I measured the Audio Research Reference 6's electrical performance with my Audio Precision SYS2722 system (see the January 2008 "As We See It"). In general, this well-engineered preamplifier's measured performance is similar to that of ARC's earlier Reference 5 SE, which Brian Damkroger reviewed in November 2012, although the Ref 6's volume control operates in 103 steps of approximately 0.3dB rather than the Ref 5 SE's 103 steps of 0.95dB. The unity-gain setting was "61" on the front-panel display. The gain with the volume control set to its maximum, "103," was 12.…
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In the February 2010 issue of Stereophile, I reviewed Bryston's first standalone digital-to-analog converter, the BDA-1 ($1995). Five years later, Bryston released the BDA-2, which replaced the BDA-1's 24-bit/192kHz Crystal CS-4398 DAC with a pair of AKM DAC chips in balanced mode. In a February 2016 Follow-Up (footnote 1) I reported that the BDA-2 deepened and widened the BDA-1's soundstage, among other performance gains.
Yet the BDA-2 could not decode digital files encoded in DSD, a high-resolution digital format that has won interest because it offers music recorded with excellent…
With all source components properly configured, the BDA-3 functioned like a digital Rosetta Stone that I could control from my listening seat with Bryston's BR-2 remote control (a $250 option). Except for a nine-second delay when switching between USB inputs, switching among inputs was instantaneous. Unfortunately, the BR-2 dos not allow selection of the USB 2 input or any HDMI input.
A quick check confirmed that the BDA-3 was processing DSD and PCM files of different sample rates with ease, lighting up the correct LED on its front panel. To do this, I downloaded songs by Blue Coast…
Sidebar 1: Setting Up Digital Source Components to Output DSD
For this review, I depended on my digital source components to stream DSD files to drive Bryston's BDA-3 DAC. To make this possible, I first had to reconfigure each component's setup menu.
Before the Bryston BDP-2 media player could stream DSD files, its firmware needed to be updated. That done, I accessed the BDP-2's Web user interface, selected Audio Devices, and checked the option "BDA-3 Audio 2.0-USB Audio." The BDP-2 could then stream DSD64 and DSD128 files, but not DSD256. An e-mail to Bryston Service USA…
Sidebar 2: Specifications
Description: Digital-to-analog processor with remote control of upsampling and some digital inputs. Digital inputs: 2 asynchronous USB 2.0 Type B; 4 HDMI (all HDMI 1.4a compliant; input 4 also HDCP 2.2 compliant), 2 S/PDIF electrical (1 BNC/coaxial wire, 1 RCA); 1 optical (TosLink); 1 AES/EBU (XLR). Digital input sample rates accepted: 32, 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.2, 192, 352, 384kHz PCM (S/PDIF, AES/EBU); DSD64 (HDMI, USB), DSD128 to DSD256 (USB only). USB audio drivers for computer sources: Microsoft Windows USB Audio Driver v3.23.0 required; no driver required…
Sidebar 3: Associated Equipment
Analog Sources: Linn Sondek LP12 turntable with Lingo power supply, Linn Ittok tonearm, Spectral cartridge; Day-Sequerra 25-year Anniversary FM Reference tuner.
Digital Sources: Bryston BCD-1 CD player & BDP-2 media player with IAD sound board; Oppo BPD-103 universal Blu-ray player; Sony SCD-C555ES SACD/CD player; Lenovo P50 computer running Windows 10 Professional (64-bit), Bryston USB driver, JRiver Media Center 22.
Preamplifiers: Bryston BP-26, Mark Levinson No.526.
Power Amplifiers: Mark Levinson No.334 (stereo) & No.536 (monoblocks…
Sidebar 4: Measurements
I measured the Bryston BDA-3 with my Audio Precision SYS2722 system (see the January 2008 As We See It"). As well as the Audio Precision's digital outputs, I used WAV and AIFF test-tone files sourced via USB from my MacBook Pro running on battery power with Pure Music 3.0. Apple's USB Prober utility identified the Bryston DAC as "BDA3 Audio 2.0" from "Bryston," and revealed that its USB port operated in the optimal isochronous asynchronous mode. Apple's AudioMIDI utility revealed that, via USB, the BDA-3 accepted 24-bit integer data sampled at all rates from 44.1…
If I told you that Pass Laboratories' INT-60 integrated amplifier ($9000) was engineered by meth-lab trolls, its faceplate was wonky, its transformers buzzed, and it made every instrument sound like a tambourine, you'd think I was a crackpot with some kind of axe to grind, right? Because I suspect that, like me, you've never experienced or even read about a Pass Labs amp that didn't sound good.
What if I said that the Pass INT-60 is a reference-quality stereo integrated amplifier that reproduces recordings in a manner refined and sensuous? That it has a nicely sculpted enclosure that…
Over and over for two days, I played The History of Rock Instrumentals, Volume 2 (LP, Rhino RNLP 70138), and all I had was fun as I tried to decide which track on this extravaganza of Guild, Gibson, and Fender guitars was the most grungy and proto-punk. Link Wray & His Ray Men's "Rumble" used hard twang and long reverb to serve up raw, Eisenhower-era ominousness. Duane Eddy's "Rebel-'Rouser" and Bill Justis & His Orchestra's "Raunchy" both feature grungy, deep-textured sax. But it was the sounds of the piano and plucked double bass in the Wailers' (no, not those Wailers) "Tall Cool…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Solid-state, class-AB stereo integrated amplifier with remote control. Inputs: 4 line-level (2 RCA, 2 XLR/RCA). Outputs: 2. Power output: 60Wpc into 8 ohms (17.8dBW), 120Wpc into 4 ohms (17.8dBW) (class-A to 30W). Voltage Gain: 29/35dB (selectable). Frequency response: –6dB at 80kHz. Input impedance: 45k ohms. Volume control: 63dB in 1dB steps. Distortion at 1kHz, full power: 1%. Damping factor: 150. Slew rate: 50V/µs. Output noise: <250µV. Input CMRR: –60dB. DC offset: 0.05V. Operating temperature: 127.4°F (53°C). Power consumption: 375W.
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