Stereophile Review of Bryston BDA-1 External DAC

[James Tanner - Bryston]

Hi All,

Terrific review on the Bryston BDA-1 External DAC.
Go to Bryston Home Page then click on STEREOPHILE logo in top left corner.

Bryston Limited - Music For A Generation

james

[MC352]

Can't wait to get mine

[canucks]

James, I think the kids are back on KD and weiners for the next while to free up the 1.5K I'll need to extend the BCD-1 to another level! Seriously, anyone compared the BCD-1 standalone tthe BCD-1/BDA-1 combo? Congrats to Bryston on this one. I'm going to get one but I have to learn a bit more on incorporating the downloand movement into our system at home. Tradionally, we're only used CD's and a McIntosh music server for sources.

[weird]

Originally Posted by canucks

James, I think the kids are back on KD and weiners for the next while to free up the 1.5K I'll need to extend the BCD-1 to another level! Seriously, anyone compared the BCD-1 standalone tthe BCD-1/BDA-1 combo? Congrats to Bryston on this one. I'm going to get one but I have to learn a bit more on incorporating the downloand movement into our system at home. Tradionally, we're only used CD's and a McIntosh music server for sources.

Hello Canucks

I have both BCD and BDA. The Bda doesnt really improve the BCD as a standalone. There are small diffs but negligable. I do use it connected to the BDA for the upsampling feature but thats about it. The BCD alone is all you need for cd or want. The BDA is a great for pretty much everything else, including a source switch. I use my laptop usb into the BDA and my xbox optical. You have the mcintosh music server which probably partner very nice with the BDA. Its worth getting on that front alone.

[Masterlu]

Originally Posted by MC352

Can't wait to get mine

On order!

[canucks]

Ivan, Happy New Year!! Are you giving Bryston and PMC a look?

I'm running out of rack space. What do you think of stacking a BDA-1 on top of a BCD-1 or vice versa?

[Masterlu]

Originally Posted by canucks

Ivan, Happy New Year!! Are you giving Bryston and PMC a look?

I'm running out of rack space. What do you think of stacking a BDA-1 on top of a BCD-1 or vice versa?

You as well

I'm always looking, stacking them both looks & works great.

[mgard]

I was wondering if someone would be able to compare the sound of the Bryston BDA-1 External DAC with the McIntosh MCD500 DAC. I know the Bryston has a lot more flexibility and also sounds very good. My Nacamichi OMS 5 is on its last leg. Both of the above would give one the ability to play ripped CD’s from a music server or NAS device. To also have the option to play SACD, one needs a SACD player correct? What direction would you go?

[BuffaloBill]

Originally Posted by mgard

I was wondering if someone would be able to compare the sound of the Bryston BDA-1 External DAC with the McIntosh MCD500 DAC.

I notice that ESS has introduced their newest Sabre32 DAC. Both the BDA-1 and MCD500 use 24 bit technology. SimAudio appears to be the first to use 32 bit technology in their up-line product. I wonder if it would be prudent to wait and see which other manufacturers adopt the supposely better 32 bit DAC?

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by BuffaloBill

I notice that ESS has introduced their newest Sabre32 DAC. Both the BDA-1 and MCD500 use 24 bit technology. SimAudio appears to be the first to use 32 bit technology in their up-line product. I wonder if it would be prudent to wait and see which other manufacturers adopt the supposely better 32 bit DAC?

BuffaloBill.......You will also find the new ESS Sabre32 Ultra DACs in the new Oppo BDP-83 Special Edition Universal Blu-ray player. The DACs sounds very good. I would expect the new ESS DACs to sound even better as implemented by Simaudio.