Beresford Bushmaster DAC Reviews

Indeed stan,it seems the bm has the ability to bring the very best from seemingly 'budget ' kit, a+++++

@ Steve ...
If you wanna pop toys have a listen giz a shout and I'll try and turf out the missis on early evening again ...
This would definitely show you my points about various dacs and my system!

Have you tried the headphone amp section yet Hamish?

Yeah, quite a bit at work!
It's hard to comment as I was really just listening to the music whilst I worked ... Was good though! Loud through the grados, that's for sure! Got told off a couple of times for having it too loud ;)
It's better than the caiman that's for sure!
I noticed the low level channel inbalance you mentioned too but it's below listening level so no worrys there!

... Anyone who has 'dear science' by tv on the radio should get it on the BM ... This is the sorta music that it does justice ... Lots of little sounds and noises coming through nice and separate from the rest!

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Originally Posted by Hamish

My opinion so far ... Vs. the majik dsi
It's more showy! the sound stage and presentation is very different ... The linn welcomes you into the music, the bushmaster sorta projects it at you, it is more exciting to listen too!
I don't think I could say with any authority which is "better"! The bushmaster is easily as good as the linn, and Hannah would tell you it's better, and I think most listening to my system would agree with her... I just really like what the linn does and have done since the "Dynamik PSU" ... For me it's different and I think I would listen to one or te other dependant on mood really ... But that's with only maybe 5-6 hours on the BM.
I think the supprising thing about it is, without wanting to sound like I'm repeating what others have said ... It does the much more involving and "all there" bit without being a dick about it ... Ive heard a few dacs in my system that at first listen sound all exciting but then after a time you realise your being conned - the v-dac springs to mind - this thing gives you that initial excitement in the music then just keeps on giving it!

Listening to Imogen Heap 'speak for your self' on it at the mo and it sounds absolutely stunning!

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What's your digital transport into Bushmaster, Hamish? I'm truly impressed if Bushmaster can match (or possibly exceed) Majik?!? I always felt Majik to be out there as a good reference player, so if Bushmaster can top that, wow!!!

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Originally Posted by StanleyB

I suggest that you go and wire up the Bushmaster and re-acquaint yourself with your amp and speakers for a while. Then let us know if you are emotionally overcome by it all, or whether the experience has left you deflated ;).

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I'll pick it up from the local post office tonight after work. Still debating whether I should listen to it straight out of the box, or should I first leave it on in a continuous loop, to give it a few hours of burn-in? Any recommendations?

I'm especially pleased to read that you've designed it to deal with notorious Squeezebox Touch harshness and hardness in the upper-mid and highs region. I've invested copious (read: insane) amounts of time tweaking the config files on the Touch, aiming at the much coveted 'analog' liquidity and warmth. We'll see tonight what Bushmaster can add to that area;)

The majik is the transport ... I'm only replacing the dac section on it with the BM

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Originally Posted by Hamish

The majik is the transport ... I'm only replacing the dac section on it with the BM

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Ah, that gives you potential advantage over some of us who are using Squeezebox Touch as a transport (pretty much ten times cheaper box). Have you tried different (less fancy) transport into Bushmaster, and compared it with Majik? (you can tell I have a big respect for Majik, can't you?)

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Originally Posted by magiccarpetride

I'm especially pleased to read that you've designed it to deal with notorious Squeezebox Touch harshness and hardness in the upper-mid and highs region. I've invested copious (read: insane) amounts of time tweaking the config files on the Touch, aiming at the much coveted 'analog' liquidity and warmth. We'll see tonight what Bushmaster can add to that area;)

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I've only installed the direct digital out add-in, nothing else. The Touch through the BM is not harsh, it simply reflects the source quality of the selected music. Hi-res FLACs are fab, 320k mp3s and Spotify hi-bitrate streaming surprisingly good overall.