Bryston SP3 Preamp-Processor - Page 20

jwhite613 · #**191** 06-25-2012, 03:20 PM

TL5... Welcome To AA!!!

jwhite613 · #**192** 06-25-2012, 03:22 PM

Dave... Welcome To AA!!!

TL5 · #**193** 06-25-2012, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwhite613

TL5... Welcome To AA!!!

Thanks!!!

James Tanner - Bryston · #**194** 07-03-2012, 11:42 AM

DATE: July 2012

Hello James

I have just bought a Bryston BDP1 Player and SP3 Processor combination.

The sound is Scary!!! I am in a state of disbelief.

I keep setting it tasks to see if it’s as good as my previous system whether it be vinyl through Phono amp to CD – (yeah I know but allow me some indulgence to my personal favourite SACD and DVD audio).

Wow it just does it simply no fuss which throws you a little because on the previous top of the range Onkyo you had all these settings to play with, With the Bryson SP-3 it just does it and boy does it do it! Can I temp you James to throw on Band on the run DVD audio and just try and take that smile of your face.

And of course my new little friend The BDP1 Digital Player is sounding as good if not better than the others I have mentioned here. just getting to grips with my new world FLAC Lossless 44khz 24/96 once I get comfortable with these new concepts I will be one happy bunny rabbit

Keep up the Good Work

Simon

James Tanner - Bryston · #**195** 07-07-2012, 10:00 AM

Hi James,

I've been the proud owner of an SP3 for two weeks now.

During that time I've checked it out using the HDMI, SPIDF, balanced and 7.1 inputs as well as sampling the various output modes. My conclusion is that there is no way to make the SP3 sound bad. Material that wasn't engineered very well sounds good and well engineering material sounds fabulous.

The sound stage is wide and has depth. The detail the SP3 pulls out of a recording is eerie. I'm hearing detail and nuance in music I've never heard before regardless of the format. But the biggest revelation is the fact the SP3 can produce a clean, clear sound at levels beyond live. During my testing I decided to see how high I could run the volume before the sound became harsh or muddy. I never got there. I turned up the volume and all the SP3 did was pump out more and more clean, clear and detailed sound. I ended stopping because I knew the volume was too high to be safe not because the sound became harsh and unbearable to hear. I had absolutely no idea my 9BSST could muster up that much output if fed a truly clean signal. The next time I try this I'm going to get out my sound level meter and measure the output level to see how high it was at.

One thing I did uncover in my testing not directly related to the SP3 is that you can't always trust the specs that manufacturers publish. I have some digital material recorded at 24/192 and I was anxious to try it out with the SP3. However, I still don't know what it sounds like played at the full rate and converted by the SP3. It turns out that my disc player while capable of reading and playing the discs won't pass it through digitally at full rate. It down converts the output to 24/96 on both HDMI and SPDIF. The manual claims 24/192 capability but buried in the pages is the chart showing what happens to the digital output. That got me riled up because it isn't an inexpensive piece and yet they cut corners. Basically, I didn't get what I thought I was paying for. So, caveat emptor when buying some equipment. Just because they charge a bundle doesn't mean you get good value for the money.

Fortunately, that isn't the case with Bryston. Yes, the SP3 is up there, but you very definitely get what you've paid for and then some.

Stellar job on SP3, James and company.

Ted

netroamer · #**196** 07-29-2012, 07:50 PM