Beresford Bushmaster DAC Reviews

[RochaCullen]

That's the one problem with headamp. With impedances from 12 Ohms to 600 Ohms, it is a hard job picking the right gain for every type of can. Maybe a variable preset gain control would be a good addition in a future upgrade of the Bushmaster?

Hey Stan,

What impedences are you recommending?

Regards,

Nathan

[StanleyB]

I got headphones from 25 ohms to 300 Ohms and I am happy to play them loud once I am in full swing. My HD800 at 300 Ohms and D7000 at 32 ohms are in their elements either way, but higher impedance cans are best if you don't listen at deafening levels.

[StanleyB]

Stan - from the Squeezebox should I use the s/pdif or toslink connection to your DAC? Or is there no audible difference between the two (apart from complete electrical isolation using toslink from the SBT if that matters).

Try both for size I reckon.

Are the interconnect cables that you sell on your website high enough up the audiophile food chain to deliver the musical goods, or do I need to buy some 'bling' or invest in some rare earth metal such as palladium ?

My interconnects are priced at cost plus a bit of profit. But equivalent types of the same construction would easily cost 4 times as much.

Have you considered the deleterious affects (if any) of vibrations making there merry way through your DAC? Or do you use some super duper highly expensive isolation platform/feet (such as Vertex) when you assess your own equipment? You might already have damping material within the confines of you box.

I use wave guides .

[Bonky]

Initial impressions of the Bushmaster:

1. Very good service from Stan; emails are replied very promptly and the package arrived next day.

2. After 48 hours warm-up (one doesn't need to burn-in all 4 inputs separately) the sound is smooth, accurate and with a noticeable bass extension (cf my Gatorised-Caiman). It also appears to 'free-up'' the lower parts of the mid-range too - an added benefit, these being much better defined.

3. Headphones: a difficult one as it appeared I changed my mind several times. I hadn't burnt-in this part of the Bushmaster initially.

I listened to J Warnes' "Blue Raincoat", and my favourite for testing SQ, live recordings of "Show-of-Hands" (esp. the "Blue Cockade" track). I tried comparing this to my Caiman and a separate Headphone amp - the M-Stage HP-1, using my Senns 598 and 650s.

a) The Bushmaster is better than the Caiman in all areas.

b) Bushmaster v. M-Stage using the 598s: almost indistinguishable, a little more sibilance on the M-stage; slightly better separation of instruments on the M-Stage.

c) Using the 650s. Again, very little difference. First impressions are that the Bushmaster goes lower but I think this is a bit of an illusion as it seemed to me later that the Bushmaster was seemingly amplifying this part of the audio spectrum more than the M-stage - rather than going 'lower'.

d) After another hour of burning-in and on further reflection I still find the M-Stage marginally smoother and clearer, the Bushmaster just a little 'boomy', but one has to admit that these differences are subtle and to some extent, a matter of of what one is used to and expects, as well as taste.
Overall I think that the Bushmaster's headphone amp is a wonderful extension to an admirable DAC.
Obviously the M-Stage was being fed by my Sugden A21a amp. Also please note that I'm 64 years old and thus have lost some of the HF end of the audio spectrum.

I'll post again if further burn-in alters my perceptions.

BW

Richard.

[StanleyB]

c) Using the 650s. Again, very little difference. First impressions are that the Bushmaster goes lower but I think this is a bit of an illusion as it seemed to me later that the Bushmaster was seemingly amplifying this part of the audio spectrum more than the M-stage - rather than going 'lower'.

I shall have a look at that in more detail. But once I have a reasonable amount of feedback on the headphone section I can make a better judgement as to whether this is headphone dependent or whether I need to make any components adjustments.

[Pieoftheday]

Watching the England game via the bm and my hd-555,NICE !!! Rarely use headphones but I think I'll be using them more now,no harshness at all via the bm,it just keePs on giving!

[Pieoftheday]

Loads of detail,apparently the ref Plays with himself !!

[DSJR]

This may not be useful, but in comparison with its costlier peers, the Gatorised Caiman sounded a bit lean and slightly lacking "expression." Nowt to complain about at all for the price, but rather than "booming," I suspect the Bushmaster might just be more like the very best and far more expensive (when new) since the better digital systems I've heard over the years have bass power and "expression" just not in cheaper products of yore. Just my tuppence worth obviously, but before people condemn the Bushmaster because of the extra bass it has, may I please suggest that this is perhaps a more accurate rendition of what is actually there in the source recording?

[StanleyB]

I think it might be the headphone caps that need burning in a bit more, but I cannot say for sure. I have to check a standard Bushmaster out. Unfortunately I have been messing about with mine and fitted some Silmic caps in the headphone section that I have left over from the Silmic Gator mod.

[Bonky]

This may not be useful, but in comparison with its costlier peers, the Gatorised Caiman sounded a bit lean and slightly lacking "expression." Nowt to complain about at all for the price, but rather than "booming," I suspect the Bushmaster might just be more like the very best and far more expensive (when new) since the better digital systems I've heard over the years have bass power and "expression" just not in cheaper products of yore. Just my tuppence worth obviously, but before people condemn the Bushmaster because of the extra bass it has, may I please suggest that this is perhaps a more accurate rendition of what is actually there in the source recording?

It's a fair point and well made. I was also comparing the headphone output with my speakers, and my recollection of the live performances (flawed I know this concept of aural memory!). However, when the 'boomy bass' muffles other instruments then I think I prefer the less boomy and more transparent sound.

As Stan says, it may need more burning-in yet. Make no mistake, this is a very good headphone amp.

BW

Richard

Edit: 24 hours of further burning-in - perhaps a little better - but I stand by my original comments with the Senn650s. I prefer them with the M-stage. However, it now seems a different story when I use the Senn598s. I prefer these when powered by the Bushmaster. The M-stage sounds too 'thin' in comparison, the BM being much fuller and with better bass.

I'd be interested if any other Senn owners find the same.

R.