Beresford Bushmaster DAC Reviews

[Fi-Wi]

That's interesting because the music through my Caiman/Gator combo lacks emotion with my Beyerdynamics DT 990 pro's. I listen to my headphones instead of the music. My setup does make my Chario's sing though.

Downside is that with the BM I have yet to purchase another linear psu as well.

[MartinT]

I'm no great headphone listener, Steven, but I think we all acknowledge that the BM gives the Caiman a beating with their respective headphone outputs.

[Xaval]

That's interesting because the music through my Caiman/Gator combo lacks emotion with my Beyerdynamics DT 990 pro's. I listen to my headphones instead of the music. My setup does make my Chario's sing though.

Downside is that with the BM I have yet to purchase another linear psu as well.

DT990 are considered bass heavy phones when compared to DT880. DT990s bass despite going deep does not exude the most control being at times a bit wooly. The BM has gobs of bass... so maybe too much of a "good" thing?
I consider the BM phone out to be quite exceptional for high impedance cans. Just another added plus?

[Fi-Wi]

I never read that before but it would be dissapointing if the BM wouldn't work well with the DT990. Maybe I'll just stick to my Caiman setup then.

[Stubies]

Just this week I received a linear PSU + sbooster ordered from squeeze-upgrade which looks pretty similar, if not the same product, than the one offered by Marc Grant.

I'm pretty happy with the impact it had on the DACs performance: lowered noise floor, more detail, the sound is less congested with the improvement in clarity and the overall sound is more articulate and more "analog" like. It's not a dramatic effect, but it certainly is an upgrade. If you love the Bushmaster I highly recommend it.

Xavel, have you tested them separately?

I ask because if the sbooster does 80% of the benefit with 20% of the cost then perhaps that is good enough ?

However if the opposite is true then better to buy the linear PSU

Any thoughts?

[MartinT]

In the same way that you can't polish a turd, I would always go with a good linear PSU first and foremost.

[Xaval]

I never read that before but it would be dissapointing if the BM wouldn't work well with the DT990. Maybe I'll just stick to my Caiman setup then.

I can't comment on the Caiman's phone out as I have 0 experience with it. I've read here how much better the BM is on this respect.
I'm a previous owner of DT990. Like it has happened with my Senns - at some point I owned both HD600 and HD650 - I preferred the HD600 and sold the HD650. With the DT990 it was a similar event as I preferred the DT880 600ohm.
I won't delve too much on the whys and buts re my preferences, but as far as both Beyers go, like the Senns, they share more common characteristics than differences. Overall, both Beyers have a U shaped sound signature - great sweet and extended highs and deep bottom end. The DT990s do it in a more accentuated tone (recessed mids).
Now about the BM. It's great. It's more the headphone fault than the BM as this DAC has exceptional bass performance: it extends deep and snaps tigth and the Beyers are an excellent pair of headphones to show it off. It just happens that the Beyers bass is far from perfect - I've owned loads of headphones along the years so maybe I have a lot of background on what to make my assessments and a less favorable comment could come out as too hard. On they're own the Beyers have stood the test of time and are quite good for the asking price.

Given this reasoning and assuming that the BM indeed has a better headphone out, as well is a better DAC, I see little reason not to "upgrade".

Xavel, have you tested them separately?

I ask because if the sbooster does 80% of the benefit with 20% of the cost then perhaps that is good enough ?

However if the opposite is true then better to buy the linear PSU

Any thoughts?

I'm sorry but I have no way to evaluate the sbooster alone as it's not detachable. I can't even quantify if the effect is really 80/20 or anything else. The BM keeps getting better as the days go by. This is a fact.

Listening to Harry Belafonte & Lena Horne on Porgy&Bess (Living Stereo) as I type. I should go to bed but it's still about half way 'till the end of the recording. Oh, the horns on this recording and the voices... I'm melting.

[Stubies]

Martin and Xaval!

I will probably go with the linear PSU after all - just waiting for the Bushmaster to burn in, then make a final call.

Thanks for your help!

[MartinT]

Once I have all the parts I need I will document the building of a good linear PSU using Paul Hynes' PR3iEHD module.

[Canetoad]

I'm running my BM on a DIY PSU using PH regulation. It's sounding sweet through my recently acquired Croft Micro 25.