The bryston bda1 let me enjoy the bestsounding digital playback ive ever heard in my listening room, outshining even brystons own bcd1 cd player. The addition of four hdmi inputs that can accept dsd bitstreams, and two asynchronous usb inputs that can do the same are welcome and unique features, folded into an already well regarded base foundation. Sound quality of a bryston bda1 vs the bda2 or bda3. Peterborough, ontario september 3, 2014 bryston has announced today the introduction of the bdp1usb digital music player. Firmware updates are not mandatory, but recommended for bdp owners that desire. Iad upgrades will be managed at the bryston factory until dealers and international distributors have been trained to properly install the new module.
With either the bryston bdp1 or bdp2 file player as the digital source, the bda3. The bryston allows you to do that to hear exactly what the upsampling is doing to. The natural partner for the bdp1 digital client is brystons wellregarded bda1 dac. Bryston pulled support for raat in last release solved, bryston. From my understanding the bda1 supports synchronous usb 1. Can any owners of bryston bdas share their listening experiences. Further, through my own experience, the analogue output stage is. A few years back bryston got into digital with the bda1 dac being followed by some of the first file streamers to come out of north america, so they have a good track record in this area, a background that has seen them releasing the first dsd ready dac to carry the bryston marque. Bryston s bda 3 dac surpasses the highvalue performance standard set by the bda 2, enables inexpensive hdmiequipped disc players to function as premium source components, and adds exceptionally engaging dsd playback to its potent mix of virtues. The usb implementation on that dac was less than stellar as well. Bryston bda2 digital to analog converteraudio advisor. The bda 2 supports high resolution pcm from your choice of sources including disc players, servers, and streaming systems and converts it to ultra clean analog audio.
If i was a bdp2 owner id be taking a serious look at the new bryston iad module and if i was interested in thinking about what kind of things make a difference, id be, and am, intrigued. Bryston bdp2 digital music player, bda2 dac, and bp17. Pcm sample rates up to 384khz are now supported, as are dsd rates up to dsd 4x aka dsd256. Bryston essentially agrees with me about usb and has not poured too many resources into this type of connection. The differences between the old and the new dcs are that the bda2 uses akm chips instead of crystal chips used in the bda1, and the usb input in the new dac accepts 24192. I had a brief chat with brystons gary dayton and he mentioned that the sweet spot for the akm chipset inside the bryston dacs is 2496. Or, leverage the bdps worldclass digital audio playback engine to render the cds in breathtaking quality without ripping them to your drive. Didnt have roon when bryston was betaing the raat firmware. From my understanding the bda 1 supports synchronous usb 1.
I would classify the bryston bda2 as detailed and neutral, with nary an audible hint of distortion. The bryston sp3 is designed to be a superb surround sound processor which delivers outstanding home theatre performance by integrating the latest digital innovations with high precision, low noise, fully discrete analog audio amplifier stages. The bryston bda1 is an external stereo dac digital to analog converter. Bryston adds qobuz streaming support to all bdp players moon. Use diverse audio sources such as brystons bdp digital music players, computers, music servers, and cd players to get the most accurate and superb sounding digital. The bryston bda3 dac enhances the functionality of the 20 product of the year awardwinning bda2 by adding a second asynchronous usb input and four hdmi inputs.
Update process in the bdp to upload the file that you just downloaded. It will play dsd format also through hdmi connection 1x only. Lab evaluation of the bdp1 was always in connection with the bda1, with input signals stored on a usb memory and output signals being analog through bdas single ended output. The upgrade also allows the bdp3 to talk to dacs using gordon rankins streamlength tm protocol and includes usb, hdmi, aes, and spdif outputs. Bryston had a huge array of products on display at ces this year, including the bha1 headphone amp, the bdp2 digital music player, the bda2 dac, bp17 preamplifier, b5 integrated amp, and model t loudspeakers. The bryston bda1 is a stateoftheart external stereo dac digital to analog converter using fully discrete classa proprietary bryston analog circuits, two independent linear power supplies and dual crystal cs4398 dac chips. We recently made an appearance at the rocky mountain audio fest in denver, one of the largest consumer audio and home entertainment shows in the united states. The bda1 features an impressive array of inputs for usb, coax, optical, aesebu, and bnc equipped digital devices. This might be related to the fact that the bda 1 has two crystal cs4398s vs. Bryston bda3 digital to analog converter galen carol.
Dacs, i couldnt take full advantage of this download. Using the usb input, i tested the bda3s ability to accept all supported formats and sample rates. Bryston adds qobuz streaming support to all bdp players. In the bda1, the weakest link was its usb input which could accept only 1648. Great thing the folks at bryston stepped up their game considerably with this new dac.
