I crossed the same bridge a month ago and bought a DAC with two coax inputs. I use one input for the CDP and the other for my streaming box. BDA-3 would be an excellent option if it fits within your budget or a used BDA-2 for less money - my personal favorite. They substituted one of the coax SPDIF inputs from RCA to BNC (110 ohm vs. 75 ohm) in the newer model if that matters to you.
New CD Player or Existing CD Player as Transport to a DAC?
I have a Bryston BCD-1 and Bryston just came out with the BCD-3 for $3500.00
http://bryston.com/products/digital_audio/BCD-3.html
So my question is: would I be getting a better listening experience if I sell the BCD-1 and buy the BCD-3.
Or would the playback be just as good or better, if I kept the BCD-1 for a transport and bought a new DAC like a Benchmark, Berkeley Audio or Mytek and connected my Bryston to that?
Thank you for reading this.
http://bryston.com/products/digital_audio/BCD-3.html
So my question is: would I be getting a better listening experience if I sell the BCD-1 and buy the BCD-3.
Or would the playback be just as good or better, if I kept the BCD-1 for a transport and bought a new DAC like a Benchmark, Berkeley Audio or Mytek and connected my Bryston to that?
Thank you for reading this.
7 responses Add your response
The classic match will be the new Bryston BDA-3 DAC and use your CDP as transport. http://bryston.com/products/digital_audio/BDA-3.html |
Though I agree that buying a DAC and using the BCD-1 as a transport provides opportunity to expand sources and bypass a preamp stage, I find myself wondering what sonic improvement one would get regarding redbook CD playback. Probably boils down to the budget allocated towards a DAC and type of digital media to be played through it. |
If you are considering DACs such as Mytek or Benchmark vs a CDP, then I suggest using your Bryston as a transport and buying one of these excellent DACs. They can do double-duty for streaming or computer audio and I believe can output directly to an amp. Don’t forget to factor in the cost of a high quality digital cable (coax recommended). |
