PSAudio Direct Stream or Bryston BDA/BDP2?


Hi All,

I've had five foot surgeries and may, due to mobility issues, have to switch to digital audio for my home. I love my system, but I have almost know knowledge of DACs or other such matters. From what I can tell, my budget would allow me to go either PSAudio Direct Stream or the pair of Bryston units. Nobody I can find sells both, so I can't ask a dealer, hence I turn to you folks. Can people please help me figure out which of the two options I've mentioned is better? Or, is there some other gear I should consider?

Thanks in advance,

Russ
rustler
Ricred1,
The Cary is in for service right now.
But as I recall, the Cary digital input was very good and in many ways more robust compared to the Bryston.
However, the Cary only does Hi Rez to 24/96 if that matters.
I can only speak for the PS Audio (and I should add I have no experience with any other high-end DAC), but I just had my Perfect Wave upgraded to a Direct Stream: I basically have not left my couch for a week. It's the rare piece of equipment that makes you want to relisten to your entire library. It is a detail monster, though not aggressively so, and is the most beautifully musical piece of digital equipment I've ever heard. I have fairly "analytical" speakers (Kharma CRM 3.2 FE) which can be a little hard-edged; now they are so pleasurably musical I can't stop listening.
Ricred1,

I still have a modded CEC TL-1x transport and have compared the sound of a CD played through the CEC into the PS Audio DSD, vs the same music as ripped CD (using DBPoweramp) through the BDP-1 to same DAC. The Bryston unarguably has greater clarity and detail, larger soundstage, more presence, more realism. The CEC gives you a more mellifluous, slightly softened, burnished sound that on some CD's actually sounds more pleasant than through the BDP-1, but those are the exception. It really is no contest as a general matter.

Hope this helps.

Neal
Neal,
Thanks for the information. Hopefully I will receive my BDP next week.