Beresford Bushmaster DAC

[MartinT]

Have you tried plugging in any high end source - whatever you use (I'm not sure) an comparing it to its internal dac (if possible) ...

Not directly, Hamish, but I've tried a number of sources from my new Pioneer Blu-ray player as a transport (CDs, DVD-As, SACDs) and they all sound very good. The BM can't match my Ayre C-5xe MP player with its minimum phase filter, but then that's a very unfair comparison (£4k versus £200 = 5% of the price). What the BM loses to the Ayre is ultimate dynamic clout.

However, for the sources that I use with the BM - Sky HD, Blu-ray, Logitech Touch - it's an outstanding DAC and has seriously improved my enjoyment of all those sources.

[StanleyB]

What the BM loses to the Ayre is ultimate dynamic clout.

Do you know by any chance what the maximum RMS output voltage level is on the Ayre? I have found out that a couple of designers have been cheating on the scale of the dynamic range of their products by increasing the output voltage from its 2Vrms level. By boosting the output by a factor of 3dB or even 6dB you can artificially create a perception of increased dynamics.
I am not saying that the Are does the same, but it is not an uncommon practice these days.

[MartinT]

Notwithstanding your comment about how hard the BM was to program to get the switching & LED functions working, Stan, I would like to submit an idea for discussion for a future firmware upgrade:

I am often frustrated that I can't verify what sampling rate the DAC is actually receiving and I would like there to be an option to view it, so I propose the following (shoot me down if it's not possible, Stan):

- Enter sampling rate view mode (rapid two-click or very long click on Select button)
- Red LED flashes to indicate data view mode
- LED1 indicates 44/48kHz
- LEDs 1 & 2 indicate 88/96kHz
- LEDs 1,2,3 indicate 176/192kHz
- LED 4 off indicates 16-bit, on indicates 24-bit
- Quick click of the Select button reverts to normal operation

Of course, this depends on the DAC registers holding this data but I would bet that they probably do - plenty of DACs on the market display this kind of info.

What do you think?

[jandl100]

Whee! 100 pages!

Not directly, Hamish, but I've tried a number of sources from my new Pioneer Blu-ray player as a transport (CDs, DVD-As, SACDs) and they all sound very good. The BM can't match my Ayre C-5xe MP player with its minimum phase filter, but then that's a very unfair comparison (£4k versus £200 = 5% of the price). What the BM loses to the Ayre is ultimate dynamic clout.

Interesting comment, Martin.

I guess I am not an "ultimate dynamic clout" kind of listener. I know a lot of folks are, though.
Having said that, I do listen to a bit of Big Music and I haven't heard any shortfall with the BM - on the contrary, as Martin says with his AV listening, it's very impressive!

For me, the transparent view into the recording space, the subtleties of low level detail, the insight into the musicians' intent, now that I am getting more familiar with the BM's presentation place the BM at the top of the digital pedestal for me. And that's compared to some very expensive competition.

As always, it depends on what you want and what you are listening out for. And system synergy probably counts for a lot, too.

The Ayre CX-7E cdp I had was certainly a pace'n'rhythm king, but it didn't do it for me in other ways. But then your 5XE is a fair old step up from the 7XE, I think.
EDIT: see post below also.

[jandl100]

Ah, interesting, I'm reading the Stereophile review of the BM firmware upgrade of Martin's Ayre 5XE player .... "more string tone, less bite" .... "more focussed and a lot more relaxed" ...."the ability to hear deeper into the soundstage" .... "superior flow ... this was no trivial improvement".

OK, so it's not comparing it with my old 7XE, but still the changes noted are addressing some - no, most, maybe all - of the issues I had with the 7XE.

That Ayre player of yours sounds like it might suit me, too, Martin!
But I remain happy ecstatic with the BM. It suits me, beautifully!

[MartinT]

Do you know by any chance what the maximum RMS output voltage level is on the Ayre?

From the user manual:
Maximum Output Level (PCM)
4.10 V rms – balanced outputs
2.05 V rms – single-ended outputs
Maximum Output Level (DSD)
2.00 V rms – balanced outputs
1.00 V rms – single-ended outputs

I use the balanced outputs exclusively. There are technical reasons why SACD has lower output than PCM discs, but that's not relevant here. I have a test CD that has all kinds of least significant bit and noise floor tests and there doesn't seem to be any cheating going on. To be honest, Charlie Hansen seems to be a very capable designer and I doubt that he would do such a thing. He has a reputation not far short of Nelson Pass. Remember that for a long time the Ayre was the only player to receive a coveted A+ rating from Stereophile. It's not for no reason that I bought this player and remains the best disc spinner I've heard.

[StanleyB]

I would like to submit an idea for discussion for a future firmware upgrade:

I am often frustrated that I can't verify what sampling rate the DAC is actually receiving and I would like there to be an option to view it,

I have looked at this process quite a few times and ended up walking away from it. My thinking has been that if you knew what the sampling rate was, would it sound better to you?

[jandl100]

Some folks just like to know, Stan!

[StanleyB]

As a good friend of mine once said: when you go to a house of ill repute do you ever ask the service provider about her past? Or do you just enjoy her technical abilities?

[The Vinyl Adventure]

Martin
How do you know if you haven't tried?