AudioAficionado.org  

Go Back   AudioAficionado.org > Manufacturers Forums > Bryston Audio

Bryston Audio Unlimited, Unprecedented, Unequalled

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #11  
Old 05-30-2014, 02:10 PM
scirica's Avatar
scirica scirica is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: DFW Metroplex
Posts: 3,788
Default

I've had some time to listen to lot's of CD's and high-rez files over the last three days since the BDA-2 arrived. Bryston makes a very high-quality, top of the line DAC, of that there is no doubt. The only question in my mind is whether this one extra component in my personal system is worth the extra investment. I bought the BDA-2 right before upgrading from an Oppo BDP-93 to the 105D. In side-by-side A/B comparisons I may give a slim nod to the Bryston, but the Sabre DAC's in the new Oppo are very capable, and for my modest system more than adequate. 2-channel XLR out from the 105D to my MX121 and on to the MC205 sounds really good to me. I'm going to start saving my pennies for a speaker upgrade later this year or early next and possibly an MC452 to power the FL/FR speakers. That means that I will more than likely put this brand new Bryston BDA-2 in the marketplace. I got a great deal from Ivan and I'm sure I'll take a little hit when I sell it, but someone will get a like-new Bryston for a great price. My experiment will be your opportunity!
__________________
Analog: VPI Classic Direct (12" Fatboy) with Ortofon A95 cartridge; Ortofon ST-80SE Transformer; McIntosh C2500.
Digital: SilenZio Gen 3 High Performance Media Server; Esoteric K-03X.
Supporting System: McIntosh MX122 A/V Center; MC205 Amplifier; Bryston 14bSST2 Amplifier; PS Audio P10 Power Reconditioner; Revel Salon 2 Mains; Revel Voice 2 CC; JL Audio f113v2 (2); JL Audio CR-1 Crossover; Focal IC1002 Surrounds

Last edited by scirica; 05-30-2014 at 04:38 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 05-30-2014, 03:16 PM
Alki's Avatar
Alki Alki is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 938
Default

I have always been one to suggest that an individual should trust their ears, but are you sure that two days was enough time for the unit to settle in and for you to make the decision to move past such a fine piece of equipment?
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 05-30-2014, 04:38 PM
scirica's Avatar
scirica scirica is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: DFW Metroplex
Posts: 3,788
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Alki View Post
I have always been one to suggest that an individual should trust their ears, but are you sure that two days was enough time for the unit to settle in and for you to make the decision to move past such a fine piece of equipment?
It's not listed yet! I will certainly spend some more time with it. And like I said, it is a fine piece of equipment and I perceive some sonic benefit. It is up to me to determine if that benefit warrants the extra spend and added complexity to my simple system.

The quality and solid build of this product is quite apparent. :thumbs:
__________________
Analog: VPI Classic Direct (12" Fatboy) with Ortofon A95 cartridge; Ortofon ST-80SE Transformer; McIntosh C2500.
Digital: SilenZio Gen 3 High Performance Media Server; Esoteric K-03X.
Supporting System: McIntosh MX122 A/V Center; MC205 Amplifier; Bryston 14bSST2 Amplifier; PS Audio P10 Power Reconditioner; Revel Salon 2 Mains; Revel Voice 2 CC; JL Audio f113v2 (2); JL Audio CR-1 Crossover; Focal IC1002 Surrounds
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 05-31-2014, 08:17 AM
Jack in Wilmington's Avatar
Jack in Wilmington Jack in Wilmington is offline
Audio Enthusiast

 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Wilmington, De.
Posts: 1,018
Default

I like the versatility that the BDA-1 gives me. I can play cd's through it and HiRez files with the push of a button.
__________________
Speakers........Dynaudio Contour 1.8 Mk II
Amp...............Pass Labs X150.5
PreAmp..........McIntosh C2600
Sources..........Music Hall MMF 9.3 Walnut w/ Goldring
Eroica LX MC Cartridge
Phono Pre...…..Sutherland Insight

CD Player Rotel RCD-1072
Record Cleaning Machine...….Okki Nokki
DAC................Bryston BDA-3
Headphones.....Drop + Dan Clark Audio Ether CX /
Sennheiser HD-660S
Headphone Amp.....Bryston BHA-1
Cables....Amp to preamp - Morrow MA4
Preamp to DAC - Morrow MA4
Preamp to Headphone Amp - Morrow MA2
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 06-06-2014, 09:12 PM
James Tanner - Bryston James Tanner - Bryston is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 3,844
Default

From: "john.springer
Subject: *** The Bryston BDA-2 DAC ***
Date: June 6, 2014 at 8:48:08 PM EDT
To: jamestanner@bryston.com

Hi James:

I recently came across Karl Schuster's level-headed and articulate Review of the BDA-2 DAC, so I ordered it from William Hordyk, Owner of Atlas Audio Video Unlimited, as a replacement for my beloved BDA-1.

