Bryston LTD has introduced the BDA-2 outboard digital to analog converter (DAC). The BDA-2 builds on the BDA-1 DAC, adding the latest 32-bit DAC technology and an advanced USB interface to accommodate the ever expanding computer-based entertainment market.
The Bryston BDA-2 is a state-of-the-art stereo DAC using fully discrete Class-A proprietary Bryston analog circuits, two independent (analog and digital) linear power supplies and dual 32-bit AKM DAC chips. The BDA-2 also utilizes a new asynchronous USB input capable of 192/24bit resolution. The BDA-2 has an MSRP of $2395 U.S. and is shipping to authorized dealers now. The BDA-1 will remain in the Bryston lineup for the foreseeable future.
The BDA-2 delivers inherent flexibility with an impressive array of inputs for high resolution USB, COAX, OPTICAL, AES-EBU and BNC-equipped digital devices. For audio outputs, the BDA-2 offers both balanced XLR as well as unbalanced RCA stereo connectors on the rear panel. The BDA-2 is RS-232 software upgradeable, making it the most user-friendly high performance USB DAC on the market.
“With more and more consumers relying on their computers as a source of entertainment in the home, we felt it imperative to offer a DAC with high performance USB inputs,” said Bryston’s James Tanner. “Additionally, the new 32-bit DAC chips deliver stunning resolution and detail. The BDA-2 was built upon the award-winning BDA-1 architecture, which emphasized isolation, low noise and imperceptibly low levels of distortion and Jitter.”
Power Supplies: The BDA-2 power supply employs two independent secondary windings on the power transformer—one each for the digital and analog sections of the device. In the BDA-2, each stage in the digital chain is also independently regulated to prevent any unwanted interactions and to provide rock solid power delivery for any up-sampling/over-sampling process.
AKM 32-bit DAC Chips: The BDA-2 incorporates dual AKM 32-bit DAC chips, some of the highest resolution available on the market today, the company says.
Jitter Reduction: The input signal to the Bryston BDA-2 is re-clocked and re-sampled with the highest precision oscillators to reduce any possibility of jitter affecting the sound quality (jitter is a mis-timing of the data being moved from point A to point B in any synchronous digital system). Additionally, the BDA-2’s input receiver and sample rate converter have both been engineered to further reduce jitter to levels too low to measure accurately even with the best test equipment available.
Digital Input Matching Devices: The BDA-2 employs high quality impedance matching transformers providing the optimal interface to virtually any incoming source under all sorts of signal conditions. Lesser quality terminations may degrade the signal and could cause increased jitter.
Discrete Class-A analog stage: The Bryston BDA-2’s analog circuits are constructed of carefully sorted and selected discrete devices (individual transistors, resistors, and capacitors) instead of the more commonly used integrated circuits. The use of discrete devices has enabled Bryston to design a circuit that exactly matches the needs of the BDA-2.
