MEMO: To All Bryston Customers
SUBJECT: Bryston DAC Gets High Marks at University

April 2010

McGill University in Montreal running tests on Digital Resolution Perception

McGill University in Montreal ordered a Bryston BDA-1 External DAC a few months ago to run some test on whether experienced listeners (audio engineers and musicians) can perceive the differences between 44/48/88/96/176/192k digital resolution music files.

The professor heading up the tests info is posted below:

For those that don't know, Levitin is the author of "This is Your Brain on Music".

Daniel J. Levitin, Ph.D
Director, Laboratory for Music Perception, Cognition, and Expertise
Department of Psychology, McGill University


I recently received this email from the professor running the tests.


"James,

I'm working on a report that will take me some time to complete but I did want to give you a heads up. Preliminary data show that, at 192K, the Bryston DAC outperforms the (XXXXXXX-ed.) and the (XXXXXXX-ed.) DAC’s, We're continuing to test a lot of different configurations and conditions so that we have a really solid story before we go public. It could, realistically, be a year or so.

Running those three DACs in their highest mode, we found that listeners were better able to detect a soft series of signals in the Bryston BDA-1 DAC, meaning that it had a lower noise floor and offered more clarity. In that particular shoot-out, we only used the DACs in their 192K mode.

More details to follow, but if I were you, I'd be feeling pretty proud of myself right now for having designed something so transparent."

Dan

James.......Wow, that is high praise, indeed.

__________________
Dan


Living Room System: McIntosh C2300, MC601 (2), MCD1100, MS750, MR85, Sony DAT 60ES, Nakamichi BX-300, Micro Seiki DD-40, Ortofon 2M Black, Sonos ZP90, Oppo BDP-83SE Blu-ray, PMC EB1i, Fathom f113 w/ Sound Anchor stand, Power Plant Premier (2), PS Audio Soloist Premier SE (3), Rollerblock Jr.'s, Wireworld Silver Eclipse IC's & PC's, Kimber 8TC with WBT Solid Silver Angled Locking Banana Connectors.
Studio System: McIntosh C1000C/P, MC2301 (2), MCD1100, MR88, Michell Gyro SE w/SME 309/Ortofon Cadenza Black, Sonos ZP90, PS Audio Power Plant Premier, PS Audio Soloist Premier SE, Sonus Faber Amati Anniversario, Rollerblock Jr.'s, Wireword Silver Eclipse IC's & PC's, Wireworld Silver Eclipse speaker cable.
Studio Home Theater System: McIntosh MX120, MC452, Oppo BDP-95 Blu-ray, PS Audio Soloist Premier SE, JBL LSR-6332 (2), JBL LSR-6328P (3), McIntosh XLS112 (2), Sony 52XBR9, Tributaries Silver IC's, Wireworld PC's.
Vintage: McIntosh MA5100, MR74 tuner, JVC XL-Z1050 K2 CD player, Wyred 4 Sound DAC2, Tandberg 3008A and 3026A, JBL4312A , McIntosh 4300V for deck speakers.

Update: Got this today from the professor in charge.

"James,

I've managed to get a number of top recording engineers and producers to agree to participate in another round of testing. I'm going to send them a program that they can run on their computers, that will play them pairs of soundfiles (192 v 44.1 or 192 v 192) and they indicate with a mouse click "same" or "different." They won't know which is which. A feature of this next round is that everyone will get to listen in their own preferred listening environment with their own amp, monitors, incense, the works.

I can't mention any names, but these are among the most decorated and respected recording engineers today - Grammy winners, gold and platinum record awardees, the real A-list. They're in LA, New York, Nashville, and Marin County.

Because not everyone has 192 DACs (many only have 96) I might have to create a separate version of the experiment that only goes to 96. But then I got to thinking: maybe Bryston would be willing to loan out two or three of your DACs to these high-profile folks to use in the experiment if they want, for a couple of weeks. I would even be willing to let them know that your Bryston BDA-1 DAC had previously tested “best in a shoot-out” when we did the testing here at McGill University.

