat. I am going to turn off my other gear tonight (all tubes) and just let the Bryston run.

Any advice?

Thanks

Could you provide a little more info like your pre-amp and how you have it connected and digital or analog input/output?

[CanadianMaestro]

Hi, I just received my BCD 3. I have been playing some CDs today, but really not happy with the sound. I am finding it congested and kind of unfocused. I am doing  an A/B comparison with my audio research CD 2.

How long of a break in is required before the sound becomes as wonderful as everyone is saying. I have it running on repeat. I am going to turn off my other gear tonight (all tubes) and just let the Bryston run.

Any advice?

Thanks

Hi there,

I think you should just give yourself some time to get aurally "adjusted", or acclimated, to the sound of your new player.

I can't imagine why a Bryston CDP would need more "break-in". It already has 100 hrs of run time at the factory before shipping out.

good luck.

p.s. Curious: what was it about the SQ of your ARC CD2 that made you want to buy a BCD-3?

[linko]

I have the Bryston connected by audio quest coax to my Audio Research LS15 tube preamp, the LS15 feeds a pair of VTL225 tube monoblocks connected to a pair of ProAc responses 3 speakers. I am comparing the BCD3 to my Audio Research CD2 CD player.

Weak signal level as the CD2 is 12 o clock on volume and the BCD3 is 3 o clock.

Much less drive and clarity from the BCD3 veiled sound

[linko]

I am concerned the ARC CD2 transport will have no repair option as the CD2 has a teacher transport ARC cannot repair or replace. Figured I would get the CD player to last me the next decade.

[CanadianMaestro]

I have the Bryston connected by audio quest coax to my Audio Research LS15 tube preamp,
Weak signal level as the CD2 is 12 o clock on volume and the BCD3 is 3 o clock.

Much less drive and clarity from the BCD3 veiled sound

Check that the gains on the two separate channels of your LS15 pre (one receiving BCD3, the other CD2) are the same (I have LS27, and the gains can be set independently on each input).

Odd that BCD3 would need a higher volume dial setting. It has a high V out. You said you are using a coax to connect to LS15 -- is that balanced or SE?

Did you check that SPL is the same for both players when comparing?

[linko]

Appreciate the detailed response. I can't live with the sound so I am not looking further at the levels but very good idea. I am using SE input. I also connected with a pair of Transparent Audio Ultra XLR to the direct input. Sound just doesn't have musical depth, soundstage is flat. Did quite a few a/b comparisons with the ARC.

SPL ? Sound pressure level?

[Mag]

I have the Bryston connected by audio quest coax to my Audio Research LS15 tube preamp, the LS15 feeds a pair of VTL225 tube monoblocks connected to a pair of ProAc responses 3 speakers. I am comparing the BCD3 to my Audio Research CD2 CD player.

Weak signal level as the CD2 is 12 o clock on volume and the BCD3 is 3 o clock.

Much less drive and clarity from the BCD3 veiled sound

Well I don't know. With my BCD-3 I have to be careful with the volume as I can easily hit high SPL, and I would not describe the sound as veiled. I find the BCD-3 the most refined sound compared to my other sources, BDP-1, Yamaha BD-a1060 and computer output.

I'm using BCD-3 analog outputs to SP2 inputs, using 2 channel bypass to Yamaha MG-10 mixer to Bryston 3B SST2 amps, Model T passive speakers.

Have you tried a firmware update?

[CanadianMaestro]

SPL ? Sound pressure level?

Yes. You said you were A/B 'ing the two CDPs. So you need to make sure that SPL is exactly the same out of your speakers, for both players.

offline for the next day or so.
cheers

[loujetlag]

Hi foks, noob on this (and all)  forum here, so please pardon ignorance/etiquette gaffes. 

I just acquired a used/IAD upgraded BDP-2.  My plan was to acquire a BOT-1 (used or new) and then pay the factory to upgrade the BDP-2 to a BDP-3.  But now (I believe very recently this month) I see the BOT-1 is discontinued.  And I see it is now out of stock in Sliver (preferred to match my BDP-2) at Moon Audio and in mostly Black elsewhere. 

Wondering if I should rush to find a new Silver one out there, wait for a sale, or...?  But meantime some questions...

Does anyone know if there are plans to make a BOT-2?  Or perhaps Bryston is simplifying production and focusing only on BCD-3 and successors?

Also, has any anyone compared SQ of BDP-X + BOT-1 combo vs. BCD-3?

Thanks to all for the fun and knowledge base / resource!
Cheers,
Lou

[gbaby]

Hi foks, noob on this (and all)  forum here, so please pardon ignorance/etiquette gaffes. 

I just acquired a used/IAD upgraded BDP-2.  My plan was to acquire a BOT-1 (used or new) and then pay the factory to upgrade the BDP-2 to a BDP-3.  But now (I believe very recently this month) I see the BOT-1 is discontinued.  And I see it is now out of stock in Sliver (preferred to match my BDP-2) at Moon Audio and in mostly Black elsewhere. 

Wondering if I should rush to find a new Silver one out there, wait for a sale, or...?  But meantime some questions...

Does anyone know if there are plans to make a BOT-2?  Or perhaps Bryston is simplifying production and focusing only on BCD-3 and successors?

Also, has any anyone compared SQ of BDP-X + BOT-1 combo vs. BCD-3?

Thanks to all for the fun and knowledge base / resource!
Cheers,
Lou

Why do you even need a BOT1?

[noble]

   Hi there

  Can someone please explain to me as  to  the difference in sound quality between the BCd1 and Bcd3. Is the improvement night and day or should i stick with the bcd1 until it becomes faulty.

 Is there a possibility of a new  bryston CD player in the future.

 Excuse me for my naivety

[R. Daneel]

Hi, I just received my BCD 3. I have been playing some CDs today, but really not happy with the sound. I am finding it congested and kind of unfocused. I am doing  an A/B comparison with my audio research CD 2.

How long of a break in is required before the sound becomes as wonderful as everyone is saying. I have it running on repeat. I am going to turn off my other gear tonight (all tubes) and just let the Bryston run.

Any advice?

Thanks

Hello!

It hardly makes any sense to me to go from AR to Bryston, unless you're wanting to try "something completely different" as they say in Monty Python.

It is quite possible the Bryston "sound" (if it has any) is not to your liking in general and that you simply bought the wrong machine. If you like your AR player, keep it or try something more recent from AR. Break-in rarely sorted anything out for me. If I don't like it on first listen, I will certainly not like it after a year.

Cheers,
Antun

[mav52]

I picked up a BCD-1 years ago, the sound wasn't to my liking , so I just bypassed the internal dac and just use the BCD-1 as a transport fed either by its AES or SPDIF into one of my dacs. 

[gberger]

The BCD-3 has an excellent transport, and its output goes through the integral BDA-3 DAC components for conversion to analog.  Both the transport and BDA-3 are controlled by a single master  clock, avoiding jitter as much as can be achieved by a CD  spinner i n this price range.

My classical Redbook CD collection is reproduced the best I've encountered so far.

George

[AndrewA]

A question.

I remember that the BCD-1 had some special codes that you could type in the remote to reduce the output level a little, to stop it from overloading the preamp, etc.

Does the BCD-3 also have this possible adjustment?  If so, what would the codes be?