Weve merged our bdp and bda platforms into this one new product that starts with our bda 3 and adds a high quality streamer internally connected with i. I have been informed by bryston that there have not been any firmware upgrades for. The bryston bda1 is an external stereo dac digital to analog converter using fully discrete classa proprietary bryston analog circuits, two independent linear power supplies, and dual crystal cs4398 dac chips. Needs the latest bryston usb asio driver see support. Bryston has just released a firmware update for all bdp generations that include support for the new streaming service qobuz. I am very interested in it based on technical specs. Bryston bdp digital audio player february 25, 2016 by ron goldberg getting the most out of thousands or tens of thousands of digital music files in a typical audiophile collection is a challenging job for both hardware and software. The bdp1usb is powerful, managing music libraries in excess of 30,000 tracks. The most notable new feature added to the bda2 is an asynchronous usb input capable of handling all standard sample rates up to 192khz, replacing the convenience feature adaptive usb input of the bda1. The bda1 features an impressive array of inputs for usb, coax, optical, aesebu and bnc equipped digital devices. Qobuz is currently in public beta, but its a versatile music streaming service, providing the listener options to stream audio quality music ranging from 16bit, 320 kbps mp3 to 16bit, 1411 kbps cd quality to uncompressed 24bit hires audio. For audio outputs, the bda1 offers both balanced xlr as well as unbalanced rca stereo connectors on the rear panel.
I use the usb input from my rasberry pi2b with runeaudio to stream my lossless cd collection as well as high resolution files and i am using hdmi from my yamaha bda1010 multiplayer for sacd. I gave up on cds back in the mid 90s when upgrades were too frequent and costly. Since bryston began developing products for digital playback enthusiasts, one thing has been constant separate components for streaming and d to a. The newly announced bryston bdp1usb digital music player is the companys most affordable highfidelity streaming music player thats designed for customers using an external usb dac digital to analog converter. Audio advisor takes a detailed look at the features, specifications, and performance of the bryston bda1 dac with craig bell, the vp of bryston limited. Bryston has no current upgrade plans for the bda3, but if needed its technically feasible. The bda1 is rs232 software upgradeable, making it the most flexible high performance dac on the market.
Were great fans of this product due it its wellthoughtout connectivity eight inputs including usb, aesebu and spdif in optical, rca and bnc forms and its evenhanded sound. Brystons usb implementation aims to be stateoftheart, featuring proprietary firmware running on the xmos usb audio micro. But i have heard that other dacs have sounded better than the bda2. Most of the music tracks i downloaded from hdtracks are 88. The bryston bda 1 let me enjoy the bestsounding digital playback ive ever heard in my listening room, outshining even bryston s own bcd 1 cd player. I really liked the bda1, but in the end, it never motivated me enough to pick one up. The bda3 dac that we have here today tangibly follows all the expected bryston credos in terms of build quality and design. I got this information from a long telephone call with a bryston engineer yesterday. I must admit the bdp1 sounds good in the squeeze lite option via aesebu. The bdp1usb is brystons most affordable highperformance music player designed specifically for those customers using one of many popular usb external dacs digital to analog converters available on the market. It improves upon the bda1 in distortion, and adds an asynchronous usb input to be used for playing music with a digital output to the dac. Enjoy the s takes a closer look at the bryston bdp2 digital player, bda2 external dac, b5 sst 2 integrated amplifier and bha1 balanced headphone amplifier.
The bha1 is compatible with both traditional singleended headphone designs and balanced headphones. Use the bot 1 to rip your cds to a usb drive attached to the bdp, nas, or even bdp internal storage if youve installed a drive. I can see the bryston bda1 dac being put in to service to upgrade ones aging cd playerspreferably one with a good quality cd transport performance, at the same time function as a digital music center for computer audio and other secondary. Brystons system showed its quality from the very first moment, playing back signals of very low level with almost no noise at all. Of particular interest to us were the new bdp2, bda2, and bp17 because ces was the first time they were on display. Bryston bda1 digital to analog converter and halide. What makes the bda 2 special is that even though the bda 2 was introduced in 2012, its performance is still regarded as topnotch among todays worthy competitors. The highest resolution digital audio available today does not come on a disc, but is available via download. Bryston introduces bdp1usb digital music player the.
The bryston bda3 is a world class dac digital to analog converter that is packed with the perfect mix of features making it an essential part of your digital audio chain. Bryston sp3, bdp1, bda1, 2 x 7bsst2s and powerpac120 pmc ib2is, cb6i and tb2is. I run the bdp2 via usb into my bda2 and i have to say that it overs the cleanest presentation i have ever heard. Cd players are fast becoming an endangered species. The upgrade company bryston bda1 external stereo dac. It will download, install the new firmware automatically and then reboot the bdp. Bryston marketing spokesman james tanner said the 1648 usb input implementation was added for those who do not have a soundcard on. Bryston has just released a firmware update for all bdp generations that include support. In any case the bda1 can be used with any number of excellent usbspdif interfaces on the market if a computer is your preferred direct source. Been happy with my bryston bda1, but wondering if the bda2 or bda3 have improved sound quality over the bda1. En ze hebben aardig wat converters op hun naam staan. Continuing brystons tradition of unmatched audio performance and functionality, the bha1 balanced headphone amplifier is brystons reference amplifier solution for the finest listening experience from your headphones.