Anyway, I know this is a lot to ask, but I figured I'd give it a try.

Best,
Dan Levitan"

I know there was a reason why I loved my DAC

__________________
Chuck


McIntosh C2200, MC352, MR78, MS300, MC275, MVP871
PMC OB1 Speakers, JBL L56
Bryston BDA-1 DAC, Bryston 10B crossover, Bryston BDP-1
Rega P3-24 w/ TTPSU ,Ortofon 2M Black Cartridge, Groovetracer Reference Sub Platter,and upgraded Rega belt
JL Audio F112 Sub, Sony HD Tuner(modified)
PS Audio Soloist Premiers, Power Plant Premier, and Noise Harvesters, Alan Maher Design Filters
Aural Harmony, Black Mountain Interconnects, and Wireworld Speaker Cables, Symposium Roller Blocks, and Fat Padz, Custom made switch box.


Yesterday is history.... Tomorrow is a mystery.... Today is a gift.... That's why its called the present!

I'd love to know who the competitors are.

Either way, congrats!

__________________

I'm guessing one might be Steve Hoffman, and it would not surprise me if George Lucas, or Rudy Van Gelder was in the group, too. Only Dan Levitan knows.

__________________
Dan


Living Room System: McIntosh C2300, MC601 (2), MCD1100, MS750, MR85, Sony DAT 60ES, Nakamichi BX-300, Micro Seiki DD-40, Ortofon 2M Black, Sonos ZP90, Oppo BDP-83SE Blu-ray, PMC EB1i, Fathom f113 w/ Sound Anchor stand, Power Plant Premier (2), PS Audio Soloist Premier SE (3), Rollerblock Jr.'s, Wireworld Silver Eclipse IC's & PC's, Kimber 8TC with WBT Solid Silver Angled Locking Banana Connectors.
Studio System: McIntosh C1000C/P, MC2301 (2), MCD1100, MR88, Michell Gyro SE w/SME 309/Ortofon Cadenza Black, Sonos ZP90, PS Audio Power Plant Premier, PS Audio Soloist Premier SE, Sonus Faber Amati Anniversario, Rollerblock Jr.'s, Wireword Silver Eclipse IC's & PC's, Wireworld Silver Eclipse speaker cable.
Studio Home Theater System: McIntosh MX120, MC452, Oppo BDP-95 Blu-ray, PS Audio Soloist Premier SE, JBL LSR-6332 (2), JBL LSR-6328P (3), McIntosh XLS112 (2), Sony 52XBR9, Tributaries Silver IC's, Wireworld PC's.
Vintage: McIntosh MA5100, MR74 tuner, JVC XL-Z1050 K2 CD player, Wyred 4 Sound DAC2, Tandberg 3008A and 3026A, JBL4312A , McIntosh 4300V for deck speakers.

I must start reading more, the only person I have heard of that you mention is Lucas.

__________________
AMP's: D'Agostino Momentum's
Pre Amp: Mcintosh C-1000 & C-1000P
Sources: McIntosh MCD-1100 & MS-300, Olive 4HD, SonoS, Pro-Ject 6 PerspeX
Speakers: MBL 111F
Cables: Transparent Ultra MM2 & Reference MM2 & Powerlink MM2x

Jim.......Steve Hoffman is the recording/mastering engineer who is doing the best remasters for most of the newest vinyl reissues. Excellent craftsman, ultra knowledgeable, and personable. He has his own very popular forum.

Rudy Van Gelder is an older recoding engineer who, like Steve Hoffman, is a meticulous recording and mastering engineer. He is much sought after, and has a fantastic recording studio where many top jazz musicians record. Rudy is also doing remastering of older recordings to bring them up to current recording standards. Look for his name on remasters. They will be excellent recordings.

