Beresford Bushmaster DAC Reviews

[pumpkineater23]

i've just got up. the reason being that i ended up listening to the bushmaster last night and just kept listening, am loving all the extra detail retrieval, if there is more to come after 12 hours burn in then i will be ecstatic. have to say i am impressed that you rolled this out at a price cheaper then the caimen, but i suppose that is the law of electronics - they get cheaper as time goes on. of course this breaks the law of hifi which is the reverse.

anyhow my one small gripe is that i still much prefer werners symbol layout , are you still thinking about this for later versions because i would really like it if it was retrofittable.

I like the BM layout but I too prefer Werners symbol layout, being a micro-minimalist myself. The idea of being able to change the front plate seems a good one I think, aim the BM at different targets; the camouflage BM looking very cool next to the decks for the DJ's, white gloss for the Apple heads, the 'audiophile version' etc.

I'm looking forward to hearing it anyway. Hurry up with the variable BM!

[DaveK]

I like the BM layout but I too prefer Werners symbol layout, being a micro-minimalist myself. The idea of being able to change the front plate seems a good one I think, aim the BM at different targets; the camouflage BM looking very cool next to the decks for the DJ's, white gloss for the Apple heads, the 'audiophile version' etc.

I'm looking forward to hearing it anyway. Hurry up with the variable BM!

Stan, can I add my name to this list of interest in the minimalist icon/symbol layout. And just before you dismiss my request as longer term, my budget controller (SWMBO) has raised no objections to me blowing my budget even more than it is already so it is now just a case of getting the awaited review from someone whose ears I trust, due this weekend, and then I am ready to go. So what chance on the 'Werner' front plate? .
Just to add a note of reassurance to that delicate natured reviewer on HiFi Pig, yes I do trust your ears as well but the other reviewer has the same sort of kit as me, i.e. perhaps more mid-fi than hi-fi , so I expect it to be more relevant perhaps to my situation - no offence is to be taken, OK? .

[StanleyB]

Looking at the Wolfson page http://www.wolfsonmicro.com/products/dacs/#stereo_dacs, the WM8524 is not classed as a "high performance stereo DAC".

Perhaps because the WM8524 works better with a passive output design, much like the old TDA1543 DACs perhaps...

The trick in any design is how you go about using the parts. A lot of people get blinkered by manufacturers specification sheets instead of physically putting a component in a circuit and testing it for themselves. Then design a circuit that can make optimal use of it. A lot of people strongly believe that having this or that DAC chip on a PCB will deliver the goods. Dream on. If I started working with the top end chipsets just imagine what I could produce for say £499.99. But how many people would be able to justify that sort of expenditure? Not all my customers are in well paid jobs and well to do countries. For many of them even £200 is a year's savings perhaps. And I sure don't want them to fork out that much if it doesn't put a mighty big grin on their face. And that's the one thing I have frequently promised my customers, but no other DAC manufacturer dare to commit to with their DAC. The grin factor has become an almost exclusive synonym for my DACs and with the Bushmaster even more so.

[nortot]

Can I put my oar in the water here having had the 7520, the gator caiman and now the BM.Since I took a 'punt' on Beresford as a company I have always been delighted with the cost/benefit ratio, ie well well worth the outlay considering the improvement over 'stock' hifi and then whilst moving with Stan through his improvments. Beresford has REALLY put a grin on my face, but the BM is a masterpiece to these tired old ears. That's hyperbole of course but I really feel like that, and I would be proud/happy/relieved if Id taken a punt on big name /big bucks kit and really the heard the improvement. But with Stan, I feel Im giving modest enough bucks to a passionate audiophile who REALLY wants to put a smile on mine and others' faces.
Congratulations Stan, marvellous ground-breaking product.....

[Bras]

Hello folks

I don’t want to spoil this thread but after 24 hours of burn in I am not so happy with the BM. I can tell you that my preferred dac is still the good old TC-7510 which beats both the gatorized Caiman and now also the BM…at least in my system.
Yesterday evening a couple of friends were visiting me and both of them preferred the sound from the TC-7510 when making an A-B comparison ( anyway the BM is close to the TC-7510 compared to the Caiman ).

Squeezebox -->TC-7510 / BM --> Nad C375 -->B&W 683

just my words ( sorry )

Cheers

[Werner Berghofer]

Guys,

i still much prefer werners symbol layout

Stan, can I add my name to this list of interest in the minimalist icon/symbol layout.

I too prefer Werners symbol layout

just to verify that you’re talking about the same layout, please let me add the image:



A few days ago I sent a print-ready template including all technical specifications to Stanley via email. He must make the decision if he plans to offer the “Bushmaster” with this optional front plate.

Werner.

[MartinT]

I don’t want to spoil this thread but after 24 hours of burn in I am not so happy with the BM.

What do you hear? What cables are you using?

[Bras]

What do you hear? What cables are you using?

Dire Straits - Norah Jones - Animals - Sting - Bryan Adams - Kenny G. . ( a big mixture )

I have tried to swap cables without any difference. The toslink cable is from Stanley himself....and then I have 3 other coax I am testing with.
Speaker cable is QED silver Anniversary-biwire

The files from the Squeezebox are all ripped into Flac format with DBpowerAmp

TC-7510 gives better 3D sound - a little more detailed and surprisingly deeper bass

[synsei]

Hello folks

I don’t want to spoil this thread but after 24 hours of burn in I am not so happy with the BM. I can tell you that my preferred dac is still the good old TC-7510 which beats both the gatorized Caiman and now also the BM…at least in my system.
Yesterday evening a couple of friends were visiting me and both of them preferred the sound from the TC-7510 when making an A-B comparison ( anyway the BM is close to the TC-7510 compared to the Caiman ).

Squeezebox -->TC-7510 / BM --> Nad C375 -->B&W 683

just my words ( sorry )

Cheers

Perhaps your unit is a little sick Barney, it may be worth asking Stan for a replacement

[MartinT]

Speaker cable is QED silver Anniversary-biwire

These may well be the source of the problem. Harsh, edgy cable that may be hiding the benefits of the Bushmaster's more detailed presentation.