Bryston SP3 Preamp-Processor

[gbaby]

Originally Posted by moonhawk

Thanks! I'll be keeping my SP3 and upgrading it when I go to a 4K display.

So will I. There is nothing sonically so good about Atmos that will make me trash my ceiling and put speakers in it.

[chessman]

I am keeping my SP3 as well.

[nicoff]

I think that Bryston’s move to team up with AudioStorm is a very good move.
The SP3, regardless of how well it sounds, is already at least 7 years old. That is ancient in the world of digital preamps. I can see why installers would avoid choosing a unit that is lacking the latest codecs and room correction capabilities that other units selling for less than half the price already have.
AudioStorm’s product (which Bryston will rebadge and likely add to) is a SOTA product competing with the likes of Trinnov.
This is a win-win for both companies. Bryston brings a well established network and very good reputation earned over decades. Audiostorm is a young company that brings the technical know-how and a SOTA product. Bryston needed that SOTA product to compete at the higher echelons. AudioStorm needed that worldwide network that Bryston has built. Congrats to both!

[dbphd]

I recently connected an Ayre DX-5 DSD universal disc player to the SP3 via HDMI audio and balanced analog. I expected balanced analog to sound superb, given it's using the Ayre DAC process, and it does. The surprise was the digital HDMI connection that uses the Bryston DAC process. SACDs and BDs sound sensational. It must be a combination of the Ayre sending very good HDMI to the Bryston and the Bryston applying a very good DAC process.

[nicoff]

Originally Posted by dbphd

I recently connected an Ayre DX-5 DSD universal disc player to the SP3 via HDMI audio and balanced analog. I expected balanced analog to sound superb, given it's using the Ayre DAC process, and it does. The surprise was the digital HDMI connection that uses the Bryston DAC process. SACDs and BDs sound sensational. It must be a combination of the Ayre sending very good HDMI to the Bryston and the Bryston applying a very good DAC process.

Very interesting. So...
Superb = Ayre DAC->Analog SP3
Fantastic = Ayre (HDMI)->SP3 DAC

Is superb better than fantastic or vice versa? [emoji51]

[dbphd]

Originally Posted by nicoff

Very interesting. So...
Superb = Ayre DAC->Analog SP3
Fantastic = Ayre (HDMI)->SP3 DAC

Is superb better than fantastic or vice versa? [emoji51]

Fantastic?

[gbaby]

Originally Posted by dbphd

I recently connected an Ayre DX-5 DSD universal disc player to the SP3 via HDMI audio and balanced analog. I expected balanced analog to sound superb, given it's using the Ayre DAC process, and it does. The surprise was the digital HDMI connection that uses the Bryston DAC process. SACDs and BDs sound sensational. It must be a combination of the Ayre sending very good HDMI to the Bryston and the Bryston applying a very good DAC process.

I agree with you. Although using HDMI, you are not getting SACD, but PCM 176.4, it sounds damn good especially, 5.1 SACD or DVD-A. I prefer it to two channel DSD on my Bryston BDA-3.

[dbphd]

Originally Posted by gbaby

I agree with you. Although using HDMI, you are not getting SACD, but PCM 176.4, it sounds damn good especially, 5.1 SACD or DVD-A. I prefer it to two channel DSD on my Bryston BDA-3.

The Ayre is set to send 24/192 LPCM, because the SP3 does not accept DSD. I was surprised by the openness, breadth and depth of soundstage, and detail without any sense of being analytical. Superlatives are always open to dispute, but it was the kind of sound that got my immediate attention.

db

[gbaby]

Originally Posted by dbphd

The Ayre is set to send 24/192 LPCM, because the SP3 does not accept DSD. I was surprised by the openness, breadth and depth of soundstage, and detail without any sense of being analytical. Superlatives are always open to dispute, but it was the kind of sound that got my immediate attention.

db

Are you using the analog pass thru on the SP3 and using the D/A converter on your Ayre?

[nicoff]

Originally Posted by gbaby

Are you using the analog pass thru on the SP3 and using the D/A converter on your Ayre?

On Post #1294 he said that he connected it both ways:
1) analog from the Ayre to the balance analog of the SP3; and 2) digital (HDMI) to the SP3.