Bushmaster Mk. II (TC-7533)

[Fi-Wi]

Absolutely no clash here Stan!

My my, just when I thought I wrenched every last drop out of my modest setup, this combined code FW update proves me wrong. I hear (even) more detail in my music and voices sound less sibilant to me. These results are only based on a 15 minutes test with Radio Paradise (320 AAC) through my HP.

Hats off to Stan, you did it again!

[Theadmans]

Easy peasey Adam:
Settings/advanced/digital output/buffer tuning experiments.
The Touch will reboot when you have made the alteration.

OK thanks Jerry - never knew these settings existed !

I am listening now with the Battery mod FW only and the smallest buffer. However, the music is X-O-Dus a Reggae Band on Manchester's Factory records re-released on Les Temps Modernes CD - mostly mastered from an old cassette - So hardly audiophile !

I notice there are a whole bunch of other settings in the Advanced Digital Output section - any recommended choices for the other stuff ?

[Covenant]

I prefer the large buffer with my set up (chip optimised for battery). Sounds a bit laid back on the small buffer setting. So presumably I need to get another chip from Stan with the latest FW setting?

[ruleof72]

Well, after a lot of research and going back and forth between the Mk.II, Schiit Bifrost and a few other DAC's I ordered my Mk. II today! :) Now the waiting begins.......Stan said he'd ship it out Monday so hopefully I have it by the end of next week.

I'll be pairing the Mk. II with my Squeezebox Classic, Schiit Magni headphone amp and Mad Dog Pro headphones. Based on everything I've read I think I will be very happy with the Bushmaster. I'm looking forward to the upgrade it should give to the sound compared to the Squeezebox internal DAC which I've been using. It was a tough decision though. I've been very happy with the performance of the Schiit Magni amp so I naturally gravitated towards the Bifrost, which by all accounts is a good DAC. In the end though I was swayed by the glowing reviews and the idea that the Mk II is supposed to be a "straight wire" component. The price was also a bonus. Another thing I'm looking forward to trying is running it off of battery. I think that will offer some more opportunity for the Mad Dogs to show their stuff.

I'll be sure to post my impressions of the Mk II when I get it. In the meantime, does anyone have a list of tracks (Spotify availability) that might be good to test the Mk II? I have a few of my own favorite tracks that I plan on using but anything else would be great.

Thanks to everyone for the vast amount of info in this thread and I hope that I can contribute more once I get my Mk II.

[Covenant]

does anyone have a list of tracks (Spotify availability) that might be good to test the Mk II? I have a few of my own favorite tracks that I plan on using but anything else would be great.
Try 'Keith don't go' from Acoustic Live-Nils Lofgren. Can that man play guitar.
Dont forget to order the updated FW chip from Stan so you get the best out of the SB3 and BM2.:)

[ruleof72]

does anyone have a list of tracks (Spotify availability) that might be good to test the Mk II? I have a few of my own favorite tracks that I plan on using but anything else would be great.
Try 'Keith don't go' from Acoustic Live-Nils Lofgren. Can that man play guitar.
Dont forget to order the updated FW chip from Stan so you get the best out of the SB3 and BM2.:)

Thanks for that recommendation! I don't have any of Nils Lofgren in my personal collection so I'll add it to the list. I'm building out a playlist on Spotify of songs I'll use to compare/audition the old vs new setup in addition to the tracks from my own collection.

I think I'm getting the latest chip but I'll email Stan just to make sure.

[MartinT]

I guess where I am going with this is, would the battery upgrade be something worth serious consideration for DAC purposes (over heaphone purposes)?

Very much so.

[MartinT]

MartinT is trying the battery only code for now, and I hope that he'll be able to try the battery & Touch code afterwards so that I can have some more data to go with.

Sorry I've been a bit late giving feedback on this. I have certainly noticed a difference with all formats and most noticeably with the Touch and Sky HD. Soundstage is bigger and deeper and fine detail very precisely positioned. I watched two films on Blu-ray over the last couple of evenings and was remarking to myself how good the soundtracks were, with proper depth rendition and dynamics, not your normal flat perspectives.

If this is what the battery-only code sounds like, bring on the full jobby!

[MartinT]

As Jerry said this is easy to do. If you are willing to hack the EDO Lua scripts, you can add your own customised buffer options to the menu. Most people recommend disabling the wireless and feeding the Touch with a CAT5 cable so you should be OK.

The easiest way to do these things is to install TT3 (Touch Tools 3) and then use SCP from your PC to access the menu and make the changes.