The BDA-2 is a revelation! I'm not as articulate as Karl Schuster, but his mention of dramatically reduced Harshness & Grain is spot on! Other things he mentioned, such as the Sound Stage extending further back, are also amazing to my ears, and even non-audiophile Friends commented, before it was burned in, that the Audio seemed "Smoother" and "Richer" to them.

Speaking of "Long-Term Burn-In", the BDA-2 has only about 90 Hours on it, and my System keeps sounding better and better! Where will this end?

If you're trying to place me, I am still using a pair of Quad ESL 2905 Speakers, with all-Bryston Amplification, including a pair of 28BSST (Squared) Monoblocks.

Congratulations to everyone at Bryston, and Keep Up The Good Work!

Best Wishes,
John Springer

p.s. The Accepted Wisdom is that one should drive Quad Electrostatics with Tube Amps of no more than 200 Watts, but last Wednesday an Audience of 65 at Oak Bay Lodge were enjoying Canizares playing The Rodrigo Guitar Concerto with the Berlin Philharmonic in the Teatro Real in Madrid, and I had the Volume at 3pm (600 Watts?) during his Solo.

Admittedly, I had the 28Bs set to the lower Gain, but I honestly think the BDA-2 made the difference between UNCOMFORTABLY LOUD, and True Front Row Sound Pressure Level with Negligible Distortion. Of course, the Bryston BIT-20 also contributed by feeding Pure Power to everything except the Amps, which each have their own Toroidal Isolation Transformer.
Reply With Quote
  #16  
Old 06-06-2014, 09:21 PM
scirica's Avatar
scirica scirica is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: DFW Metroplex
Posts: 3,788
Default

Thanks for sharing that James. High (and deserved) praise for one of your babies!
__________________
Analog: VPI Classic Direct (12" Fatboy) with Ortofon A95 cartridge; Ortofon ST-80SE Transformer; McIntosh C2500.
Digital: SilenZio Gen 3 High Performance Media Server; Esoteric K-03X.
Supporting System: McIntosh MX122 A/V Center; MC205 Amplifier; Bryston 14bSST2 Amplifier; PS Audio P10 Power Reconditioner; Revel Salon 2 Mains; Revel Voice 2 CC; JL Audio f113v2 (2); JL Audio CR-1 Crossover; Focal IC1002 Surrounds
Reply With Quote
  #17  
Old 06-07-2014, 06:12 AM
James Tanner - Bryston James Tanner - Bryston is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 3,844
Default

Here is another review on the BDP-2

Notes from The Old Audio Guy
Thoughts on the Bryston BDP-2


My initiation into the digitized music world has not been an easy one. Growing up with vinyl LPs and cassettes ifyou can believe it – digital for me was really just the skill set required to put a record on the turntable or push theplay button on the Akai 760D. After a disastrous and costly fling with a batch of pricey British streamers that just never sounded “right” to me, Idecided to “think globally but shop locally” and was introduced to the Canadian engineered and manufacturedBryston BDP-2. I will save you the trouble of looking at the end of this review by telling you now that the Bryston does sound rightto me. In fact it sounds “more right” than any of my vinyl (we will leave cassettes for another time) and better thanmy CD oriented front end of $15k components.

The BDP-2 hits all the notes. It is eminently affordable (by audiophile standards it is a bargain) but nowhere canone see any evidence of cost cutting. The casework and controls are beautifully made and everything works at thelevel of an Omega watch. The BDP-2 does not flaunt itself and is not really “audio Jewellery” but is quietly elegantand totally reliable in operation. Bryston’s record of reliability is unmatched in the audio world.
Music played through the Bryston sounds natural and encompassing. It sounds like music and not like Hi-Fi eventhough all of the Hi-Fi triggers are there. It images better than anything I have had in my system. Tonality isaccurate and unforced – the control over the bottom end of things is especially tight and tuneful. There isabsolutely no indication that this piece is “digital” in any way. The sound is organic and is easily as good andholistic as anything I have heard from a class A turntable.