__________________
Dan


Living Room System: McIntosh C2300, MC601 (2), MCD1100, MS750, MR85, Sony DAT 60ES, Nakamichi BX-300, Micro Seiki DD-40, Ortofon 2M Black, Sonos ZP90, Oppo BDP-83SE Blu-ray, PMC EB1i, Fathom f113 w/ Sound Anchor stand, Power Plant Premier (2), PS Audio Soloist Premier SE (3), Rollerblock Jr.'s, Wireworld Silver Eclipse IC's & PC's, Kimber 8TC with WBT Solid Silver Angled Locking Banana Connectors.
Studio System: McIntosh C1000C/P, MC2301 (2), MCD1100, MR88, Michell Gyro SE w/SME 309/Ortofon Cadenza Black, Sonos ZP90, PS Audio Power Plant Premier, PS Audio Soloist Premier SE, Sonus Faber Amati Anniversario, Rollerblock Jr.'s, Wireword Silver Eclipse IC's & PC's, Wireworld Silver Eclipse speaker cable.
Studio Home Theater System: McIntosh MX120, MC452, Oppo BDP-95 Blu-ray, PS Audio Soloist Premier SE, JBL LSR-6332 (2), JBL LSR-6328P (3), McIntosh XLS112 (2), Sony 52XBR9, Tributaries Silver IC's, Wireworld PC's.
Vintage: McIntosh MA5100, MR74 tuner, JVC XL-Z1050 K2 CD player, Wyred 4 Sound DAC2, Tandberg 3008A and 3026A, JBL4312A , McIntosh 4300V for deck speakers.

Here's a website with Steve Hoffman info (it has his discography, interviews, etc...): www.SteveHoffman.tv. And here's another one: Steve Hoffman Info Site | Home

Rudy Van Gelder worked on a lot of the Blue Note label albums (here is a list: Blue Note Records). And here's an interesting interview with him: Jazz - AllAboutJazz.com

Hope that's enough reading for you Jim

__________________
Cyril
Speakers/Amp/Preamp: Thiel CS2.4 / ARC Ref 110 / ARC Ref 3
Sources: Basis 2001/Graham2.2/Nagra BPS/Benz Micro Glider SL, ARC CD7, Oppo BDP-83 SE
Cables/Power/Other: Nordost Heimdall ICs, SCs / Shunyata Hydra 8, Shunyata Python Helix PC / VPI 16.5, HRS Nimbus isolation system

Cyril.......I thoroughly enjoyed the Rudy Van Gelder interview. Thank you.

__________________
Dan


Living Room System: McIntosh C2300, MC601 (2), MCD1100, MS750, MR85, Sony DAT 60ES, Nakamichi BX-300, Micro Seiki DD-40, Ortofon 2M Black, Sonos ZP90, Oppo BDP-83SE Blu-ray, PMC EB1i, Fathom f113 w/ Sound Anchor stand, Power Plant Premier (2), PS Audio Soloist Premier SE (3), Rollerblock Jr.'s, Wireworld Silver Eclipse IC's & PC's, Kimber 8TC with WBT Solid Silver Angled Locking Banana Connectors.
Studio System: McIntosh C1000C/P, MC2301 (2), MCD1100, MR88, Michell Gyro SE w/SME 309/Ortofon Cadenza Black, Sonos ZP90, PS Audio Power Plant Premier, PS Audio Soloist Premier SE, Sonus Faber Amati Anniversario, Rollerblock Jr.'s, Wireword Silver Eclipse IC's & PC's, Wireworld Silver Eclipse speaker cable.
Studio Home Theater System: McIntosh MX120, MC452, Oppo BDP-95 Blu-ray, PS Audio Soloist Premier SE, JBL LSR-6332 (2), JBL LSR-6328P (3), McIntosh XLS112 (2), Sony 52XBR9, Tributaries Silver IC's, Wireworld PC's.
Vintage: McIntosh MA5100, MR74 tuner, JVC XL-Z1050 K2 CD player, Wyred 4 Sound DAC2, Tandberg 3008A and 3026A, JBL4312A , McIntosh 4300V for deck speakers.