Bryston DAC Gets High Marks at University

[James Tanner - Bryston]

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

[jdandy]

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

[James Tanner - Bryston]

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"

[MC352]

I know there was a reason why I loved my DAC

[Face]

I'd love to know who the competitors are.

Either way, congrats!

[jdandy]

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.

[Still-One]

Originally Posted by jdandy

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.

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

[jdandy]

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.

[cmalak]

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

[jdandy]

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