Bryston BDA-1 vs Naim DAC

I tried DC1 against some cheap and expensive coaxial and optical cables and they all sound the same through nDAC.

The sources were Logitech Transporter, NAD M5 SACD/CD player and HK DVD37.

On the other hand the source does matter: TP was superior to NAD and HK in terms of smoothness and transient attacks. 

You can check the quality of your nDAC piece with following milestone facts:

nDAC offers more spacious soundstage (both in width and depth), the resolution is much higher than CD5X/HC, the mid transients and bass punch is WAY better than CD5X/HC2.

The only negative point of bare nDAC is that it sounds a bit brighter than CD5X/HC2 -- similar to CDX2 in presentation. I always preferred CD5X/HC over CDX2 due to a warmer presentation of the former. But in sheer hi-fi terms CDX2 was always a bit better on all tests.

When adding XPS to nDAC the noise floor drops down, the presentation gets much softer (softer than CD5X/HC2 but not as soft as CDS3 or KDS or MBL), microdetails and microtransients pronounce even better. The bass punch becomes mindblowing -- the best I heard so far.

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I have to say that your 'facts' are actually not 'facts', just your opinion.

I don't agree that the sound stage is more spacious - in my system it is not.

I also disagree with your 'fact' about resolution. The 5x/HC2 was better in this area too. Same for bass punch.

I don't even think it sounds a bit brighter. I think that the 5X was brighter. 

I have no idea about the CDX2 and would not consider an XPS as being a fair or reasonable comparison - as it cost far, far more.

In my opinion you are too full of your self and might just try to add 'in my opinion' rather than pass off your impressions as 'fact'.

Regards,

Huw 

JB,

I would suggest downloading trial versions of Pure Music or Amarra music server software, which work with itunes, and auditioning with one of these as a player.  I find Amarra a big improvement over itunes, and on occasions where I've forgotten to start it, I've thought that something was very wrong with the sound.

Also, I would suggest that you discount advise that points you in a particular direction but whose giver hasn't actually auditioned the equipment you're asking about.  Listen to a number of dacs, do research and solicit feedback about them, and then remove yourself from influence and make your own decision.

-- Daniel 

Huw, it's not about sound presentation or emotions. This is about the simple hi-fi terms.

nDAC was designed to be better than CD5X/CDX2/HDX in hi-fi terms and in my experience it made it (not to mention that it was explicitly stated by Naim and many others on this forum which you may trust more than me).

Of course, one can prefer the softer presentation of HDX -- but hardly will claim it to be more resolving than nDAC. If your piece of nDAC is less resolving than CD5X/HC2 I would advice you to check for the piece quality or system setup, possibly chassis/float switch on nDAC or plugging nDAC in the same powerstrip as amp to improve on earthing. I also don't advice to plug both nDAC and CD5X to the naim preamp during the test as they may have different earthing. The best approach is to hook nDAC and CD5X to CD input on preamp and test one by one.

I'm sorry to use the word "fact" which you misinterpreted as the "fact of life".

I definitely meant the "fact of my personal experience".

+1

Greetings.  I kept the Bryston BDA-1.  I've been quite happy with it.