[perbra]

I received my BM2 wednesday and has been burning in for 80 hours now. I just listened to Steely Dan - Green book with my Ultrasone Proline 2500 using the Focusrite Forte headphone amp and the BM2 headphone amp. The BM2 powered by the standard power supply as the Ankaka battery has not arrived yet. At first it seems no big difference, but after a little more time you realize that it is just more fun and enjoyable to listen to music with the BM2. The separation and definition is better and the BM2 "scares you" sometimes. I guess "scary" is another word for realism. For complex arrangements with a lot things going on the difference is most prominent.
Thanks for another great product and prompt delivery Stan.

[skimminstones]

i use a squeezebox classic plugged into my bushmaster II usually on the random songs setting. For a little while now ive noticed a click at the end of a song as it changes to the next one. It only happened occasionally and i think ive narrowed down today what is causing it. It only seems to happen if the song being played is 16bit 44.1khz and if the next song on random is a 24bit 96khz song it will click before playing.

Ive tested it this morning with the bushmaster unplugged and it doesnt happen. Is there an issue with the Bushmaster changing between the two? The vast vast majority of my music is in 16 bit but ive got some at 24 and this clicking noise is a bit annoying as it comes through the speakers louder and makes you jump

[ruleof72]

Just posted this over on Head-FI:

Just got my MKII today. The box arrived after a 6 day trip and after a couple of hours of listening to the latest addition to my system I am very happy!

To try and get a fair comparison between my old and new setups I took the RCA level output from my Squeezebox Classic to Schiit Magni and compared that to the Squeezebox Toslink/MKII/Magni. I ran both inputs into a simple switch box and tested the levels using pink noise as closely as possible (they were within approx .5db) using a sound level meter held up to the MadDog Pros. I then had my mostly-cooperative spousal assistant :D randomly switch between the two inputs as I listened to a number of tracks while I attempted to pick which one was which. After about 15 minutes of this the spousal assistant got tired and demanded Dinner, which I obediently prepared.

After Dinner I tallied up the results and found that I was fairly accurate (about 70%) in correctly picking the source. The main thing I noticed between the straight out of the Squeezebox vs Squeezebox/MKII was that the MKII had more "presence". The bass was also more exacting (but not boomy).

Granted this was far from a statistically significant scientific comparison but I am happy with the results. To my ears the Beresford MKII is a definite improvement over the Squeezebox Classic's internal DAC and that's what I was looking for in the purchase of an outboard DAC. So far, the Beresford MKII appears to be money well spent and a great value. I don't expect that will change as time goes on.

Good job, Stan. You have another happy customer!

Here's my "easy chair" setup with the MKII.

12023

[zilch0md]

I'm loving my Bushmaster MkII with the very efficient OPPO PM-1 planar magnetic.

They're made for each other!

http://cdn.head-fi.org/b/b8/b8f6bb6b_ConceroSPDIF-to-BushmasterMkII-to-OPPOPM01-t-x860.jpeg

http://www.head-fi.org/t/690549/beresford-bushmaster-tc-7530-and-bushmaster-mkii-tc-7533-comparison-impressions/220_20#post_10451711

(You might have to scroll at thus link, down until you see the same photo.

Mike

[John]

Had the Bushmaster up against the Cunas today. Very hard to tell each one apart. The Bushmaster with all its mods has moved on a lot to compete with such a good DAC. Transports were different so Cunas using MQn on Windows which is the best windows based player I heard whilst the Bushmaster was using a DVD player as Transport playing files from the USB input

[Darren Cotter]

Hi All,

Apologies if this has been answered before, but is there any way to connect a MK II to a USB input from a laptop?


Darren
Regards

[kininigin]

You would need a USB to SPDIF Converter

[Darren Cotter]

Hi

Thanks. Just been googling that. Don't want extra boxes, as the laptop would be on my lap while I surf and the Bushmaster is big enough as it is. Why did Stan take the USB input out. Surely it was a good selling point?

Alternatively, I could use my Gatorised Caiman on the laptop, and replace it with a Bushmaster & converter combination on my main setup? Any suggestions on good quality but not too expensive USB to SPDIF converters?

Regards

Daren

[John]

A member uses one of these with the Bushmaster http://hifimediy.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=62_73&product_id=87 It will convert as well as work as a DAC

[Darren Cotter]

Thanks for your help.

[MartinT]

How about something tiny like this:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HA-INFO-NG-COAX-2011-NG-COAX-USB-to-Spdif-Audio-Convertor-/171145130738?pt=UK_MusicalInstr_Amplifiers_RL&hash=item27d90b72f2

[John]

Used them in the past they ok but you get what you pay for

[MartinT]

Sure, John, but I was trying to answer Darren's need for small and simple.