The BDP-2 reminds me of another smartly engineered, self –effacing item that is likely better than it needs to beand seems built to work forever – the Swiss Army Knife. The Bryston has outputs (SPDIF, AES/EBU, Optical) that will accommodate themselves to pretty well any DAC onechooses to use it with- though the matching Bryston BDA-2 is a natural choice. The front mounted USB inputsmake playing music from a USB stick easy. In the rear more USB inputs allow connection of USB sticks or portablehard drive devices. It has 2 Ethernet inputs rather than one (I still have not figured out if using both of themimproves anything – I will have to ask Mr. Tanner from Bryston) – and in keeping with its timely updating from theBDP-1 the Ethernet is now Gigabit rather than 10 Base 100. This is a huge improvement as the BDP-2 not only playsmusic from an attached hard drive but will stream from a NAS across your network. With Gigabit bandwidth thestreaming is as good as the playback from attached drive – there are no latency issues - and uploading operationsare much faster than anything I have tried before.
Accessing it on your Apple device – either iPad or Pod is convenient and elegant using an inexpensive app calledMPad. If you are PC centric Bryston has their own PC based access to the BDP2 which while not as mature andswooshy as the Apple based software is functional and reliable. It also works with the stand alone Bryston remoteor from the front panel controls on the BDP-2 itself.

I love this piece and I have purchased my demo sample, replacing the pricey British streamers and the tuneful butinput restricted Moon 180 Mind in my system. It has changed the way I interface with my music and makes theplayback process transparent and easy leaving one’s mind open to appreciate the music. Which is the whole pointof Hi-Fi in the first place.

FIVE STARS!

Last edited by James Tanner - Bryston; 06-07-2014 at 06:44 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old 06-07-2014, 10:13 AM
Pider Pider is offline
Learning to Listen
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 3,529
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by scirica View Post
It's not listed yet! I will certainly spend some more time with it. And like I said, it is a fine piece of equipment and I perceive some sonic benefit. It is up to me to determine if that benefit warrants the extra spend and added complexity to my simple system.

The quality and solid build of this product is quite apparent. :thumbs:
I am very interested in how you are doing with both pieces of gear. Please do keep us posted.
__________________

Reply With Quote
  #19  
Old 07-08-2014, 08:11 AM
James Tanner - Bryston James Tanner - Bryston is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 3,844
Default

MEMO: To All Bryston Customers
SUBJECT: BDA-2 and BDP-2 Review


July 2014

Hi Folks,

Review on the Bryston BDP-2 Digital Player and BDA-2 DAC combo.


av2day.com » Blog Archive » Bryston BDP-2 Digital Media Player & BDA-2 DAC combo: ‘Should I upgrade?’


Last edited by James Tanner - Bryston; 07-08-2014 at 10:57 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #20  
Old 07-08-2014, 07:16 PM
bjski bjski is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: New Jersey and Vail Colorado
Posts: 180
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by James Tanner - Bryston View Post
MEMO: To All Bryston Customers SUBJECT: BDA-2 and BDP-2 Review July 2014 Hi Folks, Review on the Bryston BDP-2 Digital Player and BDA-2 DAC combo. av2day.com » Blog Archive » Bryston BDP-2 Digital Media Player & BDA-2 DAC combo: ‘Should I upgrade?’
I ordered my BDP-2 yesterday. I upgraded the BDA-1 to the BDA-2 about a year ago. After reading that review I can't wait for the new BDP-2.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Audioaficionado.org tested by Norton Internet Security

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 04:57 AM.



Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.10
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
©Copyright 2009-2023 AudioAficionado.org.Privately owned, All Rights Reserved.
Audio Aficionado Sponsors
AudioAficionado Subscriber
AudioAficionado Subscriber
Inspire By Dennis Had
Inspire By Dennis Had
Harmonic Resolution Systems
Harmonic Resolution Systems
Wyred4Sound
Wyred4Sound
Dragonfire Acoustics
Dragonfire Acoustics
GIK Acoustics
GIK Acoustics
Esoteric
Esoteric
AC Infinity
AC Infinity
JL Audio
JL Audio
Add Powr
Add Powr
Accuphase - Soulution
Accuphase - Soulution
Audio by E
Audio by E
Canton
Canton
Bryston
Bryston
WireWorld Cables
WireWorld Cables
Stillpoints
Stillpoints
Bricasti Design
Bricasti Design
Furutech
Furutech
Shunyata Research
Shunyata Research
Legend Audio & Video
Legend Audio & Video