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In Reply to: RE: Bryston BDA-3 DAC posted by cfraser on June 12, 2016 at 13:21:37
One of the guys in our Space Coast Audio Society has a BDA-3 with an Oppo 103. It passes the file from an SACD.
James Tanner of Bryston has posted multiple times on Audio Circle about his dislike for digital volume controls. I guess they could always have a change of heart.
I liked the DAC lots (I owned a BDA-1 at one point but since the BDA-2 did not do DSD I bought a used Meitner just before the BDA-2 was released - I know a reviewer so I asked him).
I've been after them for a few years about doing a top of the line preamp with HT Bypass and I went in another direction (Modwright).
Back in the beginning of 2003, the Canadian Dollar was $0.62 to the USD for a bit. I bought two lightly used Bryston SST amps within that year. Over a period time the value of the Canadian Dollar crept about even to the USD (I believe it is down to about $0.78 now) and their list prices went up and have not retreated with the decline of the Canadian to USD. With quality amps and preamps available from other sources (e.g. Odyssey, AVA, Modwright, etc.), it's not quite the bargain it once was (certainly makes one consider either to the used market for Bryston or other choices).
Follow Ups:
I agree, the price of Bryston gear has gone up to ridiculous levels over the years IMHO. In their current price class there are so many other viable options. Back in the day, I compared Bryston to Classe and always picked Classe for sonics (just my personal preference). These days both brands are over priced relative to the rest of the market IMHO.
I still have the BDA-1. I compared it directly here with the BDA-2 and found no difference that I could discern. I do not have any proper/good USB sources though, still, and if I did that probably would have been the clincher.
My understanding is that the BDA-3 is somewhat superior to the BDA-1 for the things that they both do, but the 3 does so much more. As much as HDMI "annoyed" me when it was introduced, it is here and not going away soon, and a DAC that supports it would be quite convenient for me. Now I use work-arounds (HDMI audio extracter) and I guess it's OK for what I listen to. I am not happy with the "serious-listening" audio via HDMI from the pre-pros I've had up until now, so I need to fix that, one way or the other i.e. HDMI DAC or pre-pro or (probably) both.
Bryston amps are rather neutral in character. They have lots of jam (dynamics) and have good clarity and a quiet background. The thing they didn't do well was depth and space. The sound didn't escape the speakers and fill the room. This is why I never ended up buying their amp and got a used YBA instead.
That's probably why I like the Maggies with the Brystons so much. The Maggies do the depth and space, when set up *very* carefully, not just "thrown" into "any" room that *some* people who *may* be associated with Bryston *might* have said... :)
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