Thread: BDA-2....................

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.

hello,

James could you give me the value of the fuse in the BDA2.

Thank you,

Please email Mike on that one - mpickett@bryston.com

james

MEMO: To All Bryston Customers
SUBJECT:Bryston BDP-1 Customer Feedback

November 2014

James.

Finally joined the BDP club. I picked up that demo BDP-1 yesterday and got it set up with MPOD using my iPhone.

As for the audio quality, it's very satisfying. I have been using MacBook pro and AppleTV for my HT/2-ch system with Empirical Audio Synchromesh and a highly expensive digital cable (the cable does make a big difference for me). But BDP-1 just makes the music the way it is meant to sound like.

To me, it sounds more coherent and timing is just right. Maybe this is what they call phase coherency. I'm not good at explaining with the audiophile terms, all I know is this is now very close to what I've been chasing for 2 years. Have to give up that versatile Apple interface though, which is very hard for me and resisted for a long time, but I feel it is all worth it once BDP-1 started playing music in my rig.

I guess, I'll be buying a BDP-2 soon and move the BDP-1 to the bedroom system.

Kzhtoo

Bryston BDP-2 + BDA-2 on tests

Hi

Is Sound Rebels a Polish Audio Magazine?

james

Originally Posted by James Tanner - Bryston

Hi

Is Sound Rebels a Polish Audio Magazine?

james

Yes, We're.

OK thanks

Can you send me a link to your magazine please.

jamestanner@bryston.com

James Tanner
Bryston

Of course. Done.

OK,time for controlled leaks from BDP-2 & BDA-2 yesterday photo session ;-)

NICE PHOTOS!!!!

james

Originally Posted by James Tanner - Bryston

NICE PHOTOS!!!!

james

THnX ;-)

OK, It's time for reference digital source - Bryston BDP-2 & BDA 2 double review (for now only in Polish)

Hi

My Polish is sadly lacking - can we have the highlights in English but only the good parts

James

Originally Posted by James Tanner - Bryston

Hi

My Polish is sadly lacking - can we have the highlights in English but only the good parts

James

Whole review is enthusiastic and optimistic ;-) We'll talk about official translation with Polish distributor.

Best regards Marcin.

Originally Posted by SoundRebels

Whole review is enthusiastic and optimistic ;-) We'll talk about official translation with Polish distributor.

Best regards Marcin.

OK Thanks - I appreciate your time an efforts in reviewing our products and glad you liked them.

james

Hello,

There has been an update of BDA2?

Hi

No the BDA2 is the same as always.

james

It is hoped one?

Still a couple of months away.

james

Hello,

What users BDA-2 used with a digital player as Foobar, Jplay, Daphile, Vorterbox?

I use a Intel Nuc i3 with Daphile and USB cable Audioquest Diamond between Nuc and BDA-2..

Hi, I have a question on the BDA2: can it work with daphile ?
Thanks,
David

Originally Posted by jahjahlove

Hi, I have a question on the BDA2: can it work with daphile ?
Thanks,
David

Hi David

Will ask engineering for you.

james

Originally Posted by James Tanner - Bryston

Hi David

Will ask engineering for you.

james

Up

Originally Posted by MATAMBOY

Up

Hi David

Chris our Linux engineer says it should work fine.

james

Bryston BDA-2 DAC - USB vs Windows 10


Chris Rice is putting together a video to accompany this; once that’s done, we can update these instructions.

If the computer has recently been upgraded from a previous version of Windows to Windows 10, the Bryston USB driver will need to be removed before starting this process.

Windows 10 requires some extra steps to install the Bryston USB drivers. This is because it does not allow unsigned drivers to be installed. You can circumvent this by following the steps in this tutorial:
How to Disable Driver Signature Verification on 64-Bit Windows 8.1 or 10 (So That You Can Install Unsigned Drivers)

Please note that these instructions also apply to Windows 8.1.

