Bryston BDA-3 Announced!

Mike

Mike

Audioshark
Staff member
Joined
Apr 2, 2013
Messages
30,486
Location
Sarasota, FL
BIG THANKS TO MARK JONES of AUDIO BY MARK JONES in TORONTO for sharing this!!

Bryston’s new BDA-3 is their highest resolution D-to-A yet. A brand new decoding chipset can decode up to 384kHz / 32 bit PCM music and up to DSDx4 natively. Practically all digital source components can be connected. The new BDA-3 features 10 inputs including 4 HDMI, 2 Asynchronous USB, and S/PDIF over BNC, RCA, or Toslink optical inputs.

DSD & PCM

High resolution music downloads have smashed through the previous resolution limit of 192kHz/24 bit. Each format is processed in it’s native resolution preserving absolute bit-perfect signals all the way to our proprietary analog output section. Their custom re-clocking circuit engages all incoming PCM signals and strips off the embedded clock. They replace that information with our ultra high precision clock reducing jitter to nearly immeasurable levels.

Analog Excellence

Bryston’s analog section is completely free of integrated circuits (ICs) that limit the bandwidth and dynamic range of so many other DACs. Their proprietary analog circuits draw on decades of expertise building the world’s finest line level electronics and amplifiers.

An unprecedented degree of versatility is designed into the BDA-3. Not only are USB and HDMI available interfaces for extremely high data rate music that audiophiles demand, but they ensure compatibility with high performance computer based music playback systems and combination stereo and home theater systems. Movie enthusiasts without the appropriate space to dedicate to multi-channel home theater can connect Blu-Ray and DVD systems to the BDA-3 for high quality 2-channel PCM playback.

SACD collectors have a new upgrade path. The built-in decoders in most universal disc players leave room for improvement. Those equipped with HDMI outputs find never before heard detail, space and resolution when connected to the Bryston BDA-3.

attachment.php


attachment.php


BIG THANKS TO MARK JONES of AUDIO BY MARK JONES in TORONTO for sharing this!!
 

Attachments

  • Screen Shot 2014-10-28 at 1.17.34 PM.png
    Screen Shot 2014-10-28 at 1.17.34 PM.png
    581.3 KB · Views: 443
  • Screen Shot 2014-10-28 at 1.17.49 PM.png
    Screen Shot 2014-10-28 at 1.17.49 PM.png
    292.4 KB · Views: 419
I am confused about one thing. According to this. the BDA-3 will be able to decode DSD outputted from an SACD player via the HDMI connection but I thought SACD was a closed format, meaning you could not pass through the DSD data from a disc source to a DAC, unless of course you are using an SACD transport and DAC from the same manufacturer. So for example will one be able to use an Oppo CD/SACD player and output DSD from an SACD disc to the BDA-3 via the HDMI connection and if so, is it the DSD layer that is being transferred to the DAC or is their a DSD to PCM conversion that happens first? If yes, this would be the first DAC that I have seen that can do this and I am still confused about how they get around the closed-end format of SACD via the use of the HDMI connection? And why have we not seen this before with a lot of other DSD DACs?

I am confused :D

James...are you out there? Can you help me understand?

Thanks :thumbsup:
 
cmalak said:
I am confused about one thing. According to this. the BDA-3 will be able to decode DSD outputted from an SACD player via the HDMI connection but I thought SACD was a closed format, meaning you could not pass through the DSD data from a disc source to a DAC, unless of course you are using an SACD transport and DAC from the same manufacturer. So for example will one be able to use an Oppo CD/SACD player and output DSD from an SACD disc to the BDA-3 via the HDMI connection and if so, is it the DSD layer that is being transferred to the DAC or is their a DSD to PCM conversion that happens first? If yes, this would be the first DAC that I have seen that can do this and I am still confused about how they get around the closed-end format of SACD via the use of the HDMI connection? And why have we not seen this before with a lot of other DSD DACs?

I am confused :D

James...are you out there? Can you help me understand?