[John]

yes they small simple and sound ok. Drivers work well with Windows too

[Koning]

Hi,

During my attempts to put together a Raspberry Pi and Hifiberry Digi music player, I discovered that my 'ancient' California Audio Labs System 1 dac didn't accept the Hifiberry's signal. So I decided that the time had come to say goodbye to this early nineties relic. Looking for a affordable dac with at least 3 spdif inputs I came across the Beresford dacs and this forum...

Reading the posts here took away the apprehension I had based on some negative press elsewhere, so a week ago I took the gamble and ordered a Bushmaster Mk.II. Thanks to Stan's quick service the dac arrived last friday. I'm still 'breaking it in' with random CDs and TV sound, but what I've heard sofar is making me happy :)

I'll let you guys know when I've had the chance to listen seriously to some well known material...

Oh, and the Rasberry Pi still isn't behaving as it should, although the Bushmaster at least is able to lock on a test signal :scratch:

[Theadmans]

Hi,

During my attempts to put together a Raspberry Pi and Hifiberry Digi music player, I discovered that my 'ancient' California Audio Labs System 1 dac didn't accept the Hifiberry's signal. So I decided that the time had come to say goodbye to this early nineties relic. Looking for a affordable dac with at least 3 spdif inputs I came across the Beresford dacs and this forum...

Reading the posts here took away the apprehension I had based on some negative press elsewhere, so a week ago I took the gamble and ordered a Bushmaster Mk.II. Thanks to Stan's quick service the dac arrived last friday. I'm still 'breaking it in' with random CDs and TV sound, but what I've heard sofar is making me happy :)

I'll let you guys know when I've had the chance to listen seriously to some well known material...

Oh, and the Rasberry Pi still isn't behaving as it should, although the Bushmaster at least is able to lock on a test signal :scratch:

Bushmaster is an excellent choice. I use one with my Raspberry Pi loaded with Squeezeplug (but I have the Wolfson Card on mine - didn't need any soldering unlike the Hifiberry)

[Koning]

Today I finally had some time to try and get the Pi operational and to listen to the Bushmaster.

Lo and behold, at last I got the Pi working with the Hifiberry, using Raspbian. I think some or all of my problem may have been caused by a faulty SD card, but I need to look into this further.
Using both the original CDs (via my Sony Blu Ray player) and FLAC/WAV rips via the Pi, I listened to some tracks. As my t-amp only has a single input, direct A/B tests with my old DAC (which refuses to work with the Hifiberry) were not possible. So here goes: The Bushmaster is clearly superior in the bass department: I find it quite unbelievable what my little 2x14W TA2021B amp (SMSL SA-S3) is capable of in combination with my MS Classic 40 speakers. Voice-wise the difference with my old DAC (CAL System 1 w. Indus) is smaller, with the Bushmaster (still?) having a bit more sibilance and perhaps being a bit less forward (at least on one of my reference tracks, The Last Resort from Hell Freezes Over by the Eagles). Need some more time with the Bushmaster for more definate conclusions, but sofar I find it a worthy successor to my CAL dac. Also listened to some George Michael and Josh Groban with my wife and she also giving the system the thumbs up :)

I will report back after more extensive listening...

[ruleof72]

......Also listened to some George Michael and Josh Groban with my wife and she also giving the system the thumbs up :)

I will report back after more extensive listening...

You have received the most important endorsement of all! :D Enjoy the Bushmaster, it's a great DAC.

[gazcarts]

Hi all,

I just received my Croft Micro 25 and Series 7 amps today. Once I'd selected the correct interconnect to connect the amps, they sounded lovely. I originally used an Isolda DCT300 cable but this caused slight buzzing in the speakers and the sound was closed in, so maybe a shielding issue. I've now switched to Audioquest cables and the buzzing has gone and the sound is much sweeter and open. Still using the Idolda cables from Squeezebox Touch and and phono amp to Micro 25 though.

Anyway, I digress. Just thinking of using an external DAC for the SBT. I have a Tag Mclaren DPA32R, but it's a bit too bulky for my "downsized" set up. Would the Bushmaster II better or equal the Tag for performance or would I be better sticking with the Tag?

Many thanks

[StanleyB]

Well, there is a Bushmaster DAC in the listening room of Croft. And I used Croft amps on may occasions to do final listening tests on the Bushmaster.

[gazcarts]

Thanks StanleyB. I forgot to mention the DPA32R is the later one with upgraded 24/192 DACs.

[MarginWalker]

I have just bought my first ever DAC, a Beresford Bushmaster Mk 2, from eBay, and after reading through this thread today I am even more excited to try it out.