Once the computer is restarted in Disable Driver Signature Enforcement" mode, you can then run the setup program on the USB key, and you should run it as an administrator, especially if not logged in on an administrator account. This is done by right-clicking on the setup.exe file on the USB key, and selecting "Run as Administrator" in the menu.

It's also a good idea to make sure that the latest version of the driver is being used The latest version can be downloaded here:

http://support.bryston.com:88/files/...ers%201.61.zip

MEMO: To All Bryston Customers
SUBJECT: Bryston BDA-2 DAC Review From Germany

5/2015 - November/December

Magazine for Digital HiFi

Test: Bryston BDA-2 DAC

Canadian Competence

Logo.JPG

The professional audio realm has its own demands. Here technical and tonal quality is of primary importance, while the appearance is of little concern. But does one want to use such components in the home? One does if the name Bryston is displayed on it.

A famous maxim which one hears again and again from engineers is “form follows function.” This nice phrase just merely expresses that with technology the inner values are those that count not the outer ones. As an inclined HiFi enthusiast one can opine about this as one wants, but after all one must look at the components one uses at home on a daily basis. However there are manufacturers who have subscribed to this creed, and by means of cleverly thought out technology and good development work achieve the best possible tonal results, while during the design phase of the components they concentrate on ease of operation. The Canadian Firm Bryston clearly belongs to this group of manufacturers. Professional use products as well as systems for daily use in the home originate here. No matter for which realm work is being done, all engineers are instructed, independent of design requirements, to develop the technically best possible product.

One of these products is the BDA-2 D/A Converter, and already on its outside one can see that we are dealing with serious electronics. Here there are no bells and whistles or optical gimmickry, but rather substantial audio technology. Substantial is also appropriate for the cabinet because despite the rather light components inside, the entire BDA-2 weighs almost eight kilograms, which is quite ample for a D/A Converter. Besides the comparatively thick metal panels which form the actual cabinet, this number can surely be explained because of the massive front panel which projects above the top and below the bottom of the cabinet. Exactly this front panel then also avoids that the BDA-2 does not simply look like a clumsy, metallic lump, because its outside is indeed endowed with a trace of finesse, because the lightly rounded off corners remove some of the hardness from its visual effect.

But with a view at the existing controls it already goes somewhat unceremonially to the nitty-gritty. Eight status LEDs and ten pushbuttons find room on the component, and every element is responsible for exactly one function. So that one does not lose any time with guessing or with the study of the instruction manual for the identification of these functions, all elements are equipped with the appropriate designation. Six of the pushbuttons serve for choosing the desired input, whereby the BDA-2 does not only glisten simply with the number but also with its wealth of variants. Data can be transferred either via two optical Toslink inputs, or via an XLR plug per AES/EBU. Additionally there are four S/PDIF inputs of which two are for coaxial cables with RCA connections, and two for BNC bayonet connections. Here again Bryston’s experience in the professional realm show up, because with newer media servers or streamers BNC connections are quite rare. Considerably more modern is the USB-B socket which is also present. Thanks to the multitude of connections one would have difficulty finding a component that cannot be used with the BDA-2 D/A Converter.

No matter which input one uses, the maximum possible sampling rate is always 192 kHz, even with the optical inputs. Besides that at Bryston one really dislikes to depend on the spadework of others, and therefore every digital signal that is received by the BDA-2 D/A Converter is newly timed by its internal clock in order to counteract the reviled jitter.

From the Japanese manufacturer AKM two AK4399EQ-DAC-Chips, which in the BDA-2 offer a maximum bit length of 24 bits, are responsible for the concluding conversion of the incoming signal. These are located directly before the analog output stage of the Converter, which in this case is a discretely built-up Class A module. At the same time the digital and analog sections of the BDA-2 D/A Converter are supplied with current independently from each other. Yes, here one works technically on a very high niveau, where every possible distortion factor is considered and thought about. Exemplary.

