REVIEW: Bryston BDA-1 DAC Processors

Model:	BDA-1
Category:	DAC Processors
Suggested Retail Price:	$2250
Description:	External full-width upsampling DAC
Manufacturer URL:	Bryston
Model Picture:	View

Review by DevillEars on December 24, 2010 at 05:42:42
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for the BDA-1

After the unexpected demise of a well-loved Theta DSPro GenVa, I needed to get a replacement and with Theta's Gen VIII way out of my price-bracket, the field was, so to say, wide open.

Unfortunately, here in South Africa, we no longer have that many dealers carrying any decent 2-channel audio equipment in demonstration facilities, so the only option was to use the internet as a research tool to identify a shortlist of DACs that fitted my budget. After an initial zip around, I came up with the three DACs listed below:

1) Bel Canto DAC-2
2) Bryston BDA-1
3) Wyred4Sound DAC-2

The only one of these three that was potentially available for a demonstration was the W4S DAC-2, but the distributor is based in Cape Town - almost 1,000 miles away. Further web searching yielded a mass of positive feedback on the Bryston and the combination with the price advantage swung the decision.

The BDA-1 arrived on Monday 20th and was immediately installed - AES/EBU digital feed (Transparent Reference cable) from pre-existing Theta Data Basic II and balanced analogue feed (PS Audio Transcendent) to the Classe' CP-500 pre-amp.

Out of the box, the initial impressions were reasonably positive - just a certain leanness and edginess that was most noticeable on orchestral works (particularly on violin). The soundstage was also a wee bit scrunched together and lacked definition.

After some 20 hours of usage, the leanness and edginess have been replaced with a nice warm and full-bodied overall sound that is constantly keeping me playing and rediscovering CDs until all hours.

The lower registers are well-controlled and reach down lower than I recall from the GenV. Tracks used in assessing LF performance: Bach's Tocata & Fugue in D Minor; Saint-Saens Symphony #3 (Organ). The latter piece is a Telarc recording and the arrangement calls for for some fairly soft but deep passages from the organist and these were easily identified without dominating the rest of the orchestra.

The highs are sweet and clear and not as over-emphasised as with the GenV in its latter days. Patricia Barber's "Cafe Blue" features a track (#11 - "Nardis") that has some very close-miked percussion from after 2mins and some - particularly the high-hats - used to challenge the GenV which tended to over-emphasise the highs, making the sound a bit "ouch". With the BDA-1, even those high-hats come through clear and with no sign of brightness.

Female vocalists (Katie Melua, Sarah McLachlan and Diana Krall) are an absolute joy to listen to thanks to a mid-range that is gorgeous. Andreas Vollenwider's "Down to the Moon" has long been a favourite and the harp through the BDA-1 sounded right there in the room. Various Narada albums (probably not that well-known to any readers) also came through with a strong "in the room" impact and a "play me again" sound.

On a retry after 20-odd hours, classical violin is now vibrant and rich - particularly on the Beethoven Violin Concerto with Perlman/Philharmonia Orch/Giulini. The Beethoven "Emperor" (Michaelangeli/Vienna Symph/Giulini) is nothing short of majestic with the solo instrument sounding like a piano should.

The soundstage has opened up dramatically both in terms of lateral displacement and in terms of depth with clear and stable imaging that includes an impression of acoustic space around major performers.
One key album for soundstage listening has always been the MoFi release on Gold CD of Santana's "Abraxas" which, I am sure, uses phase gimickry to project a sound stage that almost reaches behind the listening position. On the two Beethoven pieces mentioned above, the orchestras were well presented in both lateral placement and depth.

To sum up the overall impression of the BDA-1? It manages to present more of what is embodied in a live performance than any of my previous CD sources (from Rotel RCD965 to Theta Data Basic + Progeny to Theta Data Basic II + Prime IIa to Theta Data Basic II + GenVa) and it does so while delivering very musical sounds. So much so, that packing up from a listening session is no easy task - "just one more CD?".

In case you hadn't gathered by now, I am exceedingly happy with this DAC!

PS: The GenVa puts out 3.5v single-ended and 3.5v per phase in balanced, which is almost double the informal standard 2.0v for a line-level signal. The BDA-1, on the other hand puts out 2.3v s/e & 2.3v per phase balanced. The reason for mentioning this is that I've noticed with the BDA-1 that the overall SPL variations between old/new CDs seems much greater than with the GenVa.

I wonder if the high signal level from the GenV was causing the Classe CP-500 to limit the level and, thereby, seeing less sensitive to recorded levels on different CDs?

Product Weakness:	Where is the Bryston matching transport?<br>I would have liked a second AES/EBU digital input in place of one of the BNC S/PDIF inputs<br>Bryston have not, traditionally, been known for digital components (hopefully the BDA-1 will change that)
Product Strengths:	Short (~20hr) burn-in cycle from out-of-box<br>Typical amazing Bryston build quality backed by their warranty<br>Flexibility (8 x inputs plus selectable upsampling)<br>Aesthetics (WAF grudgingly given)<br>Sound Quality (natural and more-ish)<br>Excellent Reproduction of Spatial aspects (staging & imaging)<br>Value: What you get for your $2250 is pretty damned awesome

Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier: Jeff Rowland Model 201 (250w)
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): Classe' CP-500
Sources (CDP/Turntable): Theta Data Basic II CDT; Linn LP12; Yamaha CDR-HD1300
Speakers: Tannoy D700 (93dB)
Cables/Interconnects: PS Audio Transcendent i/c & Resolution Reference Bi-Wire speaker cables
Music Used (Genre/Selections): Classical, Instrumental Jazz, Jazz Vocals, New Age, Rock
Room Size (LxWxH): 4.2m x 4.2m x 2.5m
Room Comments/Treatments: No specific treatments - just carpet & soft furnishings
Time Period/Length of Audition: 4 days
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): PS Audio Quintet & Statement SC power cords
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner

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Amplifier:	Jeff Rowland Model 201 (250w)
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Classe' CP-500
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Theta Data Basic II CDT; Linn LP12; Yamaha CDR-HD1300
Speakers:	Tannoy D700 (93dB)
Cables/Interconnects:	PS Audio Transcendent i/c & Resolution Reference Bi-Wire speaker cables
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Classical, Instrumental Jazz, Jazz Vocals, New Age, Rock
Room Size (LxWxH):	4.2m x 4.2m x 2.5m
Room Comments/Treatments:	No specific treatments - just carpet & soft furnishings
Time Period/Length of Audition:	4 days
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	PS Audio Quintet & Statement SC power cords
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

REVIEW: Bryston BDA-1 DAC Processors

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