I just got one in about a month ago. I was auditioning various DACs and the BDA-3 interested me because it features the new AKM4490 chip. I did critical listening comparisons with a Sabre DAC, proprietary R2R DAC, and casual comparisons with some other DACs. I decided the BDA-3 to be the best choice among those, and am now using it in our reference 2-channel system and applied to become a Bryston dealer because of my decision on the BDA-3.
I feel the Sabre DAC has a little more distortion, and the R2R DAC is too laid back (not as punchy) with slightly worse transient response. The BDA-3 is clean like the R2R DAC but has the quick transient response of the Sabre DAC. I think there might be further improvements possible if I could select the AKM4490 filter, but that's not possible and I don't know if Bryston will make it possible. In the meantime, I am using Dirac Live RCS to help with that a little.
I have not tried DSD over HDMI myself, however I know people are successfully doing that from the OPPO BD players. I am primarily using the USB, coaxial, and TOSLink connections. |
I don't know that looking at the BDA-1 or BDA-2 are going to give an accurate picture of the BDA-3 sound. The BDA-2 uses the AKM4399 chip which has a choice of two internal filter settings. The BDA-3 uses the AKM4490 chip which has a choice of five internal filter settings. I happen to know the filter setting on the BDA-3 is not one of the two available on the BDA-2. In my opinion the BDA-3 filter choice has a subtle but audible impact on the sound character.
Are there any Bryston dealers or customers near you? Trying to hear the BDA-3 first hand is most likely the best option. We have multiple DACs, including ones from brands we do not sell, at our location that make direct comparisons possible. |
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I think it depends on how much body you're looking for. Depending on what you're looking for when you say that, you may want to consider DACs other than the BDA-3. Although I think you will have to give up some cleanliness of sound and detail retrieval in exchange.
That being said, Dirac Live RCS might give you what you're looking for with your existing BDP-105D, or a new DAC like the BDA-3. I find it brings back some of the life-like quality to music that can be otherwise lost, without changing the overall sound signature of the rest of your gear.
Dirac offers a two week free trial period for their computer-based software. It's also available in a standalone box from miniDSP so you can use it with all your sources.
I'm located in San Jose, California. We carry Bryston and are a sales affiliate for Dirac so we can demo both of those. We also have some other DACs here that we do not sell but also highly recommend.
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Well, the BDA-3 is probably going to be the most functional of the bunch, considering you want to feed it DSD from your BDP-105D. I recommend you audition the Auralic Vega though, even if it won't be as functional as the BDA-3. Also, I personally find it a little harder to navigate through the Auralic UI instead of just having buttons for everything like on the BDA-3. |
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I think you will find the Bryston BDA-3 to be exceptionally clean and accurate. However it uses a specific filter choice, and you may or may not care about its impact on the sound. Many people prefer that choice of filter so it is not a bad choice. However I like being able to choose the filter on the Auralic Vega.
I believe the Auralic uses a Sabre chip. I find the Auralic kind of sits in-between the OPPO and the Bryston, in terms of sound character. They're all exceptional products, which is why I use all three myself. If you are liking the Luxman because you find the OPPO has a bit more audible distortion (e.g. fatigue in the high frequencies) then I would guess you will prefer the Bryston.
But you also mentioned you wanted a bit more body. Which I'm still not sure you will get from the Bryston. Since usually that does mean a bit of added harmonics—i.e. a less dry presentation. Are you getting that from the Luxman?
Also, the Bryston brings out everything. So you will hear clipping on hot tracks and recording errors etc. Those same sounds are present but less audible with other DACs. Which may be undesirable depending on the music you listen to.
BTW - If you are hearing some high frequency distortion and thus experiencing listening fatigue, have you also considered your amplifier? It may not be solely a question of your DAC. |
I think your definition of "more body" may instead be whether or not the sound is recessed and narrow with some masking of sound, versus wide and deep and all sounds properly weighted. I believe this may be better characterized by the impulse response measurement than the harmonic distortion measurement.
In which case the Bryston BDA-3 plus Dirac Live RCS might be your best choice if you prefer the most detailed, cleanest, and accurate sound with the above definition of "more body". But you will want both.
Unfortunately I think it unlikely I will have a Luxman or Ayre for direct comparison anytime soon. |
Have you checked the OPPO settings to make sure it is set to output DSD? |
@plutos AKM4490, R2R, and SABRE implementations in general? Here are some DACs I can remember right now with those chipsets/designs, that I had recently or have right now.
AKM4490: Marantz AV8803A, Bryston BDA-3, AKM Reference Board
R2R: Audio-gd Master Something, Schiit Yggdrasil
SABRE: OPPO HA-1, OPPO Sonica DAC, Auralic Vega |
@plutos I haven't had a chance to do a lot of critical listening with the Sonica DAC yet, but my first impression is that it retains the same basic SABRE sound character but might be slightly faster at transients and thus have slightly more separation between notes than the OPPO HA-1. But the degree is very small, if any, so I could just be imagining things. I need more time to be able to form a more concrete opinion. |
@plutos I would only recommend the Neko Audio D100 Mk2 DAC if you're looking for an analog sounding DAC with the benefits of a well-designed solid state design, over other considerations. |
To clarify, in my first post, I said the specific SABRE DAC I was comparing against sounded a particular way. I did not mean to imply all SABRE DACs will sound the same. I would be the first person to say it's all about the implementation, as that's exactly why the Neko Audio DAC doesn't sound like other PCM1794 DACs.
I was a bit remiss in referring to the OPPO HA-1 and Sonica DAC sound as the SABRE sound. However I do find many SABRE DACs sound similar, and was trying to convey that in my description. |