Another of the eight pushbuttons on the front serves to actuate the synchronous upsampling in order to help the technically less than perfect input signals. Synchronous here means that the BDA-2 D/A Converter is working with multiple whole numbers, so that signals with 44.1 kHz Or 88.2 kHz are upsampled to 176.4 kHz, while music with 48 kHz or 96 kHz is upsampled to 192 kHz. Thus during the conversion the most optimum result is achieved at all times. For every used sampling rate, whether with or without upsampling, one of the eight LEDs is available, and a value is always assigned to it.

Tonally the Bryston BDA-2 D/A Converter sounds as would be expected: The Converter generates the converted music very neutrally and detailed. This helps positively with jazz, as well as rock, and even with rap, whereby the good dynamic range and the generally very flowing playing of the BDA-2 prevents it from sounding too digital. Music of CD quality with enabled upsampling sounds still a tick more spatial than without, but the effect is limited because even without upsampling the music already sounds decidedly good. It once again proves that one should not judge things by their appearance. So perhaps Bryston’s BDA-2 D/A Converter is not an absolute eye catcher, but there is absolutely nothing lacking in technical finesse.

“Bryston’s BDA-2 is an outstanding D/A Converter, which brings all the strength of professional audio reproduction to the living room. Those who are more interested in excellent sound rather than in unusual appearance have come to the right place”

Philipp Schneckenburger


Translated from the German by Peter Ullman

Hello,

Do you think there will be an update of the BDA -2 ?

Thanks,

Originally Posted by MATAMBOY

Hello,

Do you think there will be an update of the BDA -2 ?

Thanks,

Hi

There are no changes planned for the BDA-2.

james

Thanks

Originally Posted by MATAMBOY

Thanks

Hi

Yes the BDA2 is staying in the line because unless you need the new feature set of the BDA-3 it is a more cost effect option.

james

karmanfamily


Bryston BDA-1 vs. PS Audio PWD

I'll start off by saying this:
I posted this in the Bryston forum, guess who came out on top in my opinion...
The BDA-1!
And here's how I came to that conclusion:

For over a year I have loved my PS Audio PWD, very detailed and crystal clear.
Played around with cables, speakers, amps and music streamers and ended up with the following setup:
Sonos ZP90 with W4S mod
PS Audio PWD
Primaluna Dialogue 2
Goldenear Aon 3
PS Audio Power cables
Audio Power Industries power conditioner
Anti Cables speaker wires and IC's.

The detail, soundstage and the clean sound was what I loved about this setup.

Last week though, with a little bit of Ivan's help, I bought a Bryston BDA-1.
It arrived, I connected it, let it sit for a day and yesterday started to use it.
I realized that I fooled myself in believing that the PS Audio was 'the shit' for me.
This BDA-1 is also detailed and clean, but it adds a level of 'musicality' and warmth.
The high end was not as sharp and the bass deeper than the PWD.
Also, it sounds more laid back (read: easier to listen to).
The PWD always kept me on my toes and I HAD to pay attention to the music.
The BDA-1 actually let's me enjoy the music more and I'm able to just listen and relax.

Here's my conclusion:
If you want detail, clean and the music simply sent from A to B without adding or subtracting then the PS Audio PWD is your DAC.
If you want detail and clean, but prefer a warmer and more laid back sound, then the BDA-1 is for you, as it is for me!

Hello
the Bda2 he knows how to play the ALAC files natively ?

Thanks,

Hi

Yes it will play both Apple Lossless and AIFF

James

I can not play with Alac logitech media server. When I ask LMS has to play the native, I have no sound. It converts the file in PCM.

Originally Posted by MATAMBOY

I can not play with Alac logitech media server. When I ask LMS has to play the native, I have no sound. It converts the file in PCM.

Hi

I am not familiar with that Logitech server so sorry not much help there. Maybe I am mistaken but isn't Alac a PCM file?

james

Hi
I saw on the bryston site that there was an update for the BDA-2. Do you know what it contains ?
Thank you

Hello
No one to help me

Hi
Yes the update. I couldn't find Bryston's web dashboard. Where do you find it ?
I couldn't find any information on their website. There is no information what the update contains.