Bryston SP3 Preamp-Processor

[James Tanner - Bryston]

Originally Posted by a2k2000

I own a SP3 bought 2 years ago. How do I get the board updated to pass 4K signals. Should the unit be sent to Bryston? Is there a charge for it?

Hi

Give Mike Pickett an email and he will assist - mpickett@bryston.com

I think the upgrade is about $1000 and it has to go back to the factory if in North America.

james

[Grit]

James, is the 4k upgrade now the HDCP 2.2 version?

Do any of the HDMI inputs support ARC for today's "smart" tvs?

[James Tanner - Bryston]

Originally Posted by Grit

James, is the 4k upgrade now the HDCP 2.2 version?

Do any of the HDMI inputs support ARC for today's "smart" tvs?

Only one input is HDCP 2.2

Not sure on the ARC question.

james

[samperio]

Hi James
Do you mean that now the board is HDCP 2.2 compliant for one input and for the output?
Is it a brand new board or is the old one with other firmware?
Thanks

[nicoff]

I am aware that the BDA-3 is now available, so I was wondering if the DAC in the SP3 can be upgraded to BDA-3 standards.
If not, any idea as to when an enhanced replacement to the SP3 might be coming?

[gbaby]

Originally Posted by nicoff

I am aware that the BDA-3 is now available, so I was wondering if the DAC in the SP3 can be upgraded to BDA-3 standards.
If not, any idea as to when an enhanced replacement to the SP3 might be coming?

The BDA-3 is available now, and syncs well with the SP3.

[Rod#S]

But of course at best providing you are running in bypass in the SP3 you can only access 2 channels of upgraded DACs i.e. the BDA-3. A new SP product with DACs equal to the BDA-3 would be much more flexible because you would get 7+ channels, not just 2.

The problem of course SSPs in general have that are based around the common design of the DAC and processors both being on the same boards is that the DAC flexibility is restricted which I believe is the design the SP series follows. If the design was switched over to follow the Theta Digital approach of having the DAC design be card based then DAC upgrades could be performed over time. I suspect doing this though would raise the price significantly.

[Chad.Wagner]

The latest firmware mentions the USBX card which is still coming. It believe it is a two channel upgrade. I hope to get it as soon as it is available.

They have already upgraded the HDMI card for 4K and I think they are coming out with another HDMI 4K upgrade with the now required HDCP support.

Bryston has been good with their upgrades. Hopefully they will continue with their firmware updates in the future. (I still have a few requests that I have asked for.)

James and Stan have been great!

[James Tanner - Bryston]

SoundStage! Global | SoundStageGlobal.com - BACCH-SP and MQA -- A Great Demo and a Not-So-Great Demo

[gbaby]

Originally Posted by Rod#S

But of course at best providing you are running in bypass in the SP3 you can only access 2 channels of upgraded DACs i.e. the BDA-3. A new SP product with DACs equal to the BDA-3 would be much more flexible because you would get 7+ channels, not just 2.

The problem of course SSPs in general have that are based around the common design of the DAC and processors both being on the same boards is that the DAC flexibility is restricted which I believe is the design the SP series follows. If the design was switched over to follow the Theta Digital approach of having the DAC design be card based then DAC upgrades could be performed over time. I suspect doing this though would raise the price significantly.

In my opinion, the 7.1 multi-channel sound from the SP3 trumps the sound of the D/A improvements from the BDA3. I have both and as good as the BDA3 is in 2 channel, the SP3 using its older D/A converter is a better sonic experience as long as you are using mult-channel or Stereo7 7.1. The SP3 is still relevant.