Bryston BDA-2
The Bryston BDA-2 is a state of the art external Stereo DAC (digital to analog converter) which delivers superb sonic performance through re-sampling and re-clocking of the digital input signal. The BDA-2 incorporates a new asynchronous USB input capable of 192/24bit resolution. It is compatible with CD Drives, Sound Cards, Computers, Music Servers, etc.
The Absolute Sound Review of BDA-2
Inputs: USB Class 2, 4x SPDIF (2 BNC, 2 RCA), 2x Optical (TOSLINK), AES/EBU
Outputs: RCA Single Ended, XLR Balanced, SPDIF Bypass (RCA)*
Control: RS-232 (DB9)**
- Dual 32Bit AKM DAC's
- Discrete Class A analog output stage
- Independent analog and digital signal paths
- Independent dual power supplies
- Synchronous upsampling (176.4K/192K)
- Oversampling
- 44.1, 48, 88, 96, 176, 192K Sampling
- 16-24Bit, 44K-192K PCM and USB
* SPDIF Bypass output signal unaltered from original input
** Firmware upgrades only
- Available with silver or black faceplate
- 17”or 19” faceplate available
- Rack mountable option available (1U)
- BR2 remote control available (see Accessories in Other Products
Cambridge Audio DAC Magic
With the advent of computer-based music systems, Cambridge Audio’s DacMagic™ upsampling digital to analogue converter is the most affordable and effective way to upgrade any PC or Macintosh computer, network music device, games console or standard CD/DVD player to truly high end sound quality.
Enjoy digital music like never before...
Adapted Time Filtering (ATF) asynchronous upsampling technology might sound complicated but the benefits are instantly audible. Essentially it converts 16-24 bit audio to 24 bit/192kHz so you hear so much more from compressed material. Meanwhile a 32 bit Digital Signal Processor (DSP) eradicates jitter which is especially effective with hard disk playback from PCs or Macintosh computers. Whether your digital music collection is stored on a PC or you use a network music client – Squeezebox™, SoundBridge™, Sonos™ etc - the difference in audible quality is incredible!
Games just explode into life
Gaming isn’t just about the moving image. By connecting your games console - PlayStations(PS2 and PS3™), Xbox™ and Xbox 360s™ to your hi-fi via DacMagic, dramatically improved soundtracks and special effects are immediately apparent.
Breathe new life into your DVD player
DVD players can sound great with movies, but normally lack polish when playing back CDs. DacMagic is the simplest way to significantly eradicate jitter and markedly improve your DVD player’s sonic performance.
Resurrect your CD player
Maybe your CD player is ageing gracefully and is in need of a boost. DacMagic adds a new lease of life into any CD player fitted with an S/PDIF or Toslink (optical) output.
DacMagic is an audiophile tour de force!
DacMagic sports a range of components you’d never dream could be crammed into such a compact case. These include a 32-bit Texas Instruments Digital Signal Processor (DSP), dual Differential Virtual Earth balanced filter topology and twin Wolfson WM8740 high quality DACs in dual differential mode for excellent stereo imaging. Other features include a choice of digital filters - linear phase/minimum phase/steep filter - and an incoming sampling rate indicator which shows the original source quality. You can experiment with different filters for each source connected but DacMagic always remembers the last one assigned to that source. For more information on these advanced filters, just download our user manual
It’s flexible and easy to set-up
Up to two digital sources - network music devices, games consoles, CD/DVD players etc. can be connected concurrently using S/PDIF or Toslink inputs. Additionally, you can connect DacMagic directly to your PC using a USB connection (no drivers needed) and dramatically improve the quality of your digital music. Once upsampled, DacMagic offers both balanced XLR outputs and unbalanced RCA outputs for superior quality analogue transfer.
DacMagic's got serious pedigree!