Thanks :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

Will ask engineering.

james
 
Hi James,

Not every SACD player will output the SACD layer to the HDMI, OPPO being one the few that will.
So when using a player, capable of outputting SACD, the BDA3 will be able to decode this.

Dan
 
Hello,

Bryston thinks of making an update of the BDA-2 for the reading native of the DSD ?
 
MATAMBOY said:
The dac chip BDA-2 is a AK4399? She can read the native DSD?
Click to expand...

Hi

Engineering tells me it needs many more changes than just the chip - the sample rate converter has to be bypassed etc. to allow for DSD and that compromises PCM performance. So it is a circuit redesign rather than just a chip issue.

james

Yes the BDP2 can already send DSD to a DSD DAC through the USB output.

james
 
Looks like a cool product James.

Will the BDP-2 be able to send DSD to the BDA-3?
 
I bought my dac BDA-2 in late 2013. I asked if you thought Bryston evolve to DSD. You were not convinced by the DSD and now will release the Bryston BDA-3 can read the DSD.
I am very disappointed.
 
The problem with DSD is that most DAC's that have been previously released either don't do it properly or compromise PCM performance to do it right.

A year ago doing both formats right may have not been possible (at least for Bryston). You bought what Bryston felt was best they could do at that time. and the BDA-2 is a damn good DAC at any price.

The BDA-3 does not make your BDA-2 all of a sudden not sound good. I think we all have to accept that the state of the art is always improving. (especially digital)

After everything I have said, I'm sorry you are disappointed and I do understand why you feel the way you do. Always tough times when a product you have recently purchased get's upgraded.

On a positive, what happens may times is the newer better product is actually less money than the unit has replaced. (look at the video industry) At least the BDA-3 is 33% more $$$. This will help to hold the value of BDA-2's on the used market especially for those that have no interest in dealing with yet another new format, DSD.
 
MATAMBOY said:
I bought my dac BDA-2 in late 2013. I asked if you thought Bryston evolve to DSD. You were not convinced by the DSD and now will release the Bryston BDA-3 can read the DSD.
I am very disappointed.
Click to expand...

That at was a year ago. Just be glad you didn't buy it last week. While at this point DSD doesn't concern me, it is nice that now you can play it with a BDP/BDA3 combination. I am more interested in how much better it sounds over the BDA-2. If DSD is the main attraction then, while nice, I can live without. I want a Berkeley Reference DAC killer. :)
 
MATAMBOY said:
I bought my dac BDA-2 in late 2013. I asked if you thought Bryston evolve to DSD. You were not convinced by the DSD and now will release the Bryston BDA-3 can read the DSD.
I am very disappointed.
Click to expand...

Hi Mat

Personally I would not have gone this way if the market had not forced us to. Its one of the reasons I decided to add HDMI - at least it gives our customers a new feature over a straight DSD decoder.

james
 
BlueFox said:
That at was a year ago. Just be glad you didn't buy it last week. While at this point DSD doesn't concern me, it is nice that now you can play it with a BDP/BDA3 combination. I am more interested in how much better it sounds over the BDA-2. If DSD is the main attraction then, while nice, I can live without. I want a Berkeley Reference DAC killer. :)
Click to expand...

James Tanner - Bryston said:
Hi Mat

Personally I would not have gone this way if the market had not forced us to. Its one of the reasons I decided to add HDMI - at least it gives our customers a new feature over a straight DSD decoder.

james
Click to expand...

Working in the IT industry, rate of change and growth is never ending. If a business doesn't adapt or advance, it will not be a player. In this case, I purchased both my BDP-2 and BDA-2 this summer. I had a feeling that the advancement to DSD was imminent given marketing and changes in the digital market for hi-end music reproduction. I think one can keep relevant with buying a dedicated DSD DAC and keep the BDA-2 or trade in/sell the BDA-2 for a BDA-3. I'm glad that Bryston is making continued advancements even if my wallet will be lighter in the end. I can't wait to see if the new BDA-3 can outperform the BDA-2 in redbook FLAC and Hi-Res FLAC, where most of my library lies.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top