Bdp-1 & mcd500?

[Lunchy]

Hey Mike!

Yep, I got the BDA-1 in last Tuesday and I've been running it since then to get any break-in over with. I'm afraid to post my initial impressions until I get a better chance to do some real listening at loud levels for an extended period of time, and I'm not sure when I'm going to get the chance. But to tease a bit, yep, both the BDA-1 and the MCD500 sound grrrrrreat!

I'm hoping to give my impressions of the BDA-1 vs the MCD500 DACs when using the BDP-1 as the source. And then I want to compare the MCD500 spinning a disc vs the BDP-1 playing the same disc through the MCD500's DAC.

This'll take a little time as I can have everything connected to my preamp at the same time for easy A/B switching, however I only have one set of "quality" cables which can only be connected to one DAC at a time. So I plan to do A/B tests with them connected to the MCD500 for a while, and then swap them to the BDA-1 and do the same A/B tests and see if there's a difference. If not...I may question the value of my expensive ICs!

As far as the method of controlling the BDP-1, I agree with Ivan, the iPad is the way to go and is what I use most of the time. The MPad application is great and it downloads album art for you! There's also a version for the iPhone called MPod.

Originally Posted by mgard

Hey Lunchy,

Has your BDA-1 arrived yet? I am looking forward to your comments with the BDP-1, BDA-1 combination. I have the BDP-1 and the BDA-1 should be coming soon. They look so cool in black. The BDA-1 has just been sitting on the shelf as I do not have a DAC or CDP that I can play it through. You talk about a nail bitter… I will still need to add the Wireworld interconnects. My suppler says he has me covered when I'm ready. Are you using the iPad to control your BDA-1? I am looking for the best way to display the Album art and play lists.

~Mike

[Dj_AmTraX]

How you like the control interface? Good or clunky?

[Masterlu]

Originally Posted by Dj_AmTraX

How you like the control interface? Good or clunky?

[mgard]

Lunchy and Ivan,

Thank you for the input. It is nice to have that warm and fuzzy about ones purchases. Anyway you cut it, I think I am going to have a winner with the Bryston Combo in myyyy system. I am replacing a 20 plus year old Nakamichi CDP as my source. I expect to be floored, like that guy in the old Memorex ad hanging on to his chair. "Is it Live or is it Bryston"!

Winner winner Chicken Dinner!

I know what you are thinking...."Ivan, who let this guy on the AA forum"?

~Mike

[Masterlu]

Originally Posted by mgard

Lunchy and Ivan,

Thank you for the input. It is nice to have that warm and fuzzy about ones purchases. Anyway you cut it, I think I am going to have a winner with the Bryston Combo in myyyy system. I am replacing a 20 plus year old Nakamichi CDP as my source. I expect to be floored, like that guy in the old Memorex ad hanging on to his chair. "Is it Live or is it Bryston"!

Winner winner Chicken Dinner!

I know what you are thinking...."Ivan, who let this guy on the AA forum"?

~Mike

[Lunchy]

Okay, I finally have some thoughts to express here.

I feel the BDP-1 sounds better than the MCD500 playing a disc when using either the BDA-1 or the MCD500 DAC. To me the MCD500 spinning a disc is a tad more mellow, while the BDP-1 sounds cleaner and more airy, with more focus, giving the music a more spacious sound. I also feel the BDP-1 delivers more punch, which I love. When I listen to the BDP-1 I get the impression the music is just flowing more effortlessly through my system.

As far as the BDA-1 vs the MCD500 DACs, it's a really tough call for me. I think the BDA-1 might edge out the MCD500 by a very small margin, but honestly, it's too close to call to my ears and with my particular system. Perhaps more time will help me see more differences. This conclusion doesn't surprise me too much as my dealer as well as another very respected AAer said these DACs sound very similar.

In any case, each configuration sounded *really* good to my ears. As far as I'm concerned, with any of these configurations you can't go wrong.

On a side note, I typically run my Anthem D2v in AnalogDSP mode which applies ARC (Anthems proprietary room correction software) as well as bass management and tone controls to the analog signal. Thus requiring a conversion of the incoming analog to digital, then back again to analog using the D2v's internal DAC. All reports I've heard about this is that this process is transparent, so the conversion doesn't add or take anything away from the sound. (But of course any effects applied i the digital domain such as tone controls will add to the sound) However, just to make sure, when I was doing my comparisons, I also switched the D2v to analog direct, which, as far as I know, doesn't do any conversion whatsoever as it's basically a straight wire bypass of the digital section.

Originally Posted by Lunchy

Hey Mike!

Yep, I got the BDA-1 in last Tuesday and I've been running it since then to get any break-in over with. I'm afraid to post my initial impressions until I get a better chance to do some real listening at loud levels for an extended period of time, and I'm not sure when I'm going to get the chance. But to tease a bit, yep, both the BDA-1 and the MCD500 sound grrrrrreat!

I'm hoping to give my impressions of the BDA-1 vs the MCD500 DACs when using the BDP-1 as the source. And then I want to compare the MCD500 spinning a disc vs the BDP-1 playing the same disc through the MCD500's DAC.

This'll take a little time as I can have everything connected to my preamp at the same time for easy A/B switching, however I only have one set of "quality" cables which can only be connected to one DAC at a time. So I plan to do A/B tests with them connected to the MCD500 for a while, and then swap them to the BDA-1 and do the same A/B tests and see if there's a difference. If not...I may question the value of my expensive ICs!

[mgard]

Lunchy,

Thanks for posting your impressions so far. So how many hours of music would you say you have on your Bryston gear? Just wondering how long before the music really settles in. I should be up and running in a couple of weeks with my Brystons. Inter connects are the only thing left to get.

Enjoy the music,

~Mike

[Lunchy]

Honestly it's hard to say. I've them both turned on pretty much 24/7 since I got each of them, which means about 8 days on the DAC and about 15 on my BDP-1.

Which brings me to a question I've been wondering...Is there a difference between playing music through them and just having them on?

There have been times when I'd keep music playing at a very low volume overnight in addition to my normal music listening, so I don't really know how much music is on them...

Originally Posted by mgard

Lunchy,

Thanks for posting your impressions so far. So how many hours of music would you say you have on your Bryston gear? Just wondering how long before the music really settles in. I should be up and running in a couple of weeks with my Brystons. Inter connects are the only thing left to get.

Enjoy the music,

~Mike