Cambridge Audio introduced the original DacMagic in 1994 with the specific intention of upgrading CD players. It was received to great acclaim and spawned several incarnations. The digital music revolution means the CD is just one format as people listen to their collection in a totally different way. Therefore, the time is right for a renaissance. The spiritual successor to the original DacMagic allows a range of applications such as PCs, Media Center PCs, network music devices and sound bridges to benefit from a DAC’s ability to bring downloaded and compressed content to life. Once upsampled, the DacMagic offers both unbalanced RCA and balanced XLR outputs for the best quality analogue transfer. But don't just take our word for it, since launch DacMagic has won an unprecedented array of awards from the world's leading tech and hi-fi press including a prized position in T3's 2009 Hot 100!
And what's more, you can Click here to see why Hi-Fi Choice gave it a 5 star review, a Best Buy Award, a Gold Award and then - to top the lot - Overall Product of the Year
Bryston BDA-1
 The Bryston BDA-1 Digital to Analogue convertor is a state-of-the-art external Stereo DAC using fully discrete Class-A proprietary Bryston analogue circuits, two independent linear power supplies and dual Crystal CS-4398 DAC chips. The Bryston BDA-1 Digital to Analogue convertor features an impressive array of inputs for USB, COAX, OPTICAL; AES-EBU and BNC equipped digital devices. For audio outputs, the Bryston BDA 1 DAC offers both balanced XLR as well as unbalanced RCA stereo connectors on the rear panel. The BDA1 is RS-232 software upgradeable, making it the most flexible high performance DAC on the market. |
| The best way to understand the Bryston BDA 1 External DAC is to follow the flow of a signal from when it first arrives at the BDA-1 in digital form to when it leaves to drive an external analogue input. The digital signal first arrives at the Bryston BDA-1 Digital to Analogue convertor via either the SPDIF COAX, OPTICAL OR AES EBU inputs or the USB interface input. These are the standard digital outputs from a CD Drive, Sound Card, Computer, Music Server etc. There are 6 digital inputs, which are easily selected using a front panel switch. This digital signal contains data at over 1 million bits per second that requires a bandwidth of 5 to 10 million hertz (cycles per second). At these high frequencies, it is very important to maintain the quality of the signal by having the correct termination at the digital inputs. The BDA-1 provides for this termination in the best possible manner using devices called impedance matching transformers. Impedance matching transformers provide the optimal interface to the incoming source under all sorts of signal conditions. Lesser quality terminations will degrade the signal, causing increased jitter |
| After the input stage, the signal goes to the SYNCHRONOUS up sampling circuit (sample rate converter). This circuit converts the digital signal from one sample rate and bit depth to another. In the Bryston BDA-1 Digital to Analogue convertor, the sample rate is increased from the input sample frequency (32K, 48K, or 96K up samples to 192K and 44.1K or 88.2K up samples to 176.4K). The 16 bits of depth (the CD standard) is increased to 24 bits. The added 8 bits are filled with placeholder information. This up sampling process provides a digital signal for later conversion to analogue by the Crystal 4398 DAC chip. The up sampling process doesn't add any new, but does put the data in a form which can better be translated by the DAC as described below. The advantage of this synchronous up sampling process is improved processing of the up sampled signal by the DAC chip, which was designed for higher sample rates and bit depths. There is also a noise shaping process implemented where "noise" within the audible spectrum is shifted up to frequencies above audible limits. An added advantage of this up sampling process is that a totally new clock signal is applied, which results in significant jitter reduction. |
| A very unique feature of the Bryston BDA1 External DAC is the ability to disengage the up sampling feature. You can compare an up sampled signal with a non-up sampled signal simply by engaging a switch on the front panel. This feature is functional when using sample rates of 44.1K, 88.2K, 48K, and 96K. |
| Bryston hand assembles and individually tests each and every product we manufacture. Bryston exclusively use only the finest components, 1% metal-film resistors, 0.1% polystyrene capacitors, and hand selected and matched transistors in order to reduce noise and distortion to the absolute minimum. Bryston applies techniques and employs custom materials in our everyday construction of electronic equipment that are typically utilized by military and aerospace industries. Our traditional adherence to the use of proprietary parts, sophisticated construction, and refined testing techniques guarantees that the Bryston BDA-1 DAC will perform superbly for many years. |
- Dual 192K/24Bit Crystal DAC's
- Independent dual power supplies
- Discrete Class A analogue
- 16-24Bit PCM, 16Bit 32K-48K USB