[MikeMusic]

I have just bought my first ever DAC, a. Eresford Bushmaster Mk 2, from eBay, and after reading through this thread today I am even more excited to try it out.

Enjoy.
Once you have got used to it go and get a battery supply

[MarginWalker]

Enjoy.
Once you have got used to it go and get a battery supply

I noticed a lot of talk on here about the benefits of battery power for this DAC, but my concern is that they might be a pain in the arse to keep charged and they are big and ugly with low WAF.

[MikeMusic]

I noticed a lot of talk on here about the benefits of battery power for this DAC, but my concern is that they might be a pain in the arse to keep charged and they are big and ugly with low WAF.

The Ankaka I have is about half the volume of the BM. Assume similar are much the same.
Cute little thing

[MarginWalker]

That sounds fine. I was assuming it would need to be car battery size. Do you have a link for your battery? The Ines earlier in this thread seem to have expired? Alternatively would you. E able to let me know the spec so I have an idea of what to look for?

Ta
Phil

[MikeMusic]

XTPower is a good one. Not sure which, maybe
https://www.amazon.co.uk/XTPower%C2%AE-XT-10000ADF-Power-Bank-10000mAh-Black/dp/B00HQJFYVI
or
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/XTPower-MP-10000-External-Battery-Pack-with-10000mAh-using-dual-USB-5V-and-DC-9V-/281440221268
from 2013 this very emporium
http://theartofsound.net/forum/archive/index.php/t-28325.html

[MarginWalker]

Cheers, Mike. Much appreciated.

[MikeMusic]

Hope you get the same lift in sound quality I got when I plugged the Ankaka in.
Took me by surprise

[MarginWalker]

Well, my bushmaster mk2 (my first ever external DAC) has arrived. I have always been sceptical about the benefits that a DAC could bring to my system, believing that the DAC in my CD player/chromecast audio should do the job just as well. Within minutes of plugging in the bushmaster I realised how wrong I had been! A full day of vastly improved listening awaits!
http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll178/philbrown901/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-07/44D1486C-4E37-4638-9AD2-F82544919844_zpsulsnbziv.jpg (http://s288.photobucket.com/user/philbrown901/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-07/44D1486C-4E37-4638-9AD2-F82544919844_zpsulsnbziv.jpg.html)

[MikeMusic]

Go back to the first tracks you played in a few days time.

It may well be even better !

[Duffy]

https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Cell-Phone-Portable-Power-Bank-Chargers/Anker-PowerCore-20100-Capacity-Powerful-PowerIQ-Technology/B00VJSGT2A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1483712033&sr=8-1&keywords=anker

Anybody any experience with this?

or

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Upgraded-Capacity-Anker-Ultra-High-Technology/dp/B00M1J93TC/ref=sr_1_22?s=telephone&ie=UTF8&qid=1483712121&sr=1-22&keywords=anker

:)

[MikeMusic]

I believe Anker was mentioned here on AoS as not so good.

Try searching on Anker to check

[Kit1cat]

https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Cell-Phone-Portable-Power-Bank-Chargers/Anker-PowerCore-20100-Capacity-Powerful-PowerIQ-Technology/B00VJSGT2A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1483712033&sr=8-1&keywords=anker

Anybody any experience with this?

or

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Upgraded-Capacity-Anker-Ultra-High-Technology/dp/B00M1J93TC/ref=sr_1_22?s=telephone&ie=UTF8&qid=1483712121&sr=1-22&keywords=anker

:)

Not sure these batteries support the 12 volt output you require for the bushmaster, the picture seem to show only the 5v usb output. The Anker pro battery supports, 5v, 9v and 12v outbut. You could always try a car or moter cycle battery.

Barry

[Duffy]

I've looked hard for Anker Pro and Ankara but they are no longer available hence the queries.

If somebody has a working link, stock etc, I'm all ears!

:)

[struth]

They dont seem to make em now, and i picked one up second hand. This on amazon is one of the few made that doesnt cost silly money.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B013HXKZYW/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=3TB4JXHSBYEQU&coliid=I228EZEY3PFYQI

Not tried it but its on my wish list in case and if hadnt picked up the anker pro2 i probably would have got it, especially as it does 9v

[Duffy]

They dont seem to make em now, and i picked one up second hand. This on amazon is one of the few made that doesnt cost silly money.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B013HXKZYW/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=3TB4JXHSBYEQU&coliid=I228EZEY3PFYQI

Not tried it but its on my wish list in case and if hadnt picked up the anker pro2 i probably would have got it, especially as it does 9v

Thanks